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? , i wu *TI MP CAREFUL SOIL PREPARATION |d WILL HELP THE WHEAT t AND RYE YIELD e ttSiM:' r - - - . . . Jