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L& Education
AbTD SUCCESSFUL FARMING
Or Andrew K Sovle
Protecting 1 the Garden Prom Insects
Insects Jo tremendous damage in
our gardens each year. In fact, their
depredations prevent many people
from securing proper returns from
the seeds they plant. It is manifest
ly not worth while to invest one’s
time and effort in the cultivation of
a plat of ground unless he is will
ing to protect the growing crops
as effectively as possible from loss
and damage by insects.
There are two classes of these
pests which must be fought and
overcome. First, there are thseo that
destroy the plant by eating or
chewing it up. Second, there are
those that injure growing crops
through sucking out the juices of
the plant. Insects which do their
uamage by eating can be destroyed
through the agency of poison such
as arsenate of lead and Paris green.
Those which subsist on the juices
are b?st combated by contact insec
ticides. The substances used for
this purpose are soap, decoctions of
tobacco and kerosene emulsion.
A short sumnjary of the more
common of the biting and sucking
insects and the best, means of con
trolling and comparing them is
presented below. These facts rep
resent the best information which
it has been possible to gather to
gether on this subject by the ex
perts of the Georgia State College
of Agriculture.
Asparagus Beetle. This pest is
not yet of any serious moment in
this state. It has been reported as
far south as North Carolina, and
some day it may appear in Geor
gia.
They may be controlled to some
extent by cutting off the shoots in
the early spring, also by allowing
several old seed stems to remain
at the end of the season and thor
oughly poisoning them with arsen
ical poison, or after the beetles
have accumulated upon them they
can be burned. As soon as the
spring cutting of the asparagus is
over the plants should be sprayed
with arsenate of lead.
Diabrotica Beetles. Several small
beetles are found in the garden.
One is known as the bean beetle,
and another the striped cucumber
beetle. They do not, however, con
fine themselves to any one partic
ular plant. Especially is this true
of the twelve spotted Diabrotica,
the larva of which is called the
southern cornroot worm, or the bud
worm. This insect will attack beans,
watermelons, cantaloupes, cucum
bers and like vegetables, and is
a serious pest.
These little beetles are small and
are from one-seventh to about one
fourth of an inch long. They eat
the foliage of the plants. Most ev
ery, one is familiar with the ap
pearance of beans soon after they
come up, with leaves full of holes
made by this insect. The adults live
oyer winter under some kind of rub
bish and appear usually about
March, egg-laying beginning in
April.
To destroy these beetles, spray
with arsenate of lead soon after
the plants come out of the ground.
By spraying early the insects are
killed before they have a chance
to lay eggs.
Cabbage Worm. This is the larva
of the white butterfly that i*s so
often seen flitting about the gar
dens. These butterflies emerge ear
ly in the spring and are easily rec- j
ognized. They are white, with a ,
marking of black near the tip of
the fore wings. They begin laying I
eggs, which hatch in about a week
into a little green worm. This worm
attacks practically all of the com
mon plants belonging to the mus
tard family, such as cabbage, col
lard, and cauliflower. They eat
voraciously and grow very rapidly.
In from ten days to two weeks they
are fully grown and at that time
they are about one and one-fourth
inches long. They attach themselves
to some plant pupate, and in about
two weeks thereafter the.butterflies ;
appear to start another generation.
These worms can be controlled by
spraying or dusting with Paris
green.
Corn Ear Worm. This pest not
only attacks the end of the ear of
corn, being especially detrimental on
sweet corn, but it also attacks to
matoes, eating into them and de- |
stroying the fruits. This same worm >
is also found on cotton bolls. The |
injurious stage of this pest is the |
larva, and Its parent is a moth. The
eggs for the first brood are, laid
on corn, beans, or whatever food
plant may be available, and hatch
in three to five days. Caterpillars
at this stage will often attack
young corn when it is about knee
high. They are sometimes called
the bud worm. In two and one-half
weeks or so they become full grown
and burrow from two to five inches
into the soil, where they change
to pupa, and in about two weeks
the moth emerges again. It is the
second generation that injures the
ends of corn ears, for they appear
about the time the corn is in silk
and the moths prefer to lay their
eggs upon the silk of the corn. Oth
er generations, appearing after the
corn is too hard to be injured,
eat the fruit. There are four full
broods of this insect in the gulf
states.
Where these pests are eating the
leaves or outside of fruits, they can
be controlled by spraying with ar
senate of lead or Paris green. When
they get into the end of the ear
of corn nothing can be done to pre
vent their damage. In the home gar
den the ends of the ears can be
easily examined, and the worms
killed by hand. Such a method, how
ever. is not adaptable to general
field conditions. Do not plant toma
toes and corn close together, as the
pests will attack both crops. All
tomatoes Infested with these worms
should be gathered and destroyed
by burying or feeding to hogs.
Cucumber Pickle Worm. Some
times called cantaloupe pickle worm.
This is probably the most serious
pest on cantaloupes, squash and
cucumbers that we have. It injures
the blossom, the leaves and the
stem, but more the fruit. The adult
moth Is brownish in color. The
winter is passed as a pupa in dry
and folded leaves on the ground.
The egg is laid on the flower, bud
or tender terminals. During warm
weather it takes about fourteen days
for the larvae to complete their
growth. They spin a light cocoon
in the fold of a. leaf. Soon the adult
appears and another generation is
started. There are four generations
of this pest in the south. It was
noticed several years ago by Mr.
