The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-28
DIV E r SIFIED FARMING |
B E T TER LIVE CKl
COrn--BOrer Cleanup

| In the next few days the United States
| department of agriculture will open a
field laboratory near Schenectady, N Y,
for the purpose of conducting a survey of
European oorn-borer conditions in that
state. A force of about % inspectors
will be thrown in the field and a COM
plete survey will be made as quickly
! as possible. All material collected will
be sent to the laboratory, the exact To-
cation of which has not yet been decided
Upon for determination as to whether
or not it is European corn-borer or ma
tive species. The infestation in New
York is not nearly so widespread as that
IN Massachusetts. but it is none the less
serious, and calls for energetic meas
ures. Actual cleanup work can not be
begun until after frost, but before that
time information will be gathered to
snow what area the cleanup must cover
me others 1t is not only selecting the
lisnt AlulViouai' put doing great many
things to put that individual in the best
the possible form and to keep it so.
Weeks or even months in advance of
the falr the boy must start getting his
calf or pig tame. At particular time.
1t may be necessary to pare the pigs toe
nails so that he will stand I'D straight
without too much bend at the pasterns.
But he must be careful not to pare them
too close. A limping pig is not likely to
De prize winner. Several weeks be-
fore the fair hAAshould trim the hair out
of the pigs ears, being careful to do it
in such way that the ears will not be
irregular in outline. He should pro-
vide clean wallow for the pig to keep
the hair and skin soft and pliable, and he
ought to know the trick of the trade
that little oil on the surface Of the
water helps great deal; also that
little linseed meal properly fed to the
pig, puts peculiar gloss on the hair. !
He must remember to have the right
Kind of crate ready in plenty Of time.
Many boys have failed to get their pigs
to the fair because, when the time came
to ship, there was no crate. A very inn
portant thing to remember in connecticut
with the crate is that the pig grows at
pretty rapid clip. The crate must bsf
built big enough for the pig, not when
the crate is made, but allowing forf
growth between then and fair time. And
it must not be big enough to permit the
pig to turn around. The boy must re-
member that the pig should not be fed
just before shipping No matter howl
much the little rascal cries for corn, hes
must not be INDUCED. If he is fed, he
is very likely to get sick on the train
and go through the whole fair in a
droopy, drowsy, unprize-lke looking
way
PRIZES ARE NOT ALL
These are just a few of the things that
must be remembered in preparing a pisS
for the fair. And there are equally manyt
with regard to the calf, or the dairy COW,
or the poultry, any of the things
practically that the boy or girl, man OIL
woman, wants to exhibit at the fair.
Even with all the care possible, the am
inlal or other product may not be price
winner There can't be prizes for every
exhibitor. The fair that tries to arrange
things so that everybody can get prize
does not amount to much, usually. 1t
does not mean anything to win prize
when you are the only exhibitor in your
class. And, as the experts point out, the
prize is not the main thing, after all.
To be sure. the boys and girls and men
and women who get things ready for the
fair are contributing to an education for
the public--but the main thing for them
is the education they get themselves.
Take part in the contest" say the ex-
perts. "for your own sake You will have
a better pig, better calf better pound
of butter, a better can of peaches nextS
year by reason of having exhibited this
year, whether you win or not. And, with
proper attention to preparation, tie
prizes are sure to come, too, sooner or
later"