VOL. XXIX.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND. MARCH 24, 1894.
NO. 12.
LITE STOCK -XCUBSIOU.
Ever sine*) Prof. C. 8. Plumb haa had
charge ai Director ot the Agricultural Department ot Purdue Unverslty there has
been a marked improvement. Many new
Ideas have been engrafted on the -work;
new and bene tidal experiments have been
carried on to a successful end; the student? havo taken more interest in their
work; the bulletins bave been ot more nse
to the farmer, and what was once considered a mere fancy has been acknowledged
by the farmers of the State to be a great
school of agriculture and live stock has
baudry.* The experiments in both agrlcul
tural and live stock branches have proven
of great value to the farmers. Situated as
we are in the center of the agricultural and
live stock belt, we see the benefits of this
department of Purdue more plainly.
Prof. Plumb, always on the alert for some
new idea, devised the scheme in 1803, that
at the close of the short time course in
live stock husbandry, to give the students
a chance to visit a few of the prominent
stock farms in the country. Low rates of
fare were obtained upon all the railroads,
and the party made a tour of the northwest. This excursion proved of such
great benefit to the practical feature ot
breeding live stock that the professor de
cided that 1894 a more elaborate excursion
should be planned. According he arranged a trip through Indiana and Ken-
tacky. The party consisted of the following in charge of Prof. Plumb: Students,
Messrs. Billman, Bonnell, Carl there, Dim-
mick, Ives, Funaki, Gllck Harlow, Hon-
nold, Little, Johnson, MoAtee and Remley >
by special Invitation, Jno. N. Beckman, A.
Braddock, W. S. Commons, W. T. Throckmorton, and C. A. Kartze of the Farmer
The party left Lafayette Monday morn
ing, March 5, and arrived at Thorntown at 9:22. Here carriages were awaiting them and the party drove to the Berkshire swine farms of I, N. Barker, Jas. and
W. Q. Riley and the Chester White swine
farm of Howard RUey. The World's Fair
premium stock was here caret ally viewed,
as well as the seed corn dry house of
James RUey. After dinner the party
took the Big Four train and at
4:33 p. m, arrived at Horace, where
the fine Sherthorn herd of cattle of
J. O. Robbins & Sons was inspected. This
herd the Farmer readers will remember
was the prize beef herd at the World's
Fair, Chicago. The cattle were in excellent condilion. Tuesday, Marcb 6, a two
hoar's stop was made at Greensburg,
where (he Poland China and Berkshire
swine herds of that venerable and old re
liable breeder A. S. Gilmour were visited.
Of course Uncle Andy's stock is always in
A No. 1 condition. The party landed in
Cincinnati at 3:15 p. m., and a two hoar's
visit was made to the zoological gardens,
where the monkeys, lions, tigers, elephants, etc., were inspected, but no scoring was done, as we were not sore as to
what points should be cut. Leaving
Cincinnati at 7:35, we were safely landed
In Lexington, Ky., at 10:55 p. m., where
we were comfortably quartered at Mrs.
K. H. Rowlands'. After a good night's
rest, Wednesday morning found us on
our way to the Kentucky Agricultural
College, where we were met by Professors
Scoville and Bennett, the former being the
director of thestaUon, while the latter has
charge of the veterinary department. We
were royally treated and carriages were
awaiting to drive us to the different stock
farms in this neighborhood. After attending chapel in the college we were escorted over the grounds, throngh the
different departments, and then driven to
the agricultural farm and shown as fine a
herd of Jersey cattle as can be collected,
several World's Fair animals belonging to the herd. The different plats
of    ground   where   grain   experiments
are tried were also shown. After dinner
tbe party were driven to Ashland, the
home of the famous statesman, Henry
Clay, and now owned by Major McDowell,
a well known breeder of trotting horses
and Jersey cattle. This was the home ot
that great sire Dictator 113, who died in
1893 at tbe age of 31 years. He was buried
with honors on this farm close to the
stable. The preaent stud numbers about
150 head led by King R-jne 1278, record
2:30)4, by Belmont out of Blandlna. The
Major ls a whole souled Kentucktan and
spread an elegant luncheon for his Hoosier
guests. The next farm visited was that of
B. J. Treacy, directly opposite Major McDowell's. Some 360 trotting and running
horses are bred on this farm. The head of
the stud ls Bermuda 5874, a very promising sire.