Quaintance that this moth preferred
to lay her eggs on the blossoms of
squash vines, and this suggests the
use of a quash as a tran crop for
the pickle worm. We have not been
able to control it as yet. through
the use of arsenical poisons such
as Paris green and arsenate of lead.
Potato Beetle. This is a very com
„ mon garden insect, well known to
everybody. The adult is 'a beetle,
possibly one-half inch In length, of
a yellowish brown color, with dark
stripes running longitudinally on
its wing covers. The larva is an
ugly ’ shaped reddish grub that
hears very little resemblance to the
adult. This nest is detrimental both
in its adult and larval stages. Tn
the late fall the beetles »nter the
ground, and s*ay there until spring.
As soon as the young potatoes or
other plants belong!"* to the «”ne
e 3 mjly are up. the female Iv<-u her
yellow eggs on the underside c.f
the leaves. Tn about a week imi.i
mernhle small lar V »e hatch out. and
rapidly attack tl e potato foliage.
Tn ? 1-’ to 3 weeks the larvae ho.
come full grown and enter the
ear‘h. where they nupate. Tn a
week Or two the m'nlt. beetles ati
nesr feenl’’. They feed for -.while and
*hen begin the laying of eggs for
the second generation.
Th’s nest is not only serious on
the Irish potatoes, hut >t is also
very detrimental to •the egg nDnts.
and sometimes causes serious dam
age on the tomatoes.
Spraying with arsenate of lead
or Paris green will control this pest
easily.
Cut Worms. There are numerous
species of these worms. Every one
is familiar with their work. A great
many of them are the larvae div. sp.
of moths. Others belong to othei
classes of insects. The methods or
control lie in prevention. A small 1 pa-
THE ATLANTA TRI-WEEKLY JOURNAL.
2 / Sb*
MB
per collar large enough to admit pien
tv of light and air around the stem
of the plant, and tall enough to
extend an inch or two above and
below the surface of the ground,
will usually prevent injury from
these pests. If they are serious,
as they have been in previous years
it is 'well to put the ground in
readiness for planting by turning
under all of the grass and other
plants that may be growing there
on, then make up little balls of
bran and molasses mixed with some
Paris green. These should be scat
tered about the ground before the
plants are set out. As there is noth
ing else for the cut worms to eat,
they will attack this material and
the* poison will kill them. It is
sometimes of service to put one of
these balls of poisoned bran by
each plant when it is set.
The Harlequin Bug. (Sometimes
called Calico Back, Terrapin bug,
Fire bug, Yankee bug, or Sherman
bug.) This bug is probably one or
the hardest garden pests to control.
The adults pass the winter in old
cabbage stems and under leaves and
other rubbish. They appear in the
spring and the eggs for the nrst
generation are deposited on collard,
turnips, wild mustard, or other
plants belonging to the mustard
family. In about a week these first
eggs hatch and the insects attack
most* any of the mustard family that
happens to be at hand. They become
full grown in about four weeks.
The nymphs are something like
adults but the wings do not ap
pear until after the fifth moult,
when the adult is ready to begin
laying eggs again. In our warm
countries there are several genera
tions in a year.
The best method of control Is to
keep all rubbish and old cabbage
stumps out of the field and to use
trap crops. A trap crop of turnips
can be planted to attract the first
insects that appear in the spring.
They can be killed upon this crop
by an application of pure kerosene
oil. or as a feasible on a small
scale, by the covering of the trap
crop with a dry mulch and burn
ing it over. In the fall after a crop
is harvested some heads of cab
bage may be left in the field for
the bugs to collect upon. They can
then be destroyed to a great ex
tent before they hibernate.
Plant Lice. Most every plant Is
attacked by a louse. Especially are
they serious on cabbage and let
tuce. They multiply very rapidly
and suck the juices of the plants,
and though they do not often kill
a plant, they render it unfit for use.
The pest is distributed from plant
to plant by a winged generation.
As a general thing, when a cab
bage or lettuce head becomes very
badly infested It should be taken
out of the patch Immediately and
destroyed. When these little pests
begin first to appear, spraying
them with kerosene emulsion, soan
or tobacco decoction will usually
control them.
Squash Bugs. Every one Is fa
miliar with these insects as they
are quite common in gardens. When
the vines begin to run these brown
ish. black bugs anpear and for a
while the females deposit their eggs
mostly on the under side of the
leaves. In a week or so, depending
nnon temperature, these eggs hatch.
The young nymphs are at first bril
liantly colored, but later change to
a jet black. They feed unon the
mices of the plants for the next
fo”r or five weeks until they- are
full grown. Hand-picking is.the best
method of controlling these nests,
for any Insecticide that would he
strong enough to kill them would
also seriously Injure the nlants.
One will find other sucking in
seotg In the garden, but the three
above discussed are probablj' the
most important.
Using Hydrated Kime in Spray Mix
tures.
H. E. F..> LaGrange, Ga.,
Writes: Is ground or hydrated
. lime suitable for making a
spray mixture for spraying
fruit trees.
We would not advise the use of
hydrated time in the making of
spray mixtures to be used on fruit
trees. It can be done probably with
a fair measure of success in an
emergency. Hydrated lime, of
bourse, is weaker than caustic, burnt,
stone or builders’ lime, which w<=
recommend and advise you to use.
