The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-03-29

Cattie-ssSentinel" POinters-GoOd Cutlery
and Good CoOiinG-A Collection of New
Recipes.
The grange is aliying protest against the
unjust exactions OF the middlemen. While
this organization has many other objects.
fundamental one was tne reduction OF the
charges that are placed upon the goods
between the time when they leave the
producer and when they reach the con-
sumer. The degree of success attained by
this order may be a matter of dispute.
but ali farmers are sure tnat there is great
room for improvement. The laboring
man OF the city finds fruits TOO costly for
his table when the grower of such fruits
has Just cause of complaint that his profits
are not proportionate to his investment
and energy.
Such d condition of things should not
exist, and there is a radical wrong some
where when such complaints are justih-
able. The consumer of country produce
is very sure that the farmer must be get
ting high prices and is prospecting, while
the farmer is troubled because city folks,
as he thinks. are living too cheaply off his
labor. Then, too, both classes are in
clined to blame the middieman not a
Ht;le for the state of affairs that is not TO
their liking. What is wrong?
In the first place some blame attaches
TO US as farmers, and we should bear it
patiently or remove the cause. The wants
OF particular markets are not sufficiently
studied. and errors in preparing produce
OF ell kinds are ade. Every market has
its peculiar requirements, whether the
produce be fowl or other meats, or fruits
or vegetables. Commission men receive
a great deal Of stuff that has little sale I'M
I'll the markets become bare OF desirable
supplies, aud natural waste from delay
causes loss 10 the shippers. The top
prices are never obtained Tor the goods OF
many shippers merely because they are
not as desirable as those from COMPETE
tors. We must offer what people want to
buy and must cater to their yTejudIces and
notions.
But the farmer is right in laying much
blame 1T the door of the middleman. The
railroads are very human in their desire
10 charge al the business will bear" Just
as we might do il we we're to exchange
places. The trouble is that public car
riers are pub ic servants whose sets are
without practical supervision The ele-
ment OF competition as a regulator of
prices has been well nigh eliminate
Then the commission q erchants are
not without blame. They too often in
duce shipments by quotations that mis-
lead Quantities OF produce are hurried to
market. only to find it Quilted. and there is
loss from shrinkage or delay There is
TOO much thought OF large receipts and
commissions. and too lit e thought Of the
growers interests Very naturally thew
want consignments whether the grower
realizes fair price or not, and vet, stand
ing rs they do. as growers' AGENTS. thew
should regard the interests Of all and more
often discourage shipments than they do.
Some firms DO practice this. but the rule
Is not observed by all. The remedy for
TINS lies with the farmers and shippers.
Patronize none but the honorable houses
and then trust them implicitly. IL their
Rdvices are found good. 10 not be tempted
by the aiiuTing price currents oil unknown
men.
Still. do the best We may, there is too
much difference between growers and
consumers prices. Oitentimes one is
double and even treble the other. The
cheap exchange OF goods is e problem vet
UDsOlved We need fewer middlemen
and more continuous service. We have
noticed this question &c il Affects the
country shipper, and hope soon to COM
ment upon 1t as affecting the country con-
sumner OF manufactured goods In the
latter case there are some remedies for
evils thai all see, and a lew are availing
themselves OF IL They ein cooperation
and IN thoTOuh business-like Methods Of
OF obtaining supp les
Observers Notes, No. o.
Corn is the great American cereal crop
The United States produce about three
times as many bushels of corn as wheat.
A limited amount OF this corn Is grown
on the exceeding fertile and fiat lands in
which plant food has been stored through
past ages, and on such soil many farmers
nave not had 10 study the question of
crop rotation, or undertake to supply any
available food for the corn plant The time
Will doubles come when all will find il
necessary to Use more care with their soils.
returning 10 he land at least so ne part of
the elements that each crop removes. but
even now the bulk Of our corn is grown on
land that requires careful handling in
order that paying crops may be gotten.
have talked with farmers who obtain
big yields OF corn on uplsnds and nv ex-
perlence has been chiefly with such land.
II is a weil-established fact among these
farmers that paving crop can be gotten
oil OF sod land. Clover or timothy should
preeede corn on ali such land. The roots
OF grass store 10 food for the young corn
plants, the mechanical condition of the
soil Is improved and the labor or iillaQs ia
made as small as possible. If manure is
used upon corn it is found best TO haul II
out on the sod the preceding summer or
fall when practicable and let 1t he con-
verified INTO grass TO be turned under for
corn. The inverted sod is pre.eminently
the home Of the corn plant.
There Is another point that / regard AZ
most important. although many may not
agree with me. The best and cheapest
corn have ever grown was planted on
sod that was not turned until the grass
bad made some growth in the spring. I
believe that there is no finer manure for
corn than growth OF spring grass. II
the field be plowei about the first OF
May and planted Immediately the fer