Col. Wm. Warfield, that veteran Shorthorn breeder wits next visited and his
herd inspected. The cattle were in excellent condition. Although Col. Warlield
lost his £1 head of show cattle last winter
by tire, he is still determined to continue
the breeding of his favorite cattle and is
re-stocking up his farm.
After a good night's rest, Thursday
morning found the party plodding their
way to the farms ot Geo. Wilkes Simmons
and W. C. France & Son, whore some more
fine trotting horses were shown them, Including Wm. L., the sire of Axtelland
Red Wilkes, who has 90 in the list of 2:30
and better.
At 3:35 p. m, the party boarded an L. <fc
N. train and arrived at Paris at 4.07, where
we were driven to the stock farm of
Catesby Woodford, the Jersey cattle and
driving horse breeder. Some 90 head of
Jersey cattle can be found on this farm, as
well as 75 head of roadsters. After supper
at the Hotel Fordham, the patty took an
L. & N. train and arrived at Richmond,
Ky., at 11 50 p. m. We were quartered at
the Willis House and the next morning
were taken to Forest Grove Btock farm of
the thrice crowned king of Shorthorns
Young Abbottsborn, who justly deserves
bis many honors. All the cattle bred by
the Colonel were shown the party and not
a poor one was found in the herd of 50
bead. As a show animal Young Abbotts-
born stands first as a breeder, his equal
not yet found. At 11 a. m. the party was
driven to White. Hall, the home of Gen.
Cassius M. Clay, the world renowned
breeder of Southdown sheep. Upwards of
300 head can be found upon this farm, in
eluding the 2d prize ram at the World's
Pair. So well pleased was the General
that he prepared a genuine mutton lunch
for the party and it was highly relished
by all.
Too much cannot be said of the beautiful
farms visitod and the scenery enjoyed by
the party-and the hospitable treatment
given them by the different owners. It
was a trip long to be remembered by the
gentlemen invited and the students for
whose benefit lt was given. The theory
was taught at Purdue and the practical
was obtained in the visitation. Farmers
who have sons that they want educated to
make good agriculturists or live stock
breeders, could not do better than send
them to Purdue, where each professor does
all in his power to make their education
practical and useful.
MANAGEMENT OP CLAY SOILS.
[The numbers of the essays published
refer to the order of publication, and not
to the awards. The committee has not
yet made the decision.]
PBIZB   ESSAY NO. 8,
If clay ground is inclined to hold water
the first thing essential is to underdrain.
Land that is wet, cold and almost worth
less, by underdrainlug may be made to
yield abundantly.
Drainage will remove the surplus water,
leaving enough for moisture to tbe plants.
The water descending to the drain, passing through the soil will open thousands
of little channels, thus making the soil
porous. These channels, after the water
has passed through, are filled with air,
which Is so necessary to the roots of growing plants. 1 once heard a successful
farmer say that he plowed more to let the
air ln to the roots of his oorn than to kill
the weeds.
The question is not, "does it pay to
drain, but can you afford not to drain?"
Supposing It costs $12 or even |20 an acre
to drain, it would be a great saving.
In Western Ohio, Mr. C—raised, for five
years, on a 10 acre field exactly 99,100,101,
102, 98 bushels of wheat; 500 bushels, J500.
Five hundred dollars in five years.
He then drained it at a cost of ? 17 50 per
acre—total cost $175. The next five years
the field averaged him 35 bushels to the
acre. Making in fivo yeirs 1,750 bushels.
A gain of 1,250 bushels and a net gain of
over f 1,000 over the previous five years.
The increase in corn and other crops are
as great in proportion.
Melilotus ls especially useful as a restorative crop for yellow loam and calcareous
soil. Hills that are so barren that they
will sustain no other plant are made productive by its use. Where draining is too
expensive lt is next in value and accomplishes good results. The roots of the melilotus are long, penetrating the soil to the
depth of three or four feet and are quite
large. By their decay at the end of the
second year they leave the soli with innumerable minute drains to carry off the
surplus water and loosen up the ground
so that the roots of other plants can go
deeper and find more abundant supplies
of food. Melilotus by its decay furnishes
the most valuable fertilizer free of cost, It
is better than the most expensive ccm-
merclal fertilizer. Aside from its value as
a fertilizer and loosening the ground it
makes a tolerably good hay.
After having drained the ground, the
next thing Is to handle it properly, so as
to keep the soil loose and at the same time
derive as much profit as possible from it.
First, a systematic rotation of crops.
What I wanted for corn this spring I
would haul upon It, and spread, all the
straw and manure that I could obtain, being careful not to plow It too wet,
Th's fall I would sow rye in the corn,
which would make pasture for my sheep
and calves next winter. Sometime during the last of May or first of June I
would plow the rye under, which would
be a good green manure and help to loosen
the ground very much. In September
after plowing again I would sow ln wheat.
The next spring I would sow clover
among the wheat. Then I would let it lie
in clover a year. Then break up and
again put it in corn, wheat, clover, same
as before.
If you arrange your fields right, by this
process you may bring the poorest farm
into a high state of cultivation. But if
possible never use a roller, but instead a
springtooth harrow if it can be made to do
the pulverizing; if not, use a heavy drag.
Never, nnder any consideration, sell
your straw, which Instead of being hauled
away, should be returned to the ground.
You cannot' take off the ground every
year and make lt no returns. We cannot
get all and give nothing. In farming
more than anything else we reap according to our sowing.
As I stood the other day, looking over
the fine, substantial buildings of our paper mills, or "straw board," as they are
called, I thought: You are are a fine thing
for both capitalist and laborer, but, oh,
there are hundreds and hundreds of acres
of our clay land crying oul against the
robbery of Its straw, and year by year
growing poorer.
As the soil becomes thinner tbe mortgages grow heavier, and finally "What
shall tbe harvest be?"
PRIZE   ESSAY NO. 9.
The best way to manage a clay soil la to
give it a short rotation of oats, wheat and
clover. The oat stubble should be worked
up fine for from two to four inches deep
with a disk harrow, and sowed to wheat,
and lt the land is not rich enough to raise
a good crop there should be from 200 to
e5O0 pounds of some good brand of fertilizer
sown with the wheat. I know there are
many farmers who think fertilizers don't
pay; but when our land is too poor to
raise a good crop, and we have not barnyard manure enough, we should not -estate to use commercial fertilizers. It does
pay. Mr. Chamberlain, of Ohio, says that
he could not have brought his farm to its
present Btate ot fertility in so short a time
without the use of fertilizers, and again
he says, that he has sometimes got pay for
his fertilizers three or four times. We
ought to make and save and apply all the
barnyard manure we can as a top dressing
for wheat, and then use fertilizer on the
rest, unless it is so rich that it will raise a
good crop without it. Then, after the
wheat is cut, say in August, the stubble
and young clover should be mowed and
left on the ground as a mulch; and then
the clover should be left to grow again and
not pastured. Thoee that pasture their
clover the first fall are very liable to have
It freeze out the first winter and so lose
their only fertilizing crop in the rotation.
Now as to managing the clover. If the
land is rich you may take two crops, but
It you want to increase the fertility take
but one. Either cut the first -crop for hay,
and let the second crop grow np and fall
down and lay there as a mulch till the
next spring to plow under for oats again,
or cut the first crop about the last of May
or first of June and let it lay on the ground.
Cutting it so early the clover will grow
right up through what is cut, and these
conditions are the most favorable fora
good crop of seed. The grass that was cut
will act as a mulch for the seed crop and
still be there to plow under the next spring,
and by cutting the first crop so early the
seed crop will come at the best time to escape the midge. Tbe clover straw should
be carefully saved and put back on the
ground to plow under the next spring.
By managing as above stated, I think we
can Increase the fertility of any land that
is worth farming. It will not do to take
off two crops of clover and pasture down
close two falls, and turn the hogs In and
let them take the roots out and then say
we have clovered the land. I would not
raise oorn on clay land, for it is not corn
land, and the man that tries to make a
success of raising corn on hard clay land
will fail. Peas wiU pay much better, and
will come In nicely in the above rotation
by using part of the clover sod for peas instead of oats. Peas are a leguminous plant
and therefore are better for the land than
oats, because, while the oats exhaust the
soil peas enrich it and leave it in splendid
condition for wheat.
As to underdraining clay land I differ
with some men who say it will pay to
drain any ol it. I have drained clay land
that was so hard water would stand almost
over the ditch for several days, and if the
ground is so hard the water can't get
through it I would not go to the expense
of putting in ditches, but would run my
drains along the hollows and depend on
surface drainage for the hard ridges. It,
however, depends on the kind of soil,
whether it will pay to underdrain. Drain
all land that is too wet if the water can get
through it.