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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Herald, 1922-09-07, Page 6Addams eernmunlcatione to .Agronomist, 73 Adelaide St West, Terpntm MR. JONES. vlslrrS HIS WHEAT FIELD. Wheat is more generally ferbilized in Ontario than any other farm crop. Most farmers are of the opinion that it pays better to ferbi+lize wheat than the .ether crops of the rotation. Aside from the matter of profit, which must come from either increased yield, bet- ter quality, or both, there are a num- ber of questions that arose in the mind of .Mr. Jones as he walked across his wheat field" Within certain limits, it makes lit- tle difference how many peeks of wheat are seeded per acre. The num- bee of heeds developing per square yard of ground is not so much depend- ent ependent on the number of seeds- planted as the ability of the soil to produce ,rang vigorous planes. es. For example, eaght or nine pecks per acre of seed do not commonly produce a larger crop than, do six pecks, although there may be roars plants. In the ease of th+e lighter seeding, the plants stool more until about the same number of heads are produced. The fertility of the soil apparently governs the stooling of wheat. Fertilizers promote a heavier root growth, and greater stooling with less winter killing. The quick start which fertilized wheat is able to make in the spring insures an easier ma- turity, and, often, escape from de- structive rusts and drought. Fooling The Hessian Fly. The Hessian fly is one of the worst. of wheat pests, and yet it isfairly easy to control, if the habits of the in- sect are understood. In order to re- produce and .cause destruction, the adult fly must lay its eggs on young wheat in the early fall. Apparently the wheat plant alone suits this pur- pose. urpose. The eggs develop into larvae which go down into the base of the young wheat plants and destroy them. To avoid the fly, wheat must be seeded bate enough bo escape the egg -laying season of the fly. Delayed seeding is more hazardous .from the standpoint of winter -pilling. Careful preparation of the seeds -bed, and plenty of avail- able vailable plant food hi the soil overcome the handicap of a late seeding and the By is avoided. A Big Help in Growing Clover. A common complaint is that it is harder to ,grow .clover than it used to be thirty or forty years: ago. This is undoubtedly true. When the Iand was first cleared, clovergrew easily, abun- dantly, and luxuriously. But on our Ontario seals, crop after crop was re- moved without replenishing. the plant- food supply of the soil. Furthermore, lime was rapidly removed from'. the soli by leaching as well as by the crops. Sour soils develeped, on which. clover does not succeed. Satisfying this need for lime is often the first requirement in successful clover grow- ing. But there are also soils where clover fails because of phosphorous hunger. On such ,sells a fertilizer con- taining this plant -food will make a better stand of clover, larger plants that are not so easily heaved out ,by frosts, and a consequent greater yield of hay. Fertilizing for, the. Whole Rotation. The effects of fertilizer on wheat in a rotation are by no means 'confined bo the wheat crop. The influence may extend over several years, especially if glover follows wheat. The increase ed clover crop is often very striking. The larger tops and root systems when plowed under have an accumula- tive effect on the corn, potatoes, or Whatever crop follows. The question naturally arises; Is it desirable to make a heavy applieetion of fertilizer for wheat, providing more plant food than the wheat can ntillize, ex obeli each erop in the rotation be fertilized. with a smaller amount of fertilizer? There are certain advantages in the: first method: Leas lalbar is involved, and the indications from experimental work on iihis point are that greater returns are secured from the rotation as .a whole. .An increase of a bushel ocf wheat '15 as goad as two bushiei's of corn or newly three 'batshels of oats, and more easily ,obtained on most soils. Therefore, it may be profitable to make the larger fertilizer application on wheat, especially if followed by •clover. Acquiring the Habit. The statement, "if you use fertilizer once you'll have to use it always," has a grain of truth in it. If fertile zers axe profitable it is, of course, good business to continue to use them, just as it is good •business to eo+ntinue spraying potatoes or testing seed corn. Any of these praetices can be d•iseon- tinuece there is no compulsion about them. The farmer who obtains in- creased ncreased yields from improved practices finds it difficult to go back to the old order, In any sound system of