A good grade of hydrated lime
might he used in an emergency to
make lime sulphur provided you use
boiling water with.lt. <>ha coui.l
possibly use hydrated lime some
times to make Bordeaux mixture.
The results from its use ’or either
of tho purposes indicated are not
Lkely to be as satisfactory as when
stone lime is used. Hydrated lime
is, as a rule, more Costly in pro
portion than builders’ lime because
it contains a water on which
there is no use paying transporta
tion and handling charges.
Preserving Bgge in Water Glass
E. S. L., Austell, Ga., writes:
I used successfully last year
water glass for preserving eggs.
I wish to know if the same
liquid can be used again this
year. How long will eggs keep
after being removed from the
liquid?
Water glass diluted and used as
a preservative for eggs last sea
son could not be used with satis
faction or success this year. It Will
be necessary for you to prepare a
fresh solution of this material. s ln
doing this, you should exercise great
care to have the crock or contain
er thoroughly sterilized. Boil and
cool the water to be used In dilut
ing the water glass. Dilute in the
proportion of one part of water
glass to ten parts of water. It Is
not desirable to keep eggs for any
length of time after they have been
removed from the water glass. In
preserving eggs by this method, re
member that they should be stored
in a dark cellar where the tem
perature can be kept at approximate
ly 60 degrees. The eggs selected for
pres'erving should be from a healthy
flock kept under sanitary conditions.
Only non-fertile eggs should be
stored. This is a matter of the ut
most importance to bear In mind.
Harvesting Clover Seed in Georgia
R. T. A.. Riverdale. Ga., writes: •
Please tell me the best method
of gathering crimson and bur
clover seed.
If you wish to gather crimson and
bur clover seed on a large scale, it
would probably be advisable to pur
chase a heading machine by which
you could gather the heads effective
ly and then thresh them out and pre
pare the seed for market. If voti de
sire to harvest only a relatively
small amount of seed, probably the
quickest and cheapest method ot
procedure would be to use a hand
header. These may be purchased ot
they may be made as follows: Take
a piece of sheet metal or heavy gal
vanized iron and cut a series ot
rather long serrated teeth on the
front edge. The box may he made ot
any convenient width 4»nd depth out
of pine lumber. Cut it at handle
through the piece that forms the
back. Nail the sheet of metal on the
bottom with the teeth to the front
side. By swinging this rapidly
against the seed heads of either va
riety of these clovers, you can gath
er quite a large amount of seed in
a relatively short time. Another
i method, of course, would lie to cut
! the crimson clover when it is ripe
and thresh it carefully when It Is
dried out. You would have to cleanse
i the seed by winnowing it througn
a fanning mill in which the sieves.
I are adjusted so as to property sepa
rate the seed from the trash. Bin
clover could he raked up, threshed
out by l suitable machinery and win-
I no wed out in a fanning mill.
Making H- - from Velvet Beans
J. M. P.. Putnev. Ga.. writes:
Will velvet bean vines make suit
able hay. and is It advisable to
plant velvet heans and cowpeas
together for hay- purposes?
Velvet bean vines will not make a
I satisfactory quality of hay. The rea
sons for this are not difficult to
understand. This is rather a long
season crop, and it contains a great
deal of wate’-. When cured the 'eaves
dry up rapidly- and shatter easily.
Hence, a la’-ge percentage of them
are lost whenever an attempt is
Is the Price of Beef High? '
Producers No;” Consumer, “Yes”
“Is the price of beef high?”
Tlys question is heard on all sides
today. The producer says, “No, con
sidering the price I get for my
cattle.” The consumer says. Yes,.”
So there you have it. üßt whatever
the right answer, the fact remains
that prices may go higher if there is
not enough beef to supply the de
mand for juicy steaks and rib roasts
with brown gravy.
On the. other hand, prices may de
cline if an over-supply is produced.
What is the present situation? We
have today less beef in sight than
for several years, according to re
ports to the United States depart
ment of agriculture, which is kept
closely advised as to conditions on
the ranges and in the markets. The
present price of feed stuffs, scarcity
of farm labor, reduced numbers of
breeding animals, and a small mar
gin of profits to the producer the
past year are all factors which tend
to limit production, and impress the
importance of maintaining produc
tion and producing beef as cheaply
as possible.
Utilize Pastures to the Utmost
For an answer to this question, we
must look to Mother Earth. This is
springtime, the crops are planted,
the grass is growing, and the cattle
are on the green. This means, m
Its last analysis, utilize pasture to
the limit, conserve roughages to the
utmost, and produce forages and
feeding stuffs which will make the
most beef at least cost.
The bureau of animal industry of
the department of agriculture has
for several years been studying the
problem of utilizing these feeds to
best advantage. In 1914 the depart
ment. in co-operation with the West
Virginia agricultural station, began
a series of beef-cattle experiments
in Greenbrier county, West Virginia,
to solve beef production problems
in the Appalachian mountain region.
This station is located in the south
western part of the state, in the
blue grass area, and among the prob
lems undertaken are: First, most eco
nomical and satisfactory rations for
wintering beef steers: second, the
influence of these rations upon the
gains of steers the following summer
from grass.
