Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-10-10

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Unc farmer writes us that the aglte-
ZION on the seed corn question has done
him positive injury, for he got such
good seed that his corn is too thick and
is all stalks and no ears. Pretty hard
to help some men,
We know of one forty acre field of
corn tiled out last year upon which is
growing crop Of corn good for seven
ty bushels an acre, or surplus above
the average crop Of other farms in the
community sufficient to pay at 30 cents
a bushel the entire cost of retaining
the land.
1t is a good thing to keep in mind
that the very best way to insure good
seed corn-corn which will surely grow
strong and thrifty next year-is to
gather it during tie fore part Of
October before the frost has touched
1t and then dry it out and keep it
where the frost Will not touch it until
next spring This plan will make test
ing the corn unnecessary.
Here il fertilizer item which will
bear often repeating: Every load Of
barnyara manure put on the land is
worth not less than 81 to the man who
does it. A rotation Of clover OF two
years is worth in fertiiizing value as
much rs ten big loads of manure to the
acre and the man who SONS it has
profitable crop while doing it besides.
II one has yellow corn on tie hills. 1t
means that the land is calling for
clover or manure and perhaps both.
The feeders of beef cattle will this
winter be able to get corn around
80 or So cents; the price of beef next
summer Is likely to be about the same
as this-from 50 for the poorest to
$3.50 for the best. On this basis feed.
ers should lie bought around $3.25 to
insure Il profitable winters feeding. 1t
is true that ro.ghage-hay, straw and
stalks-w.ll be cheaper this winter than
usual, being in great abundance. Still
we would not want to pay over So for
feeders, expecting to come out ahead in
the deal.
There never has been time in cur
recollection when the prices of all COM
modities maintained Il more harmoni-
GUS relation to each other than at
present. No commodity is excessively
high In price, none selling below the
cost OF production, and, what is more,
prices for commodities bear fair and
equitable relation to the wages paid
to labor. While perhaps some Of our
economic conditions might be bettered,
it is we'll to remember how very easily
they might be made worse, for there
is no country on earth where the COM
mon people are better fed, better
clothed or better housed than In Amer
lea.
Whenever the farmers Of any COM
munity organize cooperative society
for the purpose Of shipping their own
grain and other farm produce they in
variably run up against snag when
they try to SECURE site for an elevator
on the railway grounds, the roads not
taking kindly to this new method Of
doing business and doing all in their
power to protect the owners Of eleva-
tors. already built. Passing the ques-
ton Of the wisdom or economy Of this
cooperative method Of handling farm
products, we do not think the roads
have any moral right to discriminate in
favor Of any man or set Of men and
that the privileges associated with the
use Of the roads should be open to all
alike and that without question or de.
bate. The people gave the corporations
their valuable rights and franchises
and in many cases helped to construct
the roads themselves, and it is simple
equity that there should be no discrimi.
nation practiced by them.
We noted the difference lately be,
tween two fields of corn-one growing
on clover sod turned over a year ago
the other, Immediately adjoining
planted on field which had been crop
ped with small grain for several sue
cessive years. One was a rich, dark
green and good for sixty bushels pei
acre If not more, the other was yellow
feeble and everywhere lacking in thrift
and vigor and cannot possibly produce
over twenty-five bushels Of corn to the
acre. Now it was giving the land 70
tation in clover, that fertilizing an6
soil fitting work which the clover plan
does for the land, which made all The
difference between these two crops
Many men do not understand this i'm
portant fact and never use clover, ant
they never raise as good crops as thei
neighbors who do. Every 160 acr,
| farm has back and remote fields which
are too distant to be handily reached
with the manure spreader, and for al
/ such fields clover is the best ant
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