The citizen., 1914-05-01
AN INDISPENSABLE FARM
COMMODITY.
nv KARL LANGENBEcK.

BY KARL LANGENBECk.
'If you could have seen this country
thirty years ago when | took hold of the
paper here, you would have more to say
than fine country for this sectionl" A
pair of snappy blue eyes looked out from
the ruddy countenance of the editor as he
stretched his legs and then took another
pull at the porcelain pipe. ''You would
add, fine men to have made such gar
den of this waste, for that's what it was
them" he resumed.
| was erecting denatured alcohol
plant in the old Germau town TO utilize
the waste starchy stuff of the rich sur
rounding farms and used to loaf of an
evening in the cozy print shop OF the
genial editor. you see Napoleon'S ar
mics over ran our country three times.
They ate it bare as flocks of locusts
would and carried off all the likely boys
as recruits The land had never been
very fertile and there was neither spirit
or capital to reclaim it. Twenty years OF
Liebig's teaching had scarcely made an
impression and as the farms were small,
there were no educated land holders to
set the pace for better methods. saw
my chance 10 do some good, even if there
were none TO make money. So, |
preached soil reclamation in season and
out of season. and in the fullness of time,
| got my profit with that of the new race
of farmers made. And | can say il
myself, the editor added with twinkle,
for you have found | am popular; they
made me Deputy III the ReichStagpi
in season and out OF season, he
mused. That means more than you
think. Most farmers know how to re-
claim land, but few do it without a boost.
When they are in the thick of work, they
forget, and in the slack times, they waste
themselves with regrets instead OF look
ing forward and preparing. A little thing
prepared and at hand when it's needed
makes all the difference in the world in a
crop. The government bulletins print
their advice when the chemist is ready.
The agricultural papers mostly print too
much and according to the space they
have to fill They talk of pruning IN the
summer and harvesting in the winter.
How is man to remember? | say, week
by week, what should be done now, and
nothing more. | have made my paper
our peoples remembrancerp
Recalling this old talk of wise man.
am reminded that do not see on very
modify that should always be on hand
because of its wide aid constant utility,
the same as salt and sugar is in the
kitchen. Its world wide value in the work
of soil improvement is thoroughly appre-
ciated by the average agriculturist. With
out lis use, the maintenance and develop
ment of the fertility in most soils would
be failure. 1t is the cheapest and the
best sweetener of churns and milk cans,
it is the best germicide for the cattle and
stalls and hen house and the basis ofthe
best fungicide for the fruit trees aud
berry bushes and it is good for much
more. And, when there is some brick or
stone work to put up, you need it bad.
for it makes the necessary mortar. But
when man gets a carload of lime, which
he does at this season, he hauls it TO the
fields ana generally uses it all up. If not
he throws down pile near the barn and
in month 1t has no value for the latter
purposes which require it fresh, not air
Stacked. Get enough lime to put aside
in tight barrels plenty of the best lump.
Cover each barrel with wet sack well
tucked in. Then sprinkle hne lime all
over the wet sacks. This will make hy-
drale and seals all pores when the cover
ing is dry and keeps the air from the
Jumps. Later on, | will go into detail on
the many uses this lime you are keeping
on hand can be put By the way, if you
are not lining this year, ask your neigh
Dor who is, to let you have half dozen
barrels from his car.