Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1899-10-12
MErrayvllle, Illinois.


caused such a serious loss as the recent
frosts. September came in very warn
but it went out cold enough to kill
tens of thousands of acres of corn that
was hardly in good roasting ears. The
prime of corn planting time. last
spring, was so wet that for three weeks
nothing could be done; then came the
cutworm, in June. something never
known before, and compelled many to
replant. Again cutworm, budworm
and root louise compelled replanting,
in many fields. until some patches had
been planted four times, and then had
to be sown to millet. This has all
been killed and is worthless for fodder
or sale though some will be saved by
feeding to hogs before it spoils. The
early planted corn became very weedy
and the cultivator tore off most of the
roots, when the land got dry enough
to plow, and after it had cared, rain
and wind threw it down and late weeds
made large growth, making sorry
looking crop, in many rich fields. A
few fields, planted very early, and
plowed before the rain set in did well.
The very early planting. as a rule, has
to be planted over, and has always
been worst injured by cutworm, but
this year it did best.
The increase of insect pests is very
alarming. and is due to the poor culti-
vation. Not that farmers do not plow
corn better than they ever did but be-
cause they do not manure, nor change
the land enough, and grow too much
corn. Chinch, fly, mites and cold win
ter winds have largely killed out clo-
yer and wheat, in recent years, and
the resort has been to corn; and, as a
result, the land shows over cropping;
while insect pests are increasing in
every crop. This is grand county
for apples, but we have allowed moths
and borers to take our orchards. The
past season showed an increase of
worms in grapes and currants. The
Colorado beetle was not so bad, the
past season, but we had plenty for seed
another year; and the ''old fashioned"
potato bugs. that we used to switch
out of the patch, were plentiful and
persistent. There will be few winter
apples as most of them have fallen and
of those that remain on the tree many
are misshapen and wormy.
The country is full OF old half dead
orchards and apple trees breeding
moths and other pests of our finest
fruit. We must have some radical
changes in our land system so as to en-
courage cultivation rather than specu-
iation and idle ownership, that expects
to live of the labor of industrial slaves,
before we can hope for much amend
ment. In his book on Gardening for
Profit Peter Henderson calls atten-
ton to the fact that so many have OBJ
served, that where land is brought to
intenser uses, and where the fertiliza-
sion and cultivation is more thorough,
insects do little injury. But in the U.
5. minority of farmers own the land
they till, and as in all lands and times
where serfdom exists. the cultivation
Is poor or exhaustive. With working
farmers who own clear the land they
till the profits are so small in legiti-
mate farming that they too skip and
skim. Where good buildings are put
On the land they have more show than
solidity about them. Usually of pine
wood. there is a great contrast between |
them and the plain, but solid and SUBJ
buildings common hundred
years ago; such as one sees further |
east and in Virginia, where the civil !
war spared them. Prosperity tooters
who overlook these charges. and ten
1encies, are reckoning wide of the !
truth.
We elect county commissioner on
ly, here this fall and the democrats |
have named good, clean. yet able |
man, Robt. L. Wyatt, of Murrayville, |
IN old schoolmate, comrade, and friend, |
Of your writer. We have little doubt |
but that we shall congratulate him on
his election; for he will poll large |
republican vote, though his opponent
is an honest sturdy Englishman.
In spite of so many failures a good |
1eal of wheat is being sown. Farmers |
'eei the increasing necessity of chang
.ng their land and know that no crop |
IS sure are trying to mend their for
.unes as the spider mended his web.
Our county seat Jacksonville held a |
street fair the past month; but with .
great deal of display that might have
been delightful to children, there were
some doubtful and debasing 'shouchee |
,ouchee" exhibitions which merited |
she condemnation they got from the
country people generally. Our county |
papers promote and back up every silly |
show to get crowd in town and then |
1ub those who are curious and weak |
enough to 60, 'rubber-neckers. Con-
siderate, isn't il?