The results of the experiments ap
ply not to West Virginia, alone, but
to all states having similar condi
tions, which, in fact, includes the
whole Appalacian region, extending
from southern Tennessee to New
York. It is within this general area
that abundant pastures, cut-over and
waste lands is found. producing
abundant pasture of good quality
Points the Housekeeper Should Know
About Selecting Beef for Her Table
Have you wondered just why sir
loin steaks could be purchased from
one market at 30 cents while an
other dealer charged 50 cents for
the same cut on that same day?
Or why the rump roast you ordered
last week was juicy and tender while
the one which you ordered yesterday
was tough and stringy, although you
paid the same price per pound for
both and purchased them from the
same dealer?
The fact that sirloin steaks can
be purchased at such variable prices
on the same day does not necessarily
mean that one dealer is undersell
ing the other on the same article.
The first may be a sirloin cut from
a cow or steer of common grade
while the latter is from a cow or
steer of good or choice grade. The
two roasts no doubt varied just as
widely jn grade. As a rule, a dealer
habitually carries the same grade of
meat, that best suited to his class
of customers. However, when a deal
er does carry more than one grade
of meat, he usually sells the same
cuts from all grades at the same
price. Until the public learns that
grade as well as cut determines the
quality of beef and should also de
termine the price, cuts of low grade
will be retailed at the same price
that similar cuts of good or choice
grade command, although the dif
ference in wholesale price is some
times as much as 7 or 8 cents per
pound between medium grade and
common meat. The housewife should
know not only the cuts of meat but
should learn to distinguish between
these grades if she would select her
meat wisely and economically.
How to Tell the Grades
Four grades, choice, good, medium,
and common, which cover all dress
ed beef usually offered for sale to
retail meat dealers, have been adopt
ed by the bureau of markets, Uni
ted States department of agricul
ture. These grades are determined
by the following points:
1. The color and texture of the
lean meat: and the extent to which
it is marbled with fat.
2. The thickness of meat covering
the bone; that is the proportion of
meat to bone.
3. The amount and character of
How to Check Sweet Potato Disease
Owing to large losses which dis
ease and decay have caused in the
sweet potato crop held in storage
this winter, particularly in the
south. United .States Departmdht of
Agriculture specialists earnestly rec
ommend that growers take steps at
an early date to prevent the use of
diseafeed potatoes for bedding, thus
protecting the next crop from the
danger of further losses. The three
points upon which special emphasis
is laid are:
Careful selection and disinfection
of seed potatoes.
Care in preparing hotbed4*
Crop rotations.
Before the potatoes are bedded
they should be carefully picked over.
All with black-rot spots and all bad
ly mutilated potatoes should be
thrown out. The sound, healthy ones
should then be disinfected by im
mersing them for ten minutes in a
solution made by dissolving one
ounce of mercuric chloride crystals
in eight gallons of water. In this
work only wooden receptacles should
be used.
For treating a large quantity of
potatoes about 50 gallons cf the so
lution may be made up at one time.
After treating the first ten bushels
in this 50 gallons, one-half ounce
more of the mercuric chloride crys
tals should be added, and also
enough water to bring the total
amount of the solution once more up
to 50 gallons. The mercuric chloride
crystals will dissolve readily in hot
water. The potatoes should be treat
ed just before bedding. Rinsing in
water after the treatment is not nec
essary.
If mercuric chloride cannot be
obtained, the pototes may be disin-
made to cure hay from this crop. We
would much prefer to use cowpeas
for hay production as compared with
velvet beans. A better plan stih
from our point of view would be to
use cowpeas and Tennessee millet.
This makes an excellent quality oi
hay, if cured at the right stage ot
development. It is a combination crop
very extensively used in .east Ten
nessee for hay-making. This hay
is fed with success and satisfaction
to all classes of stock. About a peek
of millet seed or not more than a
half bushel at the outside mixed
with a bushel of early-maturing cow
peas is about the right amount of
grain to sow per acre. You should
get the earliest-maturing variety ot
cowpeas possible because millet ma
tures in about ninety days and it is
desirable that both of these crops
be ready io cut at about the same
time. Millet should be cut when
in the early dough stage, as rhe
seed, if allowed to mature, act too
freely on the kidneys, particularly
of horses and mules. Hay made from
this crop when the millet is ripe is,
therefore not of a very satisfactory
quality to feed to the classes or
stock indicated.
Fight on German Goods
HOBART. Tasmania. —Thousands
of women have joined the “No Ger
man society” to fight the present big
release of German goods on the mar
kets. The shops here are selling pre
war German manufactures exclu
sively. -
for beef production. The summers
are not too hot. nor the winters too
cold. The water supply is plentiful,
being provided by springs and small
streams that gush out of the lime
stone hillsides and down the valleys
unpolluted by contaminating influ
ences.
Abundant Pastures Available
The south, with its delightful cli
mate and long grazing period of ap
proximately ten months of the year,
where carpet grass, Bermuda and
other kinds almost equally as nutri
tious abound over the plains, the
cut-over regions and waste lands of
this area. The Great Lakes region,
properly termed ‘‘clover land,” where
millions of acres today are not com
pletely utilized by live pro
vide 'abundant pasture that is well
adapted for beef production.
The west, with its vast plains,
wide prairies and the resources of
forests and streams, may be used
by the beef producer Id even better
advantage, although over stocking is
a factor not to be overlooked.
