Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-11-17

UOOh dUOul agriculture! OSNCu OOS
severely. "I've been through mine
once and am half through it again.
And l don't leave page until I can
remember the sense of it.
"Well, the truth is, Joe, I've been 80
busy here at the store and our book
keeper has been sick"
II reckon it is right hard for you to
find the time. Well, as I was saying,
III get those pea vines of, knock down
the cornstalks into the low burrows.
then get turning pillow and bed that
acre up on those stalks and pea vine
leaves and roots to form humus for
spring."
Then you ought to give that land
a rest"
mo, sirree!' Joe shook his head.
Land doesn't need rest as long as you
put something back into it for what
your crops take out. I'll SOW that acre
down in White Milan turnips. They
are quick growers, and we can sell
every one of them here in town before
Christmas"
Five crops in one year from one
acre-it hardly seems possible, Joe"
1T is possible, for it has been done.
See here!' Joe hauled from his pocket
a clipping from country newspaper
in another part of the state telling Of
what progressive farmer there had
done. II found that paper in the road,
and lay awake ever so long last night
thinking it over after l read about that
man. and it works out all right"
''That is certainly farming some!"
said the senior partner. "And just to
think-most Of the people around here
are satisfied to get less than one
fourth Of that amount of produce from
their land!"
THAT sort of farming doesn't satisfy
me-" said Joe decisively.
"Or me, either. now I know what can
be done. And, by the way. Joe. there's
a commercial fertilizer concern Offer
ing prize Of $500 to the boy in the
corn club contest in the state who
makes the largest crop with his fer
tiliZer The state chemist certifies that
the product Of that factory is up to
Standard
We've got t. use some chemical fer
tilizer, and we might as we'll take a
chance on that prize, too," said Joe.
"All right; we'll go after everything.
And therN nitrate of soda firm Of
fering another hundred the same way,
but I don't know much about that
stuff. Do your"
Eyes, sir; nitrate is the quickest
way for plants to get nitrogen, and
that is the main element. Just scatter
the stuff on the ground about corn just
before it tassels and the books say
it will increase the crop nearly one
third. It's fine for cotton, too-push-
es it right along"
i've never seen any of the nitrate
or heard Of it being used about this
neck Of the woods" said MIR. Somer-
vile.
Neither have l. The book says 1t
comes mostly from Chile and it looks
like common, coarse, dirty salt and dis
solves quickly in water or by the mois-
ture Of the ground. That is how the
roots get it so soon after it is applied.
When it strikes the roots that plant
just everlastingly hustles.''
III we go in for oil these things and
win out, Joe, it's pretty big prize in
money alone on the corn. There's SIS
for the winner in this county, 500 for
the fertilizer and another 500 for the
nitrate-$275-but that Is in competi
ton with the entire state.'
I'm going to do my level best, and
when fellow does that he'd as soon
compete with the whole world as not"
That's the way to look at it. Then
there is the state certificate. with the
trip to Washington
II certainly want that trip" said Joe
Il want to talk to the head men of the
department of agriculture of Washing
ton and see what they are doing.
want to go right to headquarters and
see for myself and learn something"
What are you going to do with your
money If you win it?''
"Well, half Of it is yours, you know
mo, indeed; half the crop money is
mine. The prizes belong to you IL yor
WIN"
much obliged, but l thought yor
ought to have half''-
mo; I'll be satisfied with the cror
money"
THAT'S mighty good of you. Well
sir, the first thing I'm going to do is tt
buy Annie nice outfit of clothes an(
send her to that agricultural higf
school over in Limestone county, so sh,
can learn all about cooking and sew
Ing and raising chickens and honey an(
dairy1ng, and all that sort of thing, 81
she can run an up to date farm home.
That's a splendid idea-our countr,
girls are even less enlightened on do
nestle economy than the boys are OF
farming, as a rule"
II want her to have some chance.
herself"
What else will you do, Joe?'
why, I'll buy mother q new dress
then put the rest Of the money in tn,
bank at interest. I'll work anothe
year and make some more. Then In
going to the very best agriculture
school in the United States and stay
year. I'll have the actual experience
then and can understand and appreci
ate what it teaches"
That's pretty extensive program
Anything else?"
Eyes, sir. I'm coming back here an,
buy me ten acre place and make tn
crops pay for it. Then as soon as
get on my feet 1 am going to add f1v'
or ten acres every year until I get
the size want"
| GNNhofso 80 AoI1.