The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1918-05-09
FARM BUREAU NOTES.
(By r. M. Deal, County Agent. }

FARM BUREAU NOTES.
(By T. M. Deal, County Agent)
Decatur County to have Lady Home
Demonstrators.
At the meeting of the directors OF
the Farm Bureau, it was decided to
this county. The home demonstrate
or will devote her time to help
ing the ladies in the saving Of gar
den and orchard products, canning,
drying, storing, and in methods OF
cooking. Her work with the ladies
county agent with the farmers, and
her work will be very closely cor
related with that of the county
agent.
The lady demonstrators will be in
the county about three months.
work about May Goth.
She will be assisted in her work
by an advisory committee consist
ing of the president of the Farm
Bureau, County Food Administrator,
County Chairman OF the Council OF
Womans Committee of the Councll
of Defense, County Superinten dent
of Schools and the County Agent.
Short Course in Bee Keeping.
In view of the urgent need for
greater food production the Exten-
sion Department at Ames, is Offering
q five days short course in bee keep
ing. This course will be of very
practical nature and will be under
the supervision of several Of the
most successful commercial bee
keepers. There are no fees, and
rooms and means can be obtained at
reasonable rates.
Planting Weak Seed Corn.
In spite OF everything that has
good seed corn, weak corn will be
planted on good many farms. Ii
it must be planted, then these sug-
gestiOns OF the farm crops men at
the agricultural experiment. station
at Ames will be worth following:
Make the seed bed as near perfect
every chance to. grow.
Plant somewhat shallower than
usual. Weak seed should be plant
ed Just deep enough to cover, say
an inch deep. Corn is oftener plant
ed too deep than too shallow. The
deeper weak kernels are put in, the
fewer of them will make good
plants.
Plant weak seed more thickly than
good seed. If the corn terminates
Is per cent: plant 3 and maybe 4
kernels to the hill. Thick planting
will not make weak seed yield as
high as strong seed, yet thick plant
ing and extra care in handling seed
and soil will give very satisfactory
yields.
To Make Sheep Raising Pay.
To be most successful in the pro-
duction of mutton and wool, the fol-
kept in mind, says A. B. Game, sheep
specialist at Iowa State CJllege.
1. Use only pure bred rams of the
best type and individuality, whether
mating with pure breds or grades.
2. Make use of unmarketable
Sheep will do it more efficiently than
any other class of livestock.
J. Provide special ration of
oilmeal for the lambs and give them
free access to it in creeps.
4. Lambs make the most eco
nnomical gains while sucking the
ewes, so feed both ewes and lambs
h0e s. Shear all ewes in April and
May. Dip the entire flock before
turning to pasture.
s. Keep the flock free from
new worm-free pastures and by the
use of annual forage crops.
=. Provide salt at all times
where the sheep can get it. When
the soil lacks minerals, it may be
we'll to provide lick Of Stacked
pounds; crushed salt, 100 pounds,
and turpentine, one-half pint.
8. Market lambs when they are
from 3 " to 5 months old, weigh
ing from IS to So pounds per head.
older and heavier lambs are not In
so much demand and sell for less
,nnnov IN tho ma rkot
8. Handle the wool carefully:
Keep it free from foreign material
and when shearing avoid cutting
the fibers twice. Sort out the tags
and dirty wool and sell separately.
Tie the wool with paper or wool
Store the fleeces in sacks in a clean,
Booster Meetings, May 9th and 10th.
The business men OF, Grand River
and Van Vert and the Farm bureau
with the support of the school super
ings to be held at Grand River on
May 9Th and at Van Vert May 10th.
These meetings will be in the even
ing at o'clock. At Van Vert the
meeting will be in the Methodist
church, and at Grand River in the
High School.
They are for every one who is in
terested in stimulating greater pro-
duction and in winning the war.
The speakers will be Mr.. Fish, as
sistant State County Agent Leader,
from Ames; w. H. Shields, County
Food Administrator; Ralph McGin-
mis-, government four-minute man
from Leon. Miss Mabel Horner,
county superintendent, and County
Agent Deal.
The program is such that it will
be interesting to ladies az well as to
the men. The farmers especially are
urged to attend.
Y When men have common all
nent, they always want % uiA