The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-02-02

| G. w. Montgomery, attached to the
Ohio Experiment station at Wooster,
has prepared the following interest
ing article which comments on the re-
suits of a complete social and farming
survey made of Butler township, this
county:
AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS
Butler township, Knox county, to
which the writer was assigned for
demonstration work in 1912, borders
on the east boundary line of the
county. The agricultural conditions
in this community are singular as re-
CARDS problems of soil fertility, live
stock, social conditions and markets.
The survey made there by the Ohio
Experiment station has led the way
to some recommendations that may
be given to improve the farming con.
prosperity of this and similar COM
munities.
In the northeastern portion of the
township the Kokosing river crosses,
along the banks OF which is excellent
corn land flanked by abrupt, stony,
broken hills. The western part of
the township, except in the southern
| part, Is fairly level, has good natural
drainage, and is we'll adapted to cul-
Thn nnrfinn Of thn
| township, however, is generally less
| fertile and in need OF tile drainage.
Dekalb silt loan prevails, while in
| places It grades into sandy loan or
stony loan. The elevation ranges
from S56 to 1920 feet.
Six school districts are found in
| the township. Two churches having
| irregular services and one grange
with about 100 members comprise the
rural organizations. There are no
markets within the township, and Of
ten the universal dirt roads make
transportation difficult to the nearest
shipping points, Walhonding on the
east and Howard on the north, to 10
miles away.
The survey was started there in
November, 1912, and continued for
the four months following during
which time practically every farm
was visited Farm help was every.
where reported difficult to obtain,
and only one year-round laborer was
found
The total area OF the district, as
found by the canvass and assessors
report Is 1880 acres, Of which
1864 acres Is cultivated with 1869
acres In woodland, 5000 in pasture
and 227 In waste land. The acre val
uatlon for taxation In 1912 was
$4o1s.
These reports also show 100 horses,
927 COWS, beef cattle, GIG hogs and
1869 sheep. Counting one horse,
COW or beef animal or two hogs equiv
alent TO 10 sheep, we note that the
land could carry 10,167 sheep; and
that the cultivated and pasture land
would support about one sheep per
acre. The average size OF farms Is
about 100 acres, ordinarily divided In
to 10 acres each OF corn and wheat
and 90 acres each OF meadow, perma-
nent pasture, and woodland and
waste.
The usual rotation Is corn, wheat,
timothy and clover. timothy, pasture
2 yearsl.
Little grain Is sold. livestock farm.
ing being the chief enterprise. In
general, the corn stover is all fed in
the pasture fields during the winter.
the stock being kept indoors only at
night. Some farmers who are more
successful do not follow this plan.
They follow g. or 4-year rotation
and have more permanent pasture
Thus they are enabled to keep three
sheep or more per acre.
SUGGESTED CROP ROTATION
What changes can be suggested
for such community? Evidently II
must be kept livestock district To
farm properly, three horses, twg
cows, four hogs and 25 chickens are
necessary. which would require this
following number OF acres: for corn