Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1920-03-11


out last fall they can be successfully
chosen this month. The birds which
lay best during the winter are the
ones which will make the best record
for the year, and at mating time the
best winter layers can be easily dis
tinguished.
A large number Of iRinggold coun-
ty farmers will use acid phosphate
the coming season on their farms.
The use Of this fertilizer has proven
very profitable in the past. In almost
every community in the county there
have been farmers who have wanted
to try the application OF lime to cor
rect the acidity Of the soil in order to
secure more easily stand 1f clover.
Clovers are about the only legumes
raised in Ringgold county that will
take nitrogen from the air and store
1t in the soil to be used by other
plants. Prices for limestone are
ranging from 81 to $2.45 per ton laN
down at any station in the county.
The Contract to pave twenty-five
and one-half miles of hard surfaced
roads in O'Brien county will be let
on March 10. It will involve about
$1,O00,000, and is said to be the larg-
est contract to be let In iowa this
year. The road to be paved Is what
is known as the North Iowa pike. and
extends along the northern half of
the county, connecting the towns Of
Sheldon, Sanborn and Hartley. The
pavement will be eighteen feet wide,
eight inches thick in the center and
seven inches at the sides. In con.
nection with the paving project
eleven miles of tile will be used. The
plans call for bids on brick, concrete
and reinforced concrete.
County Agent Chas. w. Martin
says that Clay county farmers should
take preliminary test OF their seed
corn at, once as word comes from
surrounding counties that seed corn
Is not as good as was expected. Wood
bury, Sac, Allamakee and other coun-
ties report poor seed corn az . re-
suit Of the early freeze In November.
There was not enough moisture In
the corn when the early freeze came.
the reports say, and tests have shown
that 1t will make poor seed. The
county agent says Clay county farm
ers should look over their sesd be-
fore It Is too late and his Office will
lend any assistance in making the
tests and determining the quality.
One Of the most important and es-
sential factors in the successful man.
agement of the brood SOW at the time
Df farrowing is proper feeding and
plenty of exercise. 1t is important
20 feed right. The high price OF
tankage is keeping farmers from
feeding this protein feed to their
sows. Corn alone Is not sufficient
because it is low in protein and min.
eral content. The experiments al
/ Iowa State College 60 to show that
! where n pound of tankage is fea
along with corn, the pigs weighed a
Of pound more at birth and were
: stronger than the pigs from the corn
fed sows Alfalfa or clover hay are
good feeds. to furnish protein and
bulk. A liberal supply of mineral
matter must also be supplied in the
form of salt, soft coal, lime or wood
ashes.
! Benton county, according to last
years assessors reports, has rough
ly, about 5000 sheep and markets
each year about four carloads OF WOO
worth $4,000. With a good Woo
Growers association, this wool could
be assembled at three or four point.
in the county and shipped in carload
lots and marketed through the lowe
Wool Growers association. The as
sociation operates on straight com
mission basis and the wool is solt
direct to the woolen mills. The as
sociation marketed 1,25O,000 pounds
of Iowa wool in 1919. The averag,
price received was SO cents net tn,
grower. Seventy-five percent of tn,
money is advanced to the grower a.
soon as the wool reaches the ware
house; the balance is paid when tn,
wool Is sold.
The farm bureau movement has re
suited in the organization OF mos
counties by townships. A force o
farmers have been going over tn
state taking charge of this phase o
the work. 1t is planned to worl
through the township organization il
reaching conclusions touching all farr
activities. 1t is evident that market
ing is going to have greater attentol
than ever before. The co-operativ
! shipping idea is growing and in ever
county it will be possible for the fal
mer to obtain the Chicago marke
for his live stock less freight and
!, small per cent for handling. The e,
change features so popular in man
counties will be extended so that
will be possible for farmers to kno,
where certain breeds of stock can b
secured, certain varieties Of seeds an
= other commodities. 1t oftimes hal
pens that the farmer in an adjoinin
township can supply the needs OF hi
neighbor. The trouble in the pas
has been getting the fellows togetne
A number of county agents ar
planning spraying demonstrations thi
spring. The success OF these demon
strations in the past has led to
large demand upon the extension d,
partment at Ames for the comm
yfv q nd nrru m, q orn n.