Will this vast area of unused pas
ture be used for immediate produc
tion? No; it’s a more difficult prob
lem than that. To use some of it
involves an expense not justified by
present prices of cattle.
The danger of overstocking, with
its attendant loss in profit, is fre
quently emphasized, but the de
creased returns due to understocking
should be considered as well. When
the number of cattle on ft given area
fail to keep the grass short, that
which i$- allowed to grow becomes
less palatable and less nutritive.
Moreover, objectionable weeds are
certain to gain a foothold.
Utilization Increases Hand Value
By utilizing to the fullest extent
the land devoted to pasture, the val
ue of the land is increased and
greater profit results. A system of
careful management makes it pos
sible to use higher-priced land, than
has heretofore been used for prof
itable beef production. The intelli
gent uses of pasture gives a return
which compares favorably with that
from the cropping system, but re
quires less labor.
It is not possible to state just how
many cattle should be allowed to the
acre for grazing purposes, because
this is determined largely by the
quality and stand of grass, which
is, of course, variable’.
In most sections the beef producer
who will obtain the largest net re
turns is the man w»o will stock his
pastures so that the grass is kept
fairly short but in good condition
throughout the grazing period.
I the outside fat and its general dis
tribution and color.
4. The amount of inside fat, such
as kidney fat on the loin cut and
the fat on the inside of the ribs.
Choice grade beef is not at pres
ent found regularly in most mar
kets, and the supply is limited. In
it the characteristics of the gootl
grade are accentuated—pronounced
marbling of fat, smooth, uniform
outside covering of clear white fat,
and firm fine textured flesh of light
red color. •»
Good grade beef has lean meat of
light to medium-red color, of firm,
even texture and a fairly regular
distribution of fat through the lean,
giving the meat a slightly marblea
or mottled appearance. The fat is
I firm and usually a creamy white.
The outer covering of fat is smooth
and firm and should be evenly dis
tributed over the loins and ribs.
Medium grade beef has meat of
i coarse texture and dark color wnich
is inclined to be flabby and watery.
The fat is flabby and usually yel
lowish in color and is unevenly dis
tributed, there being almost no in
side fat and a scanty and irregular
I outside covering;
Common Grade Dark
Common grade beef has a very
high percentage of >bone to meat.
The meat is extremely coarse in tex
ture with no marbling of fat; is
dark in color and very watery. The
fat, which is very scanty, is usually
! of a pronounced yellow color.
i The cuts of good grade beef, when
! compared with cuts of common
I grade, are much more palatable, but
I this is not all. A series of tests
1 made in the experimental kitchen of
the department of agriculture on
the cooking quality of the differ
ent grades of beef shows that the
shrinkage in cooking is much great
er for common grade, watery meat
than from good grade meat; also,
the proportion of bone to meat is
higher in the common grade, mak
ing the amount of cooked edible
meat obtained from one pound as
purchased of common grade meat
I considerably lower than the amount
i from a pound of good grade meat
i of similar cut.
fected by immersing for 5 minutes
in a solution of formaldehyde (com
mercial, 40 per cent) made by dilut
ing one quart of the formaldehyde
with 50 gallons of water. This solu
tion can be used repeatedly without
losing strength. The potatoes need
not be rinsed but should be bedded
soon after treatment.
Preparation of Hotbed
If the old hotbed is to be used,’the
dirt should be carted away and re
placed by new soil or sand from the
woods or elsewhere where sweet po
tatoes have never been grown. The
framwork should be disinfected by
spraying with a solution of formal
dehyde similar to that recommended
above. All decayed sweet potatoes
and rubbish likely to harbor the dis
ease germs should be raked up from
around the bed and carted, off or,
preferably, burned.
Cover the potatoes with soil or
sand of the same sort as that used in
making up the hotbed. If manure is
used for heating be sure that it has
not been infected with the disease
germs by rotted sweet potatoes
thrown -on it. If the bed is near the
barnyard, fence it in or cover it -with
chicken wire to keep chickens, dogs,
or other animals from running over
it. since they may carry the disease
germs on their feet.
Crop Rotation Recommended
By carefully following thees direc
tions, slips free of disease may be
grown, but they may still become
diseased if they are planted on
ground where diseased sweet pota
toes were raised the previous year.
Therefore it is necessary to plant the
slips on new ground or on ground
where sweet potatoes have not been
growm for several years.
50,000 Farmers Own Trucks
At least 50,000 farmers in the
United States own motor trucks
which they use on their farms. This
is shown by a preliminary survey of
the ownership and use of motor
trucks by farmers undertaken by the
Office of Farm Management and the
Bureau of Crop Estimates of the
United States Department of Agri
culture. The data secured by this
inquiry answer many questions
which have been asked repeatedly in
recent years regarding the extent
to which motor vehicles are used tor
farm hauling.
The figures on which totals v for
the nation and the several states are
based were secured from approxi
mately 35,000 selected crop reports
of the Bureau jf Crop Estimates.
This survey can scarcely be con
sidered a complete census for it is
probable that in some localities the
crop reporters were not acquainted
with all the truck owners but it is
certain that a very large per cent
have been listed. It is believed that
in no state were less than 75 per
cent of the trucks reported. If not
complete in every respect the fig
ures show the relative distribution
very satisfactorily.
Little or no damage to wheat is
reported from cold or insect pests.
There has been too much rain for
low places.
Sugar Beets Ample for Two Years;
Industry Growing in This Country
The supply of sugar-beet seed in
the United States is ample for two
years’ normal requirements, accord
ing to close observers in the bureau
of markets. United States department
of agriculture, and with a normal
domestic production of seed during
1920 and 1921 the United States
should be independent of further im
ports to meet the requirements in
1922.
The sugar-beet seed growing indus
try in this country is firmly estab
lished and is gradually increasing.
In 1918, 5,900,000 pounds of sugar
beet seed was produced; in 1919, 6,-
700,000 pounds; and the prospective
production for 1920 is over 8.000,000
pounds. However, because of prob
able increased, acreage of commercial
sugar beets, which would increase
the annual consumption of seed, and
because of possible dterioration of
some lots of seed, which would re
duce the surplus, it may be a num
ber of years before the domestic seed
production equals the total require
ments.
The United States has always been
dependent upon other countries for
the larger part of the sugar-beet seed
required for planting. In a nine-year
period ending June 30, 1918. an an
nual importation of 12,500,000 pounds
of seed was made. This quantity
supplemented by a domestic produc
tion during the past four years, equal
How Much Must an Acre
Yield to Be Profitable?
Is the per acre yield of your farm
sufficiently high to make satisfactory
returns on the capital and labor ex
pended in producing crops on it?
This is one of the sixteen questions
that the United States department of
agriculture urges every farmer to
answer for himself in determining
whether or not he is managing his
farm efficiently. In a number' of
farm management studies in the
south, on small farms averaging
twenty-nine acres of crops, the de
partment found under pre-war con
ditions that an average yield of 355
pounds of cotton an acre is required
to make an average farm income
barely sufficient to pay a fair rental
for the use of the land and give the
operator ordinary wages for his labor
and management. Not until the
group of farms with an average of
121 cropped acres was reached did
an average yield of less than 215
pounds of cotton an acre make an av
erage farm income sufficient for rent
and the farmer’s wages. The influ
ence of yield on cost of production
was just as marked with corn and
other crons as with cotton.
Full details as to this and the oth
er fifteen points involved in efficient
farm management are embodied in
United States department of agri
culture circular 83, “Testing Farms
in the South for Efficiency-in Man
had free on application to the depart
ment of agriculture, Washington.
District of Columbia.
Exterminating Harmful
Animals Profitable
Live stock and wool valued at
$20,000,000 are lost annually through
the depredations of wild animals.
The value of farm produce and for
age destroyed each year by rodents
is approximately $300,000,000. It is
estimated that the households of
this country sustain an annual loss
from rats and mice of $200,000,000.
These figures sum up certain of
the larger losses due to destructive
wild life which the biological sur
vey of the United States depart
ment of agriculture is engaged in
reducing as rapidly as possible. A
force of between 400 and 500 expe
rienced hunters was employed by
this bureau during the. past year to
kill predatory animals, many of
which were infected wfith rabies;
thisd isease is often spread from
the wild creatures to domestic ani
mals and frequently endangers hu
mans. In this work of extermina
tion the states and numerous pri
vate organizations have had an im
portant share.
The work of killing rodents —
prairie dogs, ground squirrels, jack
rabbits and cottontails, pocket go
phers, native mice, wood rats, cot
ton rats, etc. —is also carried on
with the co-operation of the state.
During the past fiscaly ear ground
squirrels were poisoned on more
than 14,000,000 acres. In one Idaho
county alone 40,000 rabbits were
killed. In the same period from 75
to 95 per cent of the prairie dogs
found on a total of 2,200,000 acres
were destroyed.
Seed Logged-Off Land
Soon After Burning Over
Tn preparing logged-off land for
pasture, the time of seeding depends
upon when the land is burned over,
according to specialists of the of
fice of farm management of the Unit
i cd States department of agriculture.
I If the burn occurs during July, Au-
I gust, or early in September, the seed
should be sown in the early fall be
fore the ashes have been settled by
the rains.
If seeded in the unsettled ashes,
the first rains that come will cover
the seed sufficiently to secure good
germination. If the burn occurs so
late in the fall that the seed cannot
be sown until during October, it is
best to sow the grasses then and
wait until in February or March to
sow the clover. *
The heaving of the soil during the
late fall apd winter, a condition
caused by alternate thawing and
freezing, often destroys young clover
unless it is sown early enough in
the fall to get a good start. If the
fall-sown clover is destroyed in this
wav it may be reseeded during Feb
ruary or March. When sown in the
I early spring the heaving of the soil
I helps to cover the seed.
Why Is a Boy’s Club?
The boy of today is the farmer of
tomorrow. He is passing through
the changeable, character-building,
and self-developing period of life.
Therefore, every opportunity should
be given him to make an all-round
well-developed, business-like man,
capable of successfully managing
and operating his business affairs
in later life. So says B. O. Williams,
assistant agent of boys’ club work
in South Carolina, who mentions the
following as some of the objects of
boys’ club work:
1. To enlarge the vision of the
boy and to give him definite pur
poses at a very important period of
his life.
2. To interest the boy in improv
ed agricultural methods at a period
when he can most easily be reached.
3. To assist in the development
of the spirit of co-operation in the
family and in the community.