farm management, the use of fertilizer is likely to become a pretty well defined habit. Effect of Fertilizer on the Soil. The question, does fertilizer injure the soil, is as old and as definitely answered as the question, does wheat turn into Cheat? Nevertheless, the claim is sometimes made that fertili- zer causes the ,soil to lose its organic matter, and to run together. When this condition emcees, the fault can generally be traced to the farming system, and not to fertilizer usage. One of the best proofs of the value of fertilizer in keeping up the organic matter of the soil is in a plot an Ex- periment Station that received fer- tilizes without manure for fifteen years. Every crop grown was remov- ed, and yet at the end of the period, this plot contained 15,000 pounds more per acre of organic matter than an adjacent plat which had received no 'fertilizer.. Crood farming practice in Ontario wheat soils requires the conservation and building up of _the. organic matter supply by tillage, rota- tion, legumes, and ease of animal ma- nure. Red Fields and. Sour Soils. In theearly summer months many fields from a distance present a rusty ' red color, due to the presence ;of red sorrel, indicator of a sour soil. Be- t -cause of the fact that there is appar- ently more and moresorrel each year, fertilizers have been accused of caus- ing .soil acidity. Probably the name of one of the principal fertilizing mate- rials, acid phosphate, has had a good deal to do with this belief. There is very good evidence that fertelizers do not cause soil acidity. A plot which received over two tons of sixteen per cent. acid phosphate in fifteen years was actually less acid than adjacent plots that (lad received no treatment: In some laboratory tests the applica- tion of as much as five tons of acid phosphate on an acid soil actually re- duced. the lime requirement of that soil. While the limestone requirement of a soil may not be increased by the use of fertilizer, it may Rte very desdr-� able to: lime the +sell in many cases to get the full benefit of the fertilizer. Control of Production. The marketing of faun products is made difficult largely because of the uncertainty in the size of each of our many crops from year to year. Were it possible to reduce to a nicety the amount of corn, wheat, apples, pate. - toes and other crops grown, then some of the problems of distribution would not be as formidable as at present, To think that such a control over the production of agricultural crops P could be had would be the height of folly, There are too many factors over which man has nothing to say. The amount of rain,' frosts, sunshine, etc., are all given to the just and un- just in such varying quantities and times from year toyear, and their in- fluence on production is so great that it becores impossible to reckon ac- curately how crops will turn out until they are actually harvested. But any approach toward unifortn- ity would aid in marketing, and it seems possible that the farmer can help an appreciable amount in this direction. There is little question but that production varies most on the 1 more poorly farmed farms. The field lacking drains will not give the uni- form yields that can be secured from land adequately tided. Soil that has, been intelligently handled and sys- tematically fed 'stable manure, green crops, line, and where needed, eoni- mercial fertilizers, will respond more regularly than will soil lacking this attention. Then, too, the use of 'high- grade, carefully selected, disease-free seeds makes for crops with compara- tively narrower production limits. The careless selection of seeds very frac quently outs into the crop yield twenty( f to forty or more per cent.. It would appear therefore, that the general adoption of a higher standard of farm- ing would result in a more uniform. production which, in turn, would make easier the important matter of r-nar- ketin d dist ib ti Farming Agriculture Versus � ulture In former years, when men essayed Good Mother Earth to tickle, It was not counted as a "trade" To, wield the scythe and sickle. To steer •a plow and drive a nag And, with the feet loam -weighted, Plod back and forth behind a "drag"' As ".hopping clods," was. rated. ITe counted brawn ahead of brain The doughty son of Labor Who daily tailed through sun and reain, As likewise del his neighbor. Ile blindly fought the weenie and flies Which ;yearly were alarming, And, though be took the county prize, Itis, toil war classed as ".farming." But, in these days -of modern tools And more progressive seeding, We learn our precepts in the schools. And through constructive .readinng. A good fallen paper ells the need; And is a potent fatter In raising •drops from fertile seed As much eo as the tractor. , Where formerly we oast aside All scientific data, It now .affords us. joy and Pride To raise a smooth potato. So, raising live stook; coin and peas, In ep'ite of post ,and vulture, Th a.'" rcfesax n " if ea lease p , y please, And classed as "agriculture." LAY ' OFF b " eseetettateen —Brooklyn Eagle My Lot and Yours By Bertha: Lee Smith In the bustling city, where I had gone. for the day, I was taking 'a short out through a side "street. " The hat -waffle man had guided his cid horse up to the curb, and the children were thronging around him, some with pennies, some apparently just with ap- petites, all drawn by the tinkle of the bell and the tantalizing odor : of 'tie' waffles. Two small boys grasped the waffles their coins. purchased. The larger one . swell his til bit in one all -satisfying but the little fellow with the a curls slowly nibbled around the edge of the hot delicacy, pro the pleasure. Noticing the ey other waffle -eater fixed o paused and leaked: "Was your's good?" "Huh, lots better' ed the other, st - 'corner with never This incident re afternoon, and even away the timeon the re glancing over some Tarin pa purchased at the news -star. papers seemed to be filled vice to farm- women. Now, 'r don't mind advice; itinterests' is often instructive, sometimes` ful, and I dike to give it myself. after that day in the hot city'som it just put my disposition on the ]:„a Especialy so with one article t = t pointed out that the farm women' (statistics quoted) was backward in the use of modern: implements, im- provident in supplying the table with nourishing food, and untaught in sanitary methods of laving.. It seems to me that the press has al- ways used the conditions of farm life for "fillers." When some space must be filled, they talk about farm Women! First the press laughed et us, then it pitied us, and stated in exact numbers. the percentage of us who ended cue lives in insane asylums. Our dreary' lives were bemoaned, our bedraggled skirts pointed out, our galoshes gig- gled over (until the city flapper be- gan to flop around in them as we never did), and our idioms of speech were noted. Now I will confess that this' public expression is veering, nor to norzwest, and efficiency : is the slogan hurled at us. True, we all have the most nous ish ing foods at hand, but the majority obi° us do use them; good, clean, raw milk with home-mad'e yeast bread satisfies" hunger better, and with much less trpuble, than fancy desserts or sauces with a milk foundation that are so much written about and advocated. Crisp radishes pulled while the dew is still on the leaves are .palatable at our noon -day dinner, without being cut into imitation 'rases to .garnish some other dish. The same . paper that ad- r vises us to centralize all kitehen furmi- Now, I do want the cistern water piped into the kitchen, and when one can afford it, I think there 'should be water on both floors, the water..to be connected with the water=heater, the bathtub wed the sewage system, but no expert can convince me that I should :draw the drinking water from a 1 faucet. I prefer to get it directly from the deep, drilled well. I'll grant that the farm women do evork long hours, and rnany endure that would be real hardships to a ns"t bred women, with a 'kitchenette encation, but think of the satisfaoti'on tereeeeng that is gained! Things -tee into being under our touch, e all around .us the . results of a aework--green lawns, flaunt- s, sturdy vegetable .rows the waving'trees of din :tits background, falai odor'' of- well- sc'',oribsand. mows. -• More steps around my big t. hen with its tables and sinks, >inets and cupboards, its- range Toil -,stove, the rocking -chair byea indovw with the magazine rack at weed, than any city housekeeper could {lessibly take from her perch on a tiLeieh. stool which gives her command ;.,r -the whole working equipment."But '1 don't' have to go and "exercise" to 'keep fit. . Farm work accomplishes something :worth w:hiie and the farm 'wife gets her physical ,culture aWay from the ;polished "gym" floor. I don't suppose that,I could touch the floor :ten .times with the tips of my fingers "without. bending my knees, but I can pick up a basket of chips from the woodpile without sitting down to it. Now that' I' have unburdened myself somewhat,. I will grant many things to the newspaper articles. I believe in effediency in work and in living. 'Farm life is a true partnership of al+I the members" of the family. It can be made a happy and paying one. 1 am glad that improvements in work- : ing conditions are being advocated and .being. made, Reading and music can take one out of the every -day slump of 'mind, and can now be had and en- joyed by 'any, farm family,thanks to the rural mail carrier, the phono- graphs, and the radio. Then when snow and cold come, take your annual vacation. Just take it, whether you can afford it or net. Go to some city, visit friends or relatives and dosome sight-seeing, or attend seine farmers' convention, take one of the , short courses in an agricultural ahool,,take. anything, but be sure to take something. Get out. Crowd in all the plays, lectures and concerts that time will permit. . Eat . at hotels and restaurants, and mingle with peo- ple, for farm life is in a way- a soli- tary,one. When, tired out, you are at hoine again with the round of familiar duties you will find that you have gained enough of a mental stimulus to last you, through the year. I can not get the viewpoint of those women Who hate farm life, and I spent some twelve years living among the cave -dweller occupants of 'the modern .city office building, I had to work eight hours a day, and spent the remainderof my weking hours in try- ing to keep' body and ,clothes in eon= elitaion for another day. A. theatre, a concert, or a restaurant dinner was as, much of a red -Better occurrence then AS it is new, when I live on the fart s, Personally, I' prefer the farm and its hard work to any office work, 1 wisih that every woman who hates tlhe'farin might he able to week in 'a city fox a while. Then r she' still hated the farm, heaeen and earth eelieuld be =oval to keep' her away trete it, tee every efficiency'•device known i, " t"i l7'taianl z td t� ghtenyour labii, if tore so that steps may be saved, will then go on and describe and illustrate the making of intricate desserts, coI- orful entrees, and camouflaged vege- tables. Perhaps the brain -weary city worker does require some temptation to eat, but the {best way to deal media- farm ith+afarm family appetite is to have en- ough to go around twice. After arranging everything so, that A all walking in the kitchen is done in a straight line, no matter if a curve might :lead us; to the wonderful sight of blooming holly -locks under the window, the water -system is the next point of attack. The. drudgery at pumping and lifting and carrying pointed out. On one of your trips to a neatly city just take time to vi"sit some gymnasiium; Chore you will lied, many •city housewives busy "exerei ing" to reduce weight. Wates g g " b thane" eeereises closely, and what do yte ase? Lifting, 'earrying, arm c .c iette0, einultar to pumping, why, yes, the J they soli are,, OLD Dili!smaxtuG I j . ranacCO y ThesTobacco of you want to and can afford it; but let me pump a tin -cupful of water, clear . and sparkling, • from the well, while my eyes linger on the surf of a ripening field of wheat, coming' up against the breakwater of the wire fence, and like the small boy I will say to any city worker: "bots better'ii your'n." Culling Improves Progeny. 'Hens that are born loafers usually begin by July "to quit their job . of egg laying and start moulting, taking most of the summer and fall. to finish the replacement of old feathers with a new coat of plumage. This is one of the outstanding characteristics of the unprofitable hen, and the •poultry- man who keeps close watch of his flock mayy use it to his advantage in culling out the undesirable birds. But this is not the only -dependable indication of what may be expected of the hens in a flock. There are several things that the wide-awake poultryman looks for at this seas.on.;.. The,- low producer, hav- ing small demand ferthe yellow coher- ing matter manufactured by her body, puts it into her legs and beak, making them a rich yellow. The busy hen uses the color' in touching up the • yolks of eggs and her legs and beak become pale. These birds with pale legs and beaks may not look so well or so. healthy as the others,,but they are the ones it pays to keep. In fact, the hen that is most .beautiful in summer and fall shpuld always be under suspicion. On closerexamination it will be found that the loafer has a scaly and shrunken comb, while the busy hen will have a plump comb of a bright red color. The =hen that has stopped laying will have her pelvic bones con- siderably contracted and the distance between the 'bones of the pelvic arch and the lower end of the keel will -be materially reduced. She should be an early candidate for the ketole. '. The heavy layer will show no signs of moulting at this season, although she may have been produieng since last fall, but will stick to business until late fall, sometimes rounding out a full year of continuous egg produc- tion. This year. ound laying not only means more eggs, but also that a higher price is received for them as a large proportion of them are laid in winter, late summer and fall when pricesaro up. The early moulder lays most of her eggs during the flush sea- son. The hen that can keep up pro- duction under the comparatively un- favoajable conditions that obtain odt-. side of the natural breeding season has outstanding vigoe and stamina. The wise poultryman will lose no time in culling outthese' peer pro deicers of ,cheap eggs. He will start this summa.' building the foundatign'' for a•"flock of n+ongecl stance layers.' The birds tan be selected. now and next spring, after a shoat rest in the winter, their eggs will produce a high percentage .of strong, healthy cihcks that are almost •certain to make better... records in flock production. If good sieve are 'selected the iinprovenient will be surprisingly rapid. New buildings ti 1500000' will be opened by the Canadian Na- tional Exhibition this year, including the Coliseum and the Puxe Food build- ing. • Presume not upon your friendships. Parents as Educators Cultivating a Child's Sense of Humor BY EDITH LOCIIRIDGE REID. We are all familiar with the old's•ay,- ing that a sense of humor is a sav- ing grace, but. even though we adults, mothers ani: teachers, appreciate this trait, too often we neglect the oppor- tunity to encourage it in the ,child. All children love a joke. Even very young children are quick to catch a pun our a play on words. They are always ready for .a good laugh, and they are all the happier if some one will enjoy the laugh with them. Fortunate indeed is the child who has a teacher who indulges a: sense of humor in Moth herself and her chi1- ,dren. And if these same pupils receive. further encouragement at . home through mother, they develop a clean wit which is, a joy even while they are small. The . children who ' daily play under my window make remarks - that' are clever enough for any - writer to use in his daily newspaper depart- ment, but I am not surpised at their, remarks when I know the teacher' who has them in charge at least four hours each day. She is always bubbling with mirth and never allows the tire- some details :af routine to dull her perspective. She never loses a chance to turn a word or a phrase at the pro -1 per moment iso that the children catch the humor. And they grow to like this game of matching wits with the keenly alert' mind of the joking teach- er. I esitedthat teaelter's room one day and the 'does was writing a tempo- siti-on -on "Mother' Ruth. raised hex a ked "How de you spell hand and s , y 1tell `awwful' ?" Miss Allen looked at her a moment in. surprise and then said, "Why Ruth, yeti don't mean you're using teat word in a talk ,about `Mahe ere" Ruth's eyes danced and a baload smile ,broke over° her :face as she • re- plied, "I just asked that on �purpos•e to p see yeti look surprised: I know bow to spell that wordy end Pm saying 't'ny mother dose awful nice things for me." The idea was that the child planned to use that wore (this is not the place to discuss the propriety of, its use) and when she saw the oppor- tunity for a joke, she felt at liberty to share her discovery with the teacher because there was that certainty of appreciation which Miss Allen` had en- couraged. ncouraged. Yesterday that same crowd of chit dren to which I have previously re- ferred was exploring the mysteries of a new house in ,pa'ocess of enostruction. The carpenters had laid the shingles around the top of the roof in bunches just as they came from the lumber yards, ,and Dorothy had never happen- ed to see shingles in that shape be - fare. So she said carelessly, "I didn't know shingles canoe that way," and Bobbie, catching the remark quick as a wink, shouted "How did you think they came, in paste board boxes wrap. per in pink tissue,paper?" Now Bab- bee goes " to school to Miss Allen, and in addition he 'comes from a fatrrily who, although very modestly endowed financially, have a wonderful faculty of getting fun out of life. They can construct a gloriously happy hone on the very foundation of adversity, ply because they mix in that wonder- ful •saving grace, a sense cif humor. Aside from teaching the children this happy trait, it is a most helpful factor in adding zest to the daily tasks, c2 the teacher. A good laugh is a splendid nerve tonic, asany physician will testify, and the :tension of ever- lastingly -keeping -at -it can be relieved ninny times during the ;day ,by rills well -directed habitof roaming. off Loa, a moment into "lighter vein"" Some children ss''well as ;adults are more richly endowed c y tics d by tatters atuio than others with this aheeacteeisfie ,o humor, or_ • 7 � tTmO ,butt it is .2'orid+eeeti what l i _... i i cultivation of even the tiniest germ will prorince 1.' even in 4,,;e ;, boost i 0 and seemingly dullest individual.