Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-17
SEASONABLE FARM NOTES
BY NJ T.. O.

We are starting in on another sea-
sons crop. No, we are already started
for we have the seed on hand. The
world will demand lots of food stuffs
from us this year Will we be able to
supply the demand? There are many
things that will determine that, many
of which we cannot control. If we
SOW on the best seed-bed we can make,
the best seed we can get, and then care
for il the best we can, our duty is done
and we may be proud OF our part,
whatever may be the results. If. on
the other hand we fall below that
mark we have not measured up to our
opportunity. Ii is a vital part of true
religion TO do ones best.
The cheapest temporary pasture for
hogs is rape. The amount or pork
that can be made from an acre of rape
is simply marvellous. Such an acre is
more profitable than an acre of any
Of our field crops. Hog pastures grow
ing nothing but dog fennel and smart
weed are a waste and "A disgrace to the
farm.
What change it makes 10 have
spring approaching The weather may
get as cold as i'm winter but there is
hope for the sunshine and warmth
soon and that makes it look so much
brighter.
The season is almost here for hunt
ing the first wild flower. At our house
ii is mark Of real distinction To be
able TO report the first buttercup or
windflower or the first Robin or blue
bird Those little things bring spirit
OF joy to the farm life We are so
familiar with the things Of nature all
about us that our familiarity breeds
contempt and we fail to appreciate
them as we should.
A neighbor is so thankful in this
season of high priced corn that he
did not have To waste" any of his in
a silo. Now if there is any time in
the world that a man ought TO be glad
for corn in the silo ii is when grain is
high. Some people never can realize
that corn is only about half the value
Of the silage
It seems just a few years ago that
all the summer apples in the prairie
country were the few windfalls that
were occasionally shipped in barrels.
Now almost every farm has summer
apples to waste. In our orchard plant
ing now il is winter varieties that we
need. Good quality and hardness seem
TO be hard to combine in late apple
but they are coming just the same.
Now that we have had a hotbed a
couple of years it would be hard to
get along without it. There is a lot
Of satisfaction in going into the gro
cery store and when the clerk sug-
gests that you take home some let
tuce inform him that you have bet
ter at home.
There are many tales of bravery
that are coming from the scenes of
war. There is probably no more cour-
age there than the same men would
put into the plain everyday life
at home. 1t is shown forth in a more
spectacular way is all. / believe 1t
really takes more courage to continual
~ stick to some hard task than it does
20 make a quick dash into danger.
The world sees and cheers only the
latter, but the courage is there just
the same. in the steady grind.
A few years ago when the wet sea-
sons cut off our crops year after year
a friend on a untitled farm, for which
he was paying cash rent and raising
nothing, kept going behind each year
until he was several thousand dollars
in debt Things looked mighty dark
but ne kept trying ! never heard him
complain or grumble. Last year he
completed paying off all his debts and
had some money in the bank. That
takes what l call real courage. OF
course it never gets a mans name in
the headlines Of the dailies but il
marks the real metal Of the man.
am getting restless for seeding
time again. | guess every human be-
ing gets that feeling. In the towns you
see it shown by spading up little gar
den patches. We farmers show it by
kicking up corn hill here and there
to see if the frost is out and how soon
il will be time to start the disc.