4. To dignify the vocation of
farming, to emphasize its possibili-
i ties, and thus encourage the boys to
| remain on the farm.
j 5, To emphasize the importance
of keeping farm records and ac
‘ counts.
6. To make of the boy a demon
strator of the facts of scientific agri
‘ culture.
I 7. To develop leadership and re
i sponsibility in co-operation and or
! ganization.
i 8. To give him opportunity cf
■ exercising his own judgment to solve
: his own problems.
See your county agent about join-
■ ing the Boys’ Corn, Pig, Calf, or Pea
; nut club.
Father of 22 Jailed
LONDON. Eng.—.Toseph Atterbury,
when arraigned on the charge of
stealing the carcass of a sheep, asked
• the court to be lenient because he
• was the father of twenty-two chil-
I dren. He was given twenty-one
i days in jail.
TUESDAY, JUNE 8. 1020.
to about 40 per cent of the country’s
total requirements, gave an increas
ing surplus of Seed which could be
held over to insure the next year’s
planting.
In 1919 this carry-over supply
dropped to a dangerously low figure
because of inability .to obtain seed
from Europe; and the beet sugar pro
ducing industry in the United States
faced a bare sufficiency of seed for
planting in 1920. Fortunately, the
importation of sugar-beet seed began
again with the first ship t 6 come
from German ports after the close of
the war. In September, 1919, 1,795,-
909 pounds of beet seed came * into
this country, and by April 1, 1920,
15,067,078 pounds in all had been re
ceived. or about 2,500,000 pounds
more than the normal annual impor
tation. The estimated surplus from
the 1919 planting was 13,600,000
pounds, and the domestic production
that year was 6,700,000 pounds, so
that the total supply of seed on April
1, 1920, was about 35,300,000 pounds.
Allowing about 16,000,000 . pounds of
this for planting the commercial
sugar-beet acreage in 1920, there
should be a surplus of 19,300,000
pounds plus the 1920 seed production
to apply against conditions which
may prevail in 1921 and 1922. In
these figures no allowance has been
made for possible deterioration of im
ported seed damaged en route to the
United States or in storage.
Gives Aid in Marketing
Purebred Live Stock
The live stock farmer having only
a few pure-bred animals for sale at
rather infrequent intervals often has
difficulty in disposing of his surplus
profitably, often because purchasers
do not know what he has to sell.
The bureau of markets, United
States department of agriculture, in
co-operation with the state, county
and local agencies, has inaugurated
a plan w’hlch assists buyers in ob
taining information regarding the lo
cation, character and number of
pure-bred animals. The success of
this plan is dependent on the co
operation of the breeders in a county
or community with each other and
with the county agent. The latter’s
office should be the headquarters for
the association. In this office should
be filed complete information regard
ing the pure-bred animals belonging
to the members. Through the coun
ty agent, according to the plan, the
state agent in marketing and the
bureau of markets at Washington
are kept in touch with the supply.
These agencies likewise keep in‘touch
with the buyers and so are able to
serve an increasing number of buy
ers and sellers effectively.
Ten Essentials Listed
1 For Beef Raisers
General improvement in the type
and quality of beef animals the
country over is one of the means
urged by the United States depart
ment of agriculture for bringing
down the high cost of meat to the
consumer and, at the same time, in
creasing the profit of the producer.
Some of the most’essential items in
growing beef on the farm, specialists
of the department say, are:
Plenty of pasture and feed.
The right kind of cows—those that
will produce good calves regularly,
A good, purebred registered bull
—one that will sire good calves per
sistently.
A large, calf crop. This means
that all cows shall drop calves, and
that the Calves shall be properly
cared for at birth.
Proper care’ of the breeding herd
and the calves.
Selection of good heifer calves
to .replace old or inferior ones.
Prevention of disease among the
breeding herd and the younger
stock.
Shelter sufficient to protect the
cattle from both severe cold and
extremely hot weather.
A practical knowledge of fatten
ing cattle for market.
There is a.Farmers Bulletin. No.
1073, on growing beef on the farm
that may be had free on applica
tion to the division of publications,
United States department ofl agri
culture.
Driver Agents Wanted
> 166-in,/
Spring
116-in. s,Jb -
Whecl 1 P rn -
Base 6ion
5-Pass. Touring '
To drive and demonstrate 1920, 4-cyl., 37 H.
I’. BUSH Car —Timken Bearings—-Willard
Batteries—2-Un.it Stag. & Ltg.—Full Float
ing Axle. Write at once for the best Auto
mobile Offer in existence—don’t wait —
tjromnt shipments. Money-back guarantee,
n IT 0 U Address J. H. Bush, Pres., Dept. 0-34
D U n MOTOR CO., Bush Temple, Chicago
MAR E $25 A DAY
With the "Diamond Post
KSmBMHMBMMr Card Gun.” Takes, Fin
ishes Five Different Siz-
J es Photo Post Cards and
m Sumi Buttons, Ready to be
Delivered "ON THE
w SPOT." ' Bi? Money
Maker at picnics, bathing beaehes, fairs,
carnivals. No experience necessary—no dark
room, plates nor films. Small investment!
Large Profits! Write for illns. circular,
FREE. Internationa] Metal & Ferro Co.,
Dept. HA, Chicago.
Sound Yellow Pine Posts, thoroughly seasoned, treated
with creosote under hydraulic pressure Which drives the oil
far into the fibre of the wood. '
’ — ~-_ lH Last twenty to forty years. Cost less and are more duta
■— ble than steel or concrete. Can’t rust or break. Worm-
-t-BL. . ~~"~M proof, moisture proof—proof against soil acids. Easily and
-LaBLJ JT 1 TTTTI IM cheaply set.
Round Creo-pine Fence Posts, 3 to 4. 4J4 to and 6 to
7~1 !■ 7-inch tops in 6 and 7-foot lengths. Other lengths to order
~4 by 6 sawn Creo-pine Posts in 6 and 7-foot lengths for
J 'J board fence construction.
L--" 7” - Write for descriptive booklet. State sizes and . quantities
' ~Bm—Twanted. Club with neighbors and secure special rock-bpttom
''BB- --M prices on assorted rar lots, about 1200 posts. ,
: SOUTHERN WOOD PRESERVING COMPANY '
'' 703 lee Street Atlanta, Ga.
i Ta Manufacturers cf Creo-oine Proditeta
' 1:" Retail Distributors;
West Lumber Co., Atlant.'. Ga.
Carter-Moss Lumber Co., Athens,-Ga. A
. Maple Street Warehouse Co., Carrollton, Ga. I
Side dress yow Cptte-ii with
GERMAN POTASH
KAINIT
20 per cent MANURE SALT ani
NITRATE OF SODA
100 pounds of Manure Sait go as far as 160
pounds cf Kainit and have the sama effact as'
a plant food and plant disease preventive—
Neither one will injure your crop.
For prices write nearest Office of
Nitrate Agencies Company-.
New York Norfolk Savannah Jacksorville New Oilcans Houston. Tex.
Stocks at other leading Atlantic and Gulf Ports
DontSend
aPenny
Stylish Panama Hat
You never had any idea that you could • wear a
Beautiful Panama Hat—for only $2.95. Os course
you didn’t and neither did we think it possible until
we landed this world’s greatest scoop, but there are orS' K “’
of them— ro tiend coupon for yours today—send no money,
pay on arrival and return it if you don’t consider this the Me
tres t hat bargain you ever heard of. Leonard-Morton are
showing men and women everywhere how to save real money
and dress better. This is another example of "how we beat
all competition. Cheap at twice this price.
That’s what we know you will say when the hat arrives—
it’s a beautiful, latest Broadway style, long wearing, shape
holding white Panama with black ribbon band, splendid qual
ity leather sweat band—wear it summer after sum<aer2«d
will hold its shape and always be in style.
Q&aicßf Action—NOW
Our stock of these hats will surely be snapped utf for map
will quickly realize what a stunning bargain this is—so don’t
put on. Remember, not a penny ta send now and-you cap
return the hat to us if not even a bigger value than yqu expect.
Order by Mo. CXBIS. Send today. Be sure to give size.
Leonard-Morton & Co. Dept. 6554 Chicago
I Got ftid of
SKIN TROUBLES
Eezemc.ltcMng,
Fimp2es, Acne
W rentier
Wftat
| Let ERANO-ZEMA.-'
h t?ie ecw scieutifiic <©■£«&
g treatment cSecr ycur f
g skia. 'llacusaaas say -0* /
B they have been cured.
| Such wonderful results for eczema, and
a all Bkin diseases instantly follow the soothing
■ application of Krano-Zema, the new scientific
E treatment, and so confident is the Krnno-Zema
B Co., that they will gladly send any reader a
a full $2.00 size Combined Krano-Zema Treat
! ment. If results are satisfactory, costs you $2.
9 If not, costa notliing. Write for remedy today.
KKANO-ZEMA COMPANY -
| 42-CWayJknd Bldg. Girard. Kansas
WALL PAPER
1,000,000 ROLLS ( Write for Free Sam
j pie Catalog of 100 new
V> “i (designs and colorings.
Roll Why use Paint when 98c
will paper Room 12 x 14, 9 ft- high
Martin Rosenberger,
Send No
Don’t miss this chance to ent your tire eost AfSiA MB
50% and more. We shits at once on ap- KzQt IRB
proval. These ate standard, viaka used /VP
tires, excellent condition, delected by out ■■
experts—rebuilt by expert workmanship. hI
Can readily be guaranteed for 6000 miles. ■■
NOTE—Th.ao ar. not uwd aawed to- El
gather tires—known ae double treade. i El
|
30x3 .$5.60..51.60 34x4 .$ 8.75..52.60 I XJC El
30x3X. 6.60.. 1.75 34x4M. 10.00.; 8.00 | N
32x315. 7.00.. 2.00 86x415. 11.50.. 8.40 1 El
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32x4 . 8.26.. 2.40 36x6 . 12.76.. 3.66 SQC EK
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nfilTF Remember, we guarantee your ■gP
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en arrival. Examine and judge for your
lelf. If not eatiafied-send them back at WSC ’Six
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without question. Be sure to state size J
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CLEVELAND TIRE AND RUBBER OOT )
3105 Michigan Ave., Chicago, 111,
I
I Bee Dee
I
£ Tfte old reliable 1
t BLACK-DRAHCHT
K wrSTockaad poultry I
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: ttk.yourJohbflit B
ailiamui utout 899 ■
7