The Herald-Palladium from Benton Harbor, Michigan • Page 35

NEWS OF THE FARM, ORCHARD, DAIRY AMMONIUM NITRATE Blast Ponds With Fertilizer Mixed with oil, the ammonium nitrate farmers use to fertilize soil makes an explosive for earth excavation, according to Fred Henningsen Van Buren county Extension Service agent. Most desirable type is the 33 per cent uncoated type, though coated types designed expressly fertilizer also can be used. Both have been tested by the state conservation department, Henningson said. To form a blasting agent, a good grade of fuel oil, preferably No. 2 diesel fuel, must be mixed with uncoated fertilizer at a rate of about 1 to IV-i gallons of oil per 100 pounds of fertilizer.

It should be mixed at least two hours before use. If the coated type is used, diesel fuel should be mixed in three to five weeks before blasting is to be done. This gives oil a chance to penetrate (he coating on ammonium pellets. For earth excavation, charges of 10 to 25 pounds of fertilizer spaced 8 to 10 feet apart have been used in a single line or diamond pattern. Each charge should have a half-stick of 50 per cent dynamite as a booster.

Blasting caps and a storage battery can be used to set off charges, or prima cord can be tied to each dynamite stick and attached at right angles to a main line of prima cord. Ronald Church, Berrien county Soil Conservation Service technician, said he has heard reports that explosives used in muck soils leave unstable vertical banks that may cave in. But, he said, it may be possible to blast the major part of the excavation and call in earthmoving equipment to finish up banks. Labor Office Is Opening Monday The seasonal farm labor office in Berrien Springs will be open Monday at a new location. Dale Hough, of the Benton Harbor farm labor office, said the Berrien Springs branch will be located in a new brick building about a half-mile north of the youth fair grounds on US-31-33 at Second street.

Farm Placement Specialist Donald Bartz will run the office. Vegetable Spray Calendar Is Out Berrien county farmers should receive 1965 Vegetable Spray calendars from the Extension Service office in St. Joseph this week, according to Harvey Belter, county vegetable agent. The calendar lists insecticides and fungicides recommended for use on vegetable crops. It is a completely revised from was supplemented in 1963 and 1964.

About 1,300 will be mailed to Berrien farmers. I is for scab; The weight of a fowl after it the has been dressed is about 15 1962 edition, Belter said, which to 20 per cent less. Picture shows a water-filled pond excavated by ammonium nitrate fertilizer used as main explosive charge. For blasting, uncoated ammonium nitrate is best when mixed with diesel fuel, allowed to set several hours, then touched off by half stick of 50 per cent dynamite. Early Strawberry Prospects Are Down Harvest of strawberries this I and new beds in Illinois shared year in mid-spring states and in the Pacific Northwest is expected to range well below normal.

In mid-spring states, the U.S. Department of Agriculture statistical reporting service pegs the prospective 1965 harvest acreage at 26,200 acres, nearly 10,700 below the five-year average ending in 1963. A report on prospects in the Pacific Northwest (Washington and Oregon) predicts a harvest one-third below that of 1964 because of a severe freeze in December. Plants not yet dormant when the freeze hit, suffered very extensive damage, the report indicated. Acreage of mid-spring strawberries (Illinois, California, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas, among others) is placed at 26,200 acres, seven per cent below 1964 and 29 per cent below average.

Dry weather last year left beds in Missouri, Kansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and Oklahoma in poor condition, the same fate. Acreage is down eight per cent in California. FARM SPECIALS AXLES, HUBS WHEELS FOR Custom Equipment AIRPLANE TIRES Low I High Flotation NEW I USED Idoal For Farm Trailers Implements BARGAIN FARM TIRES Many Sizos Completo Lino of GENERAL INDUSTRIAL TIRES Pnoumatie Solid FOR Boat Lift Trucks Midgot Racors 4.00x8 2 Ply Tire, Tube Wheel List $20.00 SPECIAL Comploto Tiro Sorvioo 400 W. Main Benton Harber TIRES GENERAL YOUR GENERAL TIRE DISTRIBUTOR WA 5-1113 is for brown rot; is for Ink 100 For control of apple scab, brown rot and powdery mildew Kolo 100 products. In dust or spray formulations, powerful yet gentle Kolo products penetrate spring rains, cling to fruit and protect your crop under the most severe disease conditions.

Start with Kolo 100, harvest top yields of quality fruit. Order from Your NIAGARA DEALER or Call Our Warehouse, Benton Harbor 944-1471 Niagara Chemical Div. FMC Corp. Hot and loaded for bear List Correction In Weed Manual Two Michigan State university soil scientists have announced a correction for the rate of application of Randox- that appears in the 1965 field crop weed control manual mailed to area farmers recently. Recommended rate of appli- cation of Randox-T as a pre- emergent spray on corn, which appears in Table 1 on page five, should read AV 2 quarts per acre.

The manual lists it as 4Vis gallons per acre. The correction was announced by William Meggitt and Milton Erdmann. CAUENTE HARDTOP Here's a hauler for hot shoes, a wailer that's really bad news! Take three-on-the-tree or optional the 4-barrel Cyclone Super man, you ve got a top-echelon motor scooter! Other hot options include bucket seats, console, vinyl-clad roof, tachometer-you name it! Any way you take it, Caliente means MERCURY COMET ROGEL MOTOR SALES, INC. 120 Main Street Watervliet, Mlebigea for greater quality and profit, MICHIGAN CERJTIFIE0 SEED Michigan Certified Hybrid CORN is available in 11 varieties for Michigan's four growing zones. To hold down soft corn and artificial drying needs, all 11 varieties are fast-maturing and have high yields.

Always look for the MCI A blue tag. It is your proof that the seed was grown from Foundation Seed and that it has been field tested and lab inspected for: (1) Germination. (2) Vigor of growth. Be sure you plant early. Seed is now available from For complete Information SEED See Your Lo.aI Hartford Co-Op Elevator Co.

MICHIGAN CROP IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION Muh ite Room At; H.i. E.ist I miCmpjn.