Globe-Gazette from Mason City, Iowa • Page 16

MASON CITY GLOBE GAZETTE Better Schools Better Social Life THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1934 NEWS AND VIEWS OF INTEREST TO FARMERS (THIS PAGE EDITED BY ARTHUR PICKFORD) CONSERVATION OF SOIL REAL NEEO IN ALL SECTIONS Every Farmer Should Be Concerned About This Problem. The public works administrator has just released some figures about soil erosion in the 27 states drained by the Mississippi river. It concerns the people who Jive on the 1,250,000 square miles of territory in that drainage area. failing: water supply, decreased Boil fertility and the lack of electric power' which enable the farmer to share in a rising standard of living cited by the public works administrator, as the chief causes for concern in the future of "a nation not yet erosion conscious." Three billion tons of good earth, he declared, are washed out of fields, pastures and temporarily Idle "land every year. To haul these three billion tons off the land and dump them into the oceans and valleys would require continuous loading of a fleet 'of trucks, 6,000 abreast, simultaneously every minute of the day and night the year around.

Gives Meager Yields. "In human terms, the tragedy of erosion is the tens of thousands of iard-workingr families trying to till land that cracks and cakes, and gives meager yields of poor crops In return for weary toil. The homes of these fanners and the yards around them bear the unlovely stamp of poverty. "Men, ana children live narrow, dreary lives on these farms that have teen despoiled of botti soil and water by our prodigal USE of the land. No one unless he has gone off the beaten paths can have any conception of the existing deplorable conditions.

"In the last 10 years, more than SO million acres of American farmland have been abandoned because of erosion. If an enemy army with fclg guns and trenches 1 laid waste these once fertile farms we would be filled with horror and dismay. But since it was done by our carelessness In. letting rainwater -run wild, for some strange reason it strikes us as nothing to worry about." Attack on Drought. "In almost every instance," the said, "an attack on erosion js also, an attack on drought.

'Contour pI6vring' follows the lave) of the land, making ridges that hold the water instead of channels to carry it away. 'Strip farming' puts narrow fields of sod crops--alfalfa, clover and the like--between such crops as corn, tobacco and cotton, conserving both moisture and top soil. Fertile slopes can often be terraced to good effect." We are fortunate in being at the beginning of this terriffic waste and it is a problem that concerns both land owner and renter. When one considers the. extremely long time that it took to make our Iowa soils it would seem that soli conservation would be one of the Important, if riot the most important question before farmers and a very fitting topic for discussion in all adult schools for farmers.

We need to become "soil con- Better Farming Better Roads COMMERCIAL PEAT PREPARED COLBY GRINDING PLANT ON GOOSE LAKE Just northwest of Fertile Is Goose Lake which the Colby brothers are developing Into a supply of many uses other than the growinK of vegetables. FARM SALE DATES CLAIMED 1, 11 a. Auction Sale, Lund's Sale Stables on Highway 18, at cast edge-of Mason City. Friday, Feb. Sale, 'Sirs.

F. Gentry, Clear Lake, Ibxva. Friday, Feb. 2--Community sale, Harold Ames home, Emery. Friday, 2--Public Sole, 12:30 p.

m--J. W. Steil estate, 4 miles west, 2 miles north, 'ft mile west of Nora Springs. J. R.

Dorsey, nuct. Friday, Feb. 2--Community Sole, Charles G. Ames farm, Emery, Iowa. Harold Ames, auct.

Tuesday, Feb. 6--Lloyd Wen- king, Mason City, Harold Ames, Tuesday, Feb. 6--Public Sole, 1 p. on tho Ferrier form, Lloyd Wcpklng, owner, 6 milo northwest of Mason City. Harold Ames, auct.

Wednesday, Feb. 7--Public Sale, 1 p. y. S. Cutler and Mrs.

V. D. Cutler, 7 miles' cast and 3 miles south of Mason City. Ora Bayless, aiict. Wednesday, Feb.

7--Closing Out Sale, 12 noon, Stephen-son and Jirsa, 6 miles north. east of Maaon City and 3- miles west of Rock Falls. J. R. Dorsey, auct.

Friday, Feb. 9--Public Sale, 1:30 p. Richard Skinner, 10 mllea south of Clear Lake. Sale Dates Are Listed Free of Charge in This Space Each Wednesday. If you want your sale listed, just send in tho place, date und owners' name to tho Globc-Gu- zettc, C.

Hlckfl; Study Made of Peat at Convention Vegetable Growers to Tell Experiences at Sessions. This week might very properly be called "Peat Week" in northern Iowa. There is a big- convention held at Britt, at which truck and vegetable growers from the peat region of northern Iowa and southern Minnesota will tell of: their successes and failures in growing potatoes, onions, celery, cabbages and other vegetables in soils that formerly were considered good for nothing but poor pasture or duck ponds The peat men claim that could grow all the potatoes tha Iowa could use and they expect to demonstrate that It is not posaibli for even an expert Jn domestic econ omy, to select the peat grown po tato from among: samples from Idaho, Red River, northern Minne Bota or Wisconsin and other local ities when they are cooked and served in Identical ways. Future Is Rosy. Aa a source of seed, potato sup ply for points south of Iowa thej think there is a great.future be cause of the lower temperature the peat soil as compared with tba of Kansas and other southern po JOHN COLBY tato fields.

Several attempts have been made to use peat as fuel but the cheapness of coal and wood and the use of gasoline prevented Its development; however, the Colby brothers of Hanlontown have found a commercial use for the peat of Goose Lake, situated about a mile west of Fertile. They are mining the peat. Many Kinds of Peat. It should be understood that there are many kinds of peat. They differ according to the material, or the plants, of which it ia made.

As found at Goose Lake, the bed Is sometimes as deep as six feet, and Professor Pammel has recognized as many as 40 plants among the peat remains of former vegetation. Vol XIX of the Iowa Geological Survey deals extensively with the peat deposits of northern Iowa. About five years ago the Colby brothers began to develop the peat business. They were pioneers and had to find their markets and to learn about the peculiarities of peal as a substance. As found In the bog it is capable of being 90 per cent water; but when air dried it does not absorb more than 40 per cent moisture anc if it Is dug and stacked up and covered with marsh hay it becomes remarkably dry.

In this condition it may be ground fine and packed in cartons and It is in this form that the Colby brothers market It for greenhouse purposes, chick litter for hatcheries, filler for stock foods, as a deodorizer arid a disinfectant and as an insulating material in buildings and for the lining of the walls of refrigerators. It Deadens Noise. It Is also used as a means of making walls soundproof. These are some of tho new uses of peat and the business is growing. The first year they sold two then 10, 25 and last year 100 carloads and Hanlontown may yet regain its place as an originator of freight on the railroad.

As before stated, not all peat can be used for these purposes but eventually all kinds of peat -will be used for soil improvement purposes even though mixed with some sand, muck or wind blown rubbish. The Colby brothers dug a well on their peat bog and found an extensive bed of marl underlying the peat. It was apparently made of a de- porit of very small shells, the remains of a marine animal which once found the shallow lake a congenial home. Suspend Operations. Occasionally the peat bog reverts to its old condition and last summer it was, for a short time, an old lake again and If there had been any current the Colby brothers would have seen their whole dug product floating away.

As It was they had to suspend operations until the dug peat was dry enough to grind. -Several attempts have been made to use.peat deposits in. a commcr: cial way. Twenty-five years ago i Mr. Colby says, about 580,000 was spent in an attempt to use this peal in Goose Lake and there is a factory near Albert Lea where they are trying- a way of artificial drying in putting peat on.

the market hut the Colbys find that nature does the job cheaper and tetter. So it may happen that the old glacier which covered this part of Iowa some thousands of years ago may have left not only a soil that will grow anything that can be grown, in the mlddlewest; hut also unsuspected wealth in the form 01 nitrogen and lime to supply soil deficiencies that appear in the cultivated fields of the farm. PULSE OF THEFARM Just how much freedom a citizen may -have in this "land of the free and home of the brave" Is debatable. Certainly we have less than our grandfather had and we are going to have less ns we become thicker on the ground. During the World war and the present depression the individual has had to give up many "rights'' that hia father and grandfather would have objected to.

Just lately he has had to give up whatever gold he had accumulated but this did not touch many farmers TOO MANF GUNS, CLAIM In. view of the ever Increasing fact of kidnaps, holdups and fatal quarrels the time may be near when he will have to give up his gun-the gun habit being a left over of early days and savoring of Cripple creek and Dead Eyed Dick. Anyway, Senator Cop eland of New York has been Investigating racketeering and kidnaping and he told the s. senate some facts about the prevalence of firearms in this country and some of Its effects. He stated that there are now between 15,000,000 and 20,000,000 pistols and revolvers in the United States.

"Any gangster who wants to get a pistol can get one," said Senator Copeland. "That weapon is the Instrument of choice In almost all the crimes committed. That ought not to be so." Pointing out the significance of figure, Senator Copeland said 79 per cent of America's ex- iraordlimry total of around 12,500 annual homicides are committed with this type of weapon, as against a percentage of only 17 In England, 11 in Australia and one in Japan. FARMER LEAST PROTECTED What has all this to do with arming? Well! The farmer is the east protected of all citizens and even if he has a gun it is no good him because the other fellow has the first chance. The only protection the farmer ias is the general belief that he las nothing to steal and so he sleeps peace.

"Blessed are the It is not a source of pride to feel that ur nation stands at the top In the ist of homicides among so called Ivilized nations. HOLD NIGHT 1CHOOLS It may not he generally known that there are 72 night schools for dull farmers held In arious parts of the state. There re 23 classes studying agricultural conomics, 10 farm management, COUNTRY EDITOR PAYS TRIBUTE TO WORLD MOTHERS They Don't Get Credit fo Life's Efforts, Says Newspaperman. Anyone who glances over th weekly papers that como to an edi tor's table must be Impressed the fact that there Is seldom on without a death notice. The following from an Illlnoi paper Is clipped from the Brit Tribune and because It is the lif story of ao many mothers, especial ly rural mothers, we pass it on t( our farm readers.

"There is one task in connection with editing a country weekly news paper that we dislike, and that Is writing the obituary of an old lady tt seems so futile trying to set down writing the things she has done 3he was born, she grew woman lood, joined a church, was married Became a mother, and passed on her reward in the future lifer The dates of her birth, marriage and death are mentioned, for they are the high points of her life. "The story of her life is pitifully short. The life story of her husband would record the facts of'his exist- and also his business or profes- iional life. Perhaps too, it would tel )f political triumphs, and of wha 10 had done for his town, the coun- the state, and the nation. The stranger who might read It would understand that the community ha ost a valuable citizen.

Can't Tell It. "We cannot tell, in writing the Jbltuary of a woman, of all the triumphs and disasters of her life; they vould sound too petty. When as a Hrlde she and her husband set up a Lome and she assumed responsibil- ties that she had never known be- ore. She learned to spend long hours loing toilsome work that was never taished. Day after day the same lings had to be done, and she be- ame an expert in doing them But hese things she did so well do not leserve mention in the final story )f her life; they were not out- tandlng.

"She risked her life each time a was born and, perhaps, once or twice ventured so.far into the shadow of tho valley of death that she almost slipped aivay, and It was only by fighting- with every iota of her strength that she was able to through--not always because he wanted to live but because she vas needed; there was a family fo er to care for. But we can't give redit for that; mothers have been oing that since the dawn of time. Wiped Their Tears. "She brought her children Into he world, and washed them, and resaed them, and loved them, and tissed away their tears. She band- ged their injured fingers and toes.

3he nursed them through sickness nd she smoothed their paths hrough life, and all the while she vas encouraging her husband and lelplng him to become successful. She made his home cheerful and estful. She listened to endless lories of his troubles and encour- ged him to try again when disas- er overtook them. And when suc- esg would come and his head would egln. to rise the clouds she TOuld gently pull him back to earth nd continue the process of making a man of him.

The life story of the veragc man would not sound so hrillmg and would not be so suc- essful were it not for the guidini- nfluence of a good wife and mother ehind him. "But she gets no credit for these things. It was what she was put on arth to do. "And at last she com.es to the end I life 3 toilsome journey and is laid rest--perhaps the first real rest has known in her busy life. Her uneral is attended by many who Id not know her but who came ut of respect to her husband or to er children, who are their friends he minister reads from a slip of aper the uninteresting facts of her irth, marriage and death, and ives the names of the members her family who survive, but he oes not tell all the things she did artly because they are.

taken for You can't put nil that into obituary; people might laugh at ou for writing- 111 lemocrat-Tribune. Ix, farm mechanics, lour, feeds nd feeding, four, poultry and the est divided on several topics. It is safe to say that out of hese classes of from 20 to 50 mem- ers will come some of the future oaders of their communities. It is ot so much what is learned as it 3 the attitude toward knowledge hat counts. Professor Lancelot, head of the ocational agriculture department Ames says there are three things the new farmer must learn: 1.

The new generation of farm- rs must be made co-operators at eart. 2. The future farmer must be a apable business manager. 3. They must study the' problems agricultural Industry and rural This fs the aim of the vocation- school for adults.

MOOS SI.AUGHTEREB (MILLION HEAD) THE GLUTTED HOME MARKET 1919 1932 Hog production In the United States has increased at about tho same rate as our population, but the quantity of hog products available lor homo consumption has increased materially because of a severe decline, in our exports since the World u-ixr. The Amerlcrm people recently have been eating around 14 per cent more pork nnd lard than they did in the pre-war period, and they are now eating a higher cent of the total production of hogs than 20 years ago. However, this excess of hog products In the homo market has depressed hog- prices. The recent In- creased consumption Is a reflection of tho compara- tlvcly low prices at which the pork had to move, rather than of any substantial pick-up in consumer requirements or preference for hog products. A more moderate hog production would eliminate the excess on tho homo market and would result in a higher price per hundredweight and larger total return from the ivholo hog crop.

This the corn-hog plan of tho Agricultural Adjustment Administration seeks to bring about by adjusting production to present- day needs. TO STUDY PART TIMEFARM1N Will Be Carried Out as Federal Civil Works Project. AMES, Jan. 31. UP)---A study of sart time farming in Iowa is to be carried out as a federal civil works roject direction of Merritt Greene of MarshalHown, agriculture graduate of Iowa State coi- ege in 1905.

Twenty-three persons ire to be employed on the project. Greene, who conferred here re- ently with Miss Elizabeth Hooker, esearch supervisor of the sub- Istence homestead division of the edflral department of agriculture, ilready has selected workers for he eastern part of the state. The project Is to include studies of part time farming around a Des Homes, -edar Rapids, Fort Dodge, Water- oo, Ottumwa, Charles City, Center- rille, Dubuque, Marshalltown, New- on, Oskaloosa and Burlington, also possibly Sioux City. The Information wili be turned ver to Iowa State college In the development of the subsistence lomestead program in Iowa and as he basis for planning a long time and utilization program for I Seen Through a Windshield By A. P.

--Scene, beet sugar plant cross- ng. Time, 10 a. m. Actors, truck with stock rack on body and long Hock Island freight, both coming rom the north. Engine gives four ong blasts of whistle, truck speeds and beats train to crossing by a arrow margin.

Nothing happens-- ut the loses a good front age story. --Most popular diversion in coun- ry is running a buza saw. Wood- ile at every farm place and house- vife is assured of having plenty of jel for a. year or two ahead. Groves ilnning but appearance of home- tead Improved.

--Mason City's white cloud of cement dust drifting off in a horizont- 1 line, In a gentle breeze; and vis- ble for miles f.rom a point eight -liles northwest of the city. --Sudden blast of zero air from askatchewan, borne on a 40 mile ale and causing a very quiet Sun- ay. Steaming radiators and balky in evidence. Every re- uisite for a blizzard except snow. --General denuding of south ank of the Winnebago river of mber will make "Scenic Highway" misnomer.

However, there are still our miles of jittery gravel road to ccupy one's attention between the ew bridge and No. 65. --Longest corncrlb in many a mile on No. 9, at the Kisner farm, ear Hanlontown. Corncrib and Mndbreak combined.

--Small but select crowd at Em- lert Bros, hog sale with cars from Gordo, Hancock, Hardiu, noycl, Franklin, Mitchell, Fayette asper, Palo Alto, O'Brien, Chicka- aw, and Cherokee counties and linnesota and Illinois numbers, evidently a breeders sale and top 36with bulk between 520 and $30. FARM NEWS FROM WEEKLY EXCHANGES Lake Mills Graphic--Checks for butterfat delivered to the Lake Mills creamery during December will be issued here tomorrow. Those receiving the 10 high checks are: A. O. Westland, George Kileu, 5136.62; Svvenson and Quisling, 5123.58; K.

B. Knutson, H. C. end H. B.

Holland, Bendickson and Twlto, 3116.08; Haugen Brothers, 5114.15; P. G. Spellman, N. S. Haugen, 5108.05; A.

O. Brackey, $106.84. Butterfat was paid for at the rate of 21 cents a pound. loiva Fulls Sentinel--The Ed Davis farm located in Lincoln township was sold Friday at public auction ivith several interested bidders present. The 315 acres brought $108.25 an acre, the successful hid being made by Mrs.

Alice Davis of Peoria, 111., who held a claim against the land. This amount more than all Indebtedness, Including the second mortgage. A gentleman from Jewell stopped bidding at Garner Herald C. E. Proctor shipped 11 head of horses to St.

Paul Saturday, EOld them Monday and returned to Garner Tuesday. Mr. Proctor sa3's that good farm norses arfe selling well, especially is there a demand for marea and young horses. Corn sealing activity in Hancock county is slowing up somewhat, according to officials in charge of the work. A total of 1,275,304 bushels had been sealed in the county according to a check-up made afternoon by Mrs.

Fern Peck Katter, county recorder. Garnavlllo Men--During the year 1933 the Garnavillo Commission company shipped 10,221 head of ivestock or 164 carloads. Of this number 8,104 were hogs, 702 were calves, 544 were cattle, 566 were nigs, and 305 were sheep The total weight was 2,687,895 pounds, according to figures taken from the manager's annual report. The total amount relived for ivestock shipped was $73,190.92. $8,511.95 was pa for freight, yardage, feed, and 52,001.83 was nnid as commission for selling the stock so that the total expenses vere $10,513.78.

leaving net proceeds of $61,677.24. Causes Deaths of 5 Work Horses Owned by Farmer Near Plymouth PLYMOUTH, Jan. H. McNitt, farmer living 2 1 miles south- vest of town, has lost five of his six vork horses In the past few weeks, 3robably from some kind of poison- ng, but the exact cause has not been Three have died iince last Saturday morning. W.

J. MURPHY AUCTIONEER Phono 1977 Mason City, Iowa DEAD Animals of All Kinds Removed Mason City Rendering Co. We pay phone calls. Phono 1099 PUBLIC AUCTION On Fernet farm, miles northwest of Mason Ci(y. FEBRUARY 6, 1:00 O'clock Terms of Salo, Cash.

Nothing removed until settled for. LLOYD WEPK1HG HAROLD AMES, Auct. H. H. CRANE, Clerk.

Cutler Public Sale on Wednesday, Feb. 7 V. S. Cutler and Mrs. V.

D. Cutler will hold a public sale on the farm, 7 miles east and 3 miles south of Mason City, on Wednesday, Feb. 7, starting at 1 m. sharp. The property to be sold includes 3 horses, 34 head of cattle, 15 ewes, 29 hogs, full line of farm machinery, corn, oats, hay and straw.

Ora Bayless is to be the auctioneer and a representative of the First State bank at Nora Spring's will act as cleric. Conway to Take Up Elma Postmastership Feb. 1 ELMA, Jan. 31--Harry Conway appointed as postmaster of Elma will take office Thursday. George Evang, present postmaster, will re- mam as Mr.

Comvay's assistant. Named Census Enumerator. ELMA, Jan. Smith manager of the third district, has appointed John Murray of near Elma as census enumerator for Howard county, district No. 2.

The papers brag about Mr. Roose- velts heavy mail, but don't tell how much of It comes on the first of the Times. CARL M. SHEIMO AUCTIONEER Farm Sales a Specialty Phone IS or 6002, Fertile, lown POULTRYMEN ARE GIVEN HINTS ON 1934 OPERATIONS Iowa State College Experts Reveal Practices to Cut Expenses. AMES, Jan.

practices ut bv M. Verrion and Vf. R. Whitfield, specialists in the Iowa State college extension service, which will help Iowa poultry raisers through 1934 and enable them to make more profit, are: 1. Use home-grown corn and other grains to keep down feed costs.

2. Keep down the expense ot chick and laying mash by buying supplementary feeds needed for high production and mixing them with home-grown feeds. Brood Fewer Chicks. 3. Brood fewer chicks In 1934 than in 1933.

Hatch them early and take strict care of the chicks. 4. Reduce the size of the laying- flock by frequent culling. The three factors responsible for the unfavorable poultry situation which has developed during the last few months, say the specialists, c.re: The low buying power of the consuming public; an over supply o( poultry and eggs; and an increase in the price of feeds. Uso Rome-Grown Feeds.

The specialists emphasize the Importance of usiug home-grown feeds. They say that college experiments and the experience of poultry producers prove that high production at low cost can be obtained from rations properly mixed on the farm. Poultrymen who permit their ambition or enthusiasm to lead them to raise too many chicks this spring are helping ruin the market for themselves and their neighbors, according to Vernon and Whitfield. Still, many a fellow got 40 cents an hour for work when he was getting only 10 cents an hour for staying Review. We Fay More for HIDES and FURS --See CARL STEIN Before You Sell YOUR BEST MARKET HIDES and WOOL Wolf Bros.

31O Fifth St. S. VV. Won't Chew Oil.d A our guarantee: Brinff your harness for oiling once year Ncaulcne. If ran or mice damage it one ye.tr, wa will repair it absolutely free! HAVE HARNESS REPAIRED AND OILED NOW! ntJ Neatilena Hamou Oil Is idcjl for preserving and -work shoes and boots, letthtr fiy nets, leather equipment.

can hafldr. LEHMAN STOCK Leather Goods 16 So. Del. PUBLIC SALE To bo held on the form located 7 mlies east and 3 miles south of flfason City, on Wednesday, February 7 STARTING AT 1 P. SHARP 3 HEAD HORSES--34 HEAD CATTLE 15 black-face ewes to lamb in April.

4 old sows bred to farrow In April. 35 Spotted Poland China fall pigs. PULL LINE MACHINERY 250 bushels corn. 100 bushels oats. 5 tons of hay and some straw.

TERMS: or under, cash. Over $10, see clerk. V. S. CUTLER and MRS.

V. D. CUTLER Ora Bayless, Auct. First State Bank, Nora Springs, Clerk. IT'S NATURAL TO WISH FOR A CHANGE OF SCENERY.

THAT'S WHAT STARTS A 8ASY WALKING It's natural to come to a shop of known reliability for automobile service and repair. The Central Battery and Electric Co. is the Authorized United Motors dealer in Mason City since 1920. Expert work at reasonably low rates. Meters and testing equipment.

PHONE 494 IIT-H9 XO.DELAWARE AVE.