VOL. LVII.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., AUG. 23, 1902.
NO. 34
%xvexlzucz Bzvuxtxamt
HOW CAN YOU RESTORE WORN-OUT LAND
TO FULL FERTILITY?
Clover is the Salvation of Poor Soil.
1st Premium.—If I kuew the condition
ot the man's pocket-book who owns this
land, it would make some difference in
tin* course I should recommend. If he
has plenty of money to lavish on it without the necessity of receipts, it would
make much difference, hut I shall assume
tliat he is an average farmer ami has to
make his living while he restores pertility
In his soil. Well you have got to sow some
wheat ihis tall. Sow a small tract say
111 aires and put as much work on the 10
as you usually do on 20. If it is stuhble
or fallow, work it down well and put all
the manure you can scrape up on it and
a little commercial fertilizer, especially
mi the hiyh points. We are looking
now to a clover erop more than to wheat,
for clover is to be the salvation of this
farm. Sow it to clover in the spring.
Spring has come and'we must plant some
corn. Take half the amount of ground
you have usually planted in corn aud put
the same amount of work on it that you
usually put on double the acreage. Labor
in the preparation and cultivation of crops
is the best of manure. But do not leave
what manure has accumulated through the
winter; get it on your corn ground. Sow
some oats; break well so that you can
break in the fall for wheat. Break up
the remainder of your land and sow to
soy beans, cow peas or any green crop
that cau be turned under in September for
wheat, for this land needs humus, and
must have it, and while you are getting
humus through these green crops you are
getting potash and nitrogen also. Sow
wheat this fall; sow your corn to wheat
aud some of your fallow ground. Sow all
wheat to clover. If you cannot do better
for corn next spring, break up your cover
ymi sowed, but spare it if possible. Haul
nothing to market that you can feed to
stock. Start a manure pile to which add
all the rubbish of the farm. Burn noth-
log that can be turned into manure Keep
a little live stock of all kinds, for they
are leaving all the humus of their food on
the soil. Sow clover everywhere. Feed
clover to everything, from the chicken
to the horse, both green and dry, from the
silo and from the gable of your barn.
Sow side and catch crops wherever vou
can that will benefit your soil. Look well
to the future in* all the crops you plant,
for you have got to restore to this land
what lias been taken from it, and, if it
was naturally poor, more too. Now to
restore this land you want a man behind
it equal to a ten-horse power engine, with
the faith of Abraham and with a living
zeal and intelligence to push the work to a
close, and if you have not got him you
had better let the job out. There is no
need of worn-out land if the farmer will
look well to his rotations, keep ap roper
account of what lie is taking off aud what
In* is adding thereto and keep the balance
on the propel* side of the page. Many
men wilh their broad acres think they are
making money because they put a few
dollars in bank each year, whereas, if their
account were balanced and the decadence
of the farm charged up it would show
minus: ami the future generation must restore this drainage or suffer the consequences. I. N. C.
Mai-ion Co.
il*. is to get something growing upon it.
Ihis may be done by putting the ground
in good condition and sowing to rye or
wheat, with a liberal application of commercial fertilizer, and sowing clover in the
spring. If a crop of clover can be obtained and plowed under, the soil will be
much Improved. If it is difficult to get a
stand of clover, rye may be plowed under
or a crop of cow peas or soy beaus will
be useful. The object is to get vegetable matter iu the soil. This not only improves its mechanical condition but adds
fertility. A rotation should be followed
that will remove as little plant food ns
possible, and clover, cow peas or other
nitrogen gatherers used as often as the
rotation will admit. We have found the
application of manure to be valuable hut
it is difficult to cover a very large area
with it. A light dressing on small grain
makes a sta ml of clover more certain.
When preparing poor, clay land for corn
we have let the clover, weeds, etc., grow
until the last of May, and then plowed
them under. Plowing late in the spring
gave tho plants a good growth, and the
soil was full of roots, giving it more life
than if plowed in early spring. The
corn did well and the soil was in better
condition afterwards. We always want
clover or grain on tbe land during winter,
as the bare ground left exposed will wash,
leach and lose some fetility. We never
sow oats, millet, sorgum or like crops on
land that we are trying to improve in fertility, as they make quick growth and are
hard on the land. All of the corn, hay
and straw is used on the farm and returned to the soil in manure.
Jefferson Co. W. J.
Get Something lo Grow and Turn it Undsr,
2.1 Premium.—One of the first things to
Premiums of $1, 75 cents and 50 cents
are given for the first, second and third
best articles for the Experience Department each week. Manuscript should be
sent direct to the Indiana Farmer Company and should reach us one week before
date of publication.
Topics for discussion in future numbers
of the Farmer are as follows:
No. 338, Aug. 30.—If a farmer wishes to
change from grain farming to stock farming, how should he proceed?
No. 339, Sept. G.—How would you run
a farm of only 40 acres, not in driving
distance  of  a  market?
No. 340, Sept. 13.—Give plans for practical and economical hog house, with capacity for feeding 50 to 100 head of hogs
in winter.
