The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1920-01-15
Farm Bureau Notes.


There is being a great deal OF in
terest shown in the calf club work
that is being planned for the boys
and girls calf club members in the
county for the coming year. There
awarded at the county fair next fall
when the calves of all members will
be on exhibit besides the calves will
also be eligible to enter the state
contest at the state fair. 1t is the
present plan if it can be carried out
to feed pure bred calves II possible
to obtain them and sell them after =,
at public auction. This certainly
would be a great day for the boys
and girls who undertake the project
and carry it through for these calves
would certainly make money for
their feeders. 1t is also being plan
ned out to secure financial aid for
all worthy boys and girls who wish
means to buy their calf: All such
should get into communication with
the county agent at the earliest pos
sible moment. Parents of all boys
and girls between the ages of 10 and
19 years should give the youngsters
every announcement possible on
this project, and have them enroll
! There is a great deal of interest
ganiZe and elect officers of. a poultry
association in the county and lay
plans for holding show some time
in February. Do you wish to boost
for such an organization.
Nothing has been done the, past
year to arouse as much interest
among the farmers of the state as
the farm management short courses.
! This enables the farmer to get at
and tells him whether his farm is
paying or not. In many places a
share of the farm profits are given
J to the boy who is required to keep
all the books and accounts and the
father sharing from II per cent to
l per cent of the net earnings with
him for his trouble. In many
are kept by the pupils and some high
schools offer credits for this work
Thirteen of the counties of the state
have already requested the extension
department to hely organize boys
clubs for the farm accounting system.
The accounts are kept in the new
book gotten out by the Iowa farm
bureau federation and complete in
every respect and when kept cor
almost at a glance where he
stands at the end of the year,
and will also be an accurate
means of making out his income
tax returns. Farmers every
where are rapidly coming to realize
the necessity of keeping an accurate
record of their farm operations,
thereby putting the farm on a safe
business basis The close touch with
farming gained by the boys in keep
ing the records is also likely to keep
those same boys on the farm in the
future, for they will certainly be in
terested when they see what is max
ing profit and what is being produc-
ed at loss.
It might be of interest to many at
this special time to give the follow
ing method of brine cure for meat
as it is now butchering time on the
somes highly recommended by the
specialist in charge of the meat
work at the state college, Prof. M.
D. Hleser. This brine and this
method has proven itself capable of
keeping meat in good condition with
out getting too salty to be palatable.
For each 100 pounds Of meat take:
10 pounds of salt,
3 pounds Of brown sugar,
2 ounces of saltpeter.
6 gallons of water.
1t is very important that the salt,
sugar and saltpeter be thoroughly
mixed then rub each piece Of meat
with the salt mixture and pack in
barrel, placing the skin down eX-
cept on the top layer. Boil the
water, let cool. After the water has
cooled dissolve the salt, sugar, etc.
left from rubbing the meat, pour in
to barrel making sure that all meat
is covered with brine. After seven
days repack, and scald the brine or
add fresh mixture, it need not be so
strong as the first. On the Gath
day repack the meat again and re-
move the hams and bacon that are
to be smoked. Use oak barrels or
jars as pine will give very un-
satisfactory flavor. All meat must
be thoroughly cooled before pack
ing but do not allow to freeze.
All farm bureau members are
earnestly requested to be present at
the annual meeting at the court
house, Leon, Iowa, on Monday jan
uary 18th at 100 o'clock p. m.
Much interest has been taken the
last few days in regard to the pos