No. 341, Sept. 20.—What are the greatest obstacles to sheep growing, and how
can they lie overcome?
Xo. .".42, Sept. 27.—Tell about home
comforts and conveniences for the winter
months.
Weekly U. 8. Crop Report.
In  response to an inquiry addressed to
all correspondents requesting  Information
as to the probable date on which corn
will be safe from damage by frost, reports received indicate that excepting a
few southwestern counties where drouthy
conditions have prevailed for several
weeks, abnormally low temperatures and
frequent showers have kept it green and
growing, the early planted corn, with
seasonable weather, will be safe by September 1, the bulk of the crop by September 20 and, with the exception of that in
the extreme northern counties and a few
other scattered localities, the latest by
October 1 to 15; owing to the continued
wet weather in the northern counties and
washouts and the ravages of cut worms in
the south section, a  large acreage of corn
in ilu* aggregate was planted, or replanted, unusually late in the season aud will
be correspondingly late in maturing; the
drouth iu the southwest portion of the
State, mentioned above has seriously injured some late coin, but, as a whole, the
crop is in line condition and promises au
abnormal yield.
Threshing progressed slowly on account
■ il' showers and damp, cloudy weather; in
the aggregate, there is a considerable
acreage of both wheat and oats iu the
fields.
Potatoes iu the southwestern counties
need rain and in the north section have Buffered from excessive moisture, but, in
general, the Ctop is exceptionally promising.
The second crop of clovei looks well,
but the concensus of opinion is that it is
growing too rank to yield a good crop of
seed; cutting has begun in* the south sec-
lion.
Tomatoes are ripening; tobacco looks
well; pastures ami all vegetables are doing exceptionally well, except in the southwestern counties.
Except in a few localities the apple crop
is very light and the fruit falling.
Fall plowing is in progress in all sections.
Telegraphic reports received after the
above was written indicate that the drouth
in* the southwestern portion of the State
has been relieved.
(Senegal Incurs.
THK GOLDEN JUBILEE.
Tho golden jubilee of the Indiana State
faair will be celebrated the week of September 15, by the distribution of more premiums than the State Board of Agriculture ever offered before, by several thousand dollars. The total award*-: will amount
to about $35,000 against $400 which was
awarded at the first fair fifty years ago.
The horse show premiums amount to $3,-
150, an increase of $1,000 over last year.
The purses for the races will reach $14,-
000, or $0,000 more than last year. The
awards in the cattle show will amount
to $5,000, or $2,000 more than at the last
fair. In the dairy department the wards
amount to $1,300. The prize sheep will
receive $1,500, an increase over last year
**l s.'iiM). Iu the swine department the
premiums amount to $2,000, an increase
of $1100. The poultry awards amount to
$1,000, an increase of $500. The premiums on art will reach $1,400, and there is
an increase of $200 iu the awards for the
corn show.
Mixte Hcxua.
James Trexell, age 89, a prominent farmer of
Blackford county, died of heart failure lasft week.
Robert Nash, age 78, one of Tipton county's
Brat   settlers,   died   at   Shnrpsvllle,   August   13.
J. A. Robertson, an old and well-to-do farmer of
Jackson towuship, was swindled out of $450 by
ih.'   lamp  game  last  week.
The ba»u on B. 1J. Robert's farm uortheast of
Lebanon, was burned last week with all contents,
Loss,  $3,i)00;   insurance,  $1,000.
A s.-vre storm south of Richmond, August ll_tb,
did damage at Bobbin's Chapel and Witt's Station.      Crops anil trees were leveled.
During the heavy storm that occurred in southern Indiana, August 10th, lightning struck tne
barn of l'.-lany Campbell, totally destroying lt and
killing one horse. J. H. Hongland bad 13 stacks
of hay tarn to piece*.
Seeba Osborne, age 45 years, a prominent farmer
Mar Sullivan committed suicide August 11, by
Shooting himself in the head with u revolver. Ill
health is supposed to have been the cause for the
rash   act.
The large barn owned by Thomas Johnson, who
Urea on his farm near Boggstown, Shelby county,
was ■track by lightning August 11th, and destroyed together with farming implements, wagons
and buggies. Loss, about $1,500, with iusurance
of |826.
A heavy storm visited the vicinity of Nashville
on tbe night of August 10th. William Quick,
while standing In the doorway of a livery barn,
was struck by the heavy door, which was torn
from Us hinges by the wind, and hurled 20 feet.
His skull was fractured and be Is in a dangerous
conditon. It was the third damaging storm in
tbis connty within three weeks, and the corn,
fencing and timber have been heavily damaged.
Many   orchards  ^iave   been   ruiued.
A caH with two tongues Is now iu the posession
of   ufarmer   at   Uossert,   North   Wales*
Beetles In the East and West Indies are so
brilliant In coloring that tbey are beautiful as
terns,
The barking of a dog is said to be au acquired
habit, and one lost lf tbe animals are allowed to
run   wild,
Be sure and use Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup
for v.mr Children while Teething. 25 cents a
bottle.
Distribution of (lower and vegetable seeds by tha
Governmeut will be started September!, three
months  earlier  than  usual.
What Is known as an angel shark, au ugly fish
with an eight-inch mouth containing three rows
Of teet li. has been caught with ii hand Hue at
r'elixtown.
By sowing nitrate of sodaa iu small quantities
iii showery weather under trees, a most beautiful
verdure   will   be   obtained.
Potatoes form the world's greate3t single crop,
4,000,000 bushels being produced annually, equal
in bulk to the entire wheat and corn crops.
Cocomben for pickles are a profitable crop ln
Iowa, where the Uood does not drown them out.
Tin- average yield is 400 bushels au acre, and the
price is 50 cents a bushel.
There is a marked increase in tbe growth of
rice in Texas and Louisiana, so marked that the
industry is upokeu of as being transferred from
the  South Atlantic States ta tliis  new  territory.
Tbe old stone chimney which stands on the lands
of the Klagara Falls Power Company is to be removed. It was built by the French lu 1750, and
the fi rs t - stone structure erected in tiie Niagara
Locality.
THE FAIRS
Minnie Fair.-This will also be the 50th anniversary of the Deleware County Agricultural Society and great preparations are being made to
hold t he largest and best fair at Muncie ever
held.      Tiie  outlook  is  for  such  a  fair.
Ohio State Fair.—Only two more weeks Derore
the great Ohio State fair, which will be held
on their grounds near Columbus, Ohio. The
fair this year will be the largest ever held by
the Ohio Board of Agriculture. The premiums
are large, and a great exhibit is expected. Excursion rates on all railroads. Dou't forget tbe
date, September 1, 2, 3, 4, aud 5. Everybody
make their urangements to attend the Ohio
State fair. W. W. Miller, secretary, Columbus,
Ohio.
Vigo county held a fair, carnival aud expositor!
on the fair grounds this year, aud it was a success In every way. This was a new venture, and
an experiment, it proved a * winner and a better
one w ill be held next year. The premiums
given while not large, were renumerative, and the
display was good. Each department was well
filled. In the swine we met J. W. Taylor. Crawfordsville, with a fine herd of Chester Whites
and flock of Shropshires. Bruce Whitsel, Liberty •
ville, and M. M. Wimmer, Bellmore, exhibited
Polands, and their displays attracted attention.
Both the Poland herd., were In good show condition.
Fayette Co., Ohio, Fair held at Washington,
O. II., Ohio, was without a doubt one of the
best county fairs of the season and it only being
the second year under the new management. On
Thursday the crowd was estimated at 16,000 and
Wednesday and Tuesday's crowds were extra
good. All   the   departments   "vere   crowded   to
their utmost, especially In the live stock. The
cattle show was great and the hog barns had to
be made larger. The show of sheep was extra
good and the treatment tbe exhibitors received
in these departments was beyond reproach, all
went away wishing Fayette county fair well.
The stockholders are to be congratulated upon
the sucecss achieved In so short a time. They
say  they  will  hang  up more money  next year.
Falrmount Fair Association held Its annual fair
on their grounds last week, and was beyond doubt
the best fair held in years by this association.
The weather was good, except a slight rain Wednesday morning, and the ateudance was very
large. Exhibits too were better than, they have
been for some years. The horse department was
tilled, aud the display of Percherons, by Keiser
Bros.. & Phillip, Red Key, attracted the attention
of all lovers of the Ideal draft horse. In the
cattle department were J. & J. M. Hartley, Fair-
mount, with their herd of Herefords, headed by
Earl Wilton. This herd contains some of the
most fashionable blood known to Hereford breeders. Strode Hayes, Sulphur Springs, exhibited
his herd of Double Standard Polled Durhams, led
by the great show and breeding bull Superb, and
A. l>. Wood A Sons, Pendleton, J. M. Donnelly &
Bon, Anderson, and Geo. Kirk & Son, Llnwood,
also showed Shorthorns and Polled Durhams, C.
K. Swain & Sons, Pendleton, showed their herd of
Aberdeen-Angus cattle, led by the Bradfute bull.
Loman of Meadow Brook; Wright & Hosier, New
Castle, exhibited a very flne henl of Jersey cattle, and had as a competition, E. S. Frazier, of
Elwood. The swine department was filled by
Grant Mitchell, Windfall, with Berkshires; J.
Gibson & Son. Muncie, with a fine herd of Chester Whites and J. B. Hilligoss & Son, Florida
with Durocs. In sheep we found Watt WIlsou
fi Son, Muncie, with Southdowns, and a very good
fiock at that, but they were compelled to show
against Imported sheep, but held their own, winning half the money. This is one of the best
home bred flocks In the central states. Wilson
Bros., Muncie, showed Cotswolds, Southdowns and
Oxfords, all imported sheep, and J. P. Baxla,
Muncie    exhibited    a    flock    of    Merinos. The
poultry department was filled, the only breeders
showing were J. W. Freeman, Jonesboro, who Is
an exclusive Barred Plymouth Rock breeder, and
Wilson and Baxla, Muncie, wbo breed four varieties iu separate farms. Tbe birds of the last
two named  breeders  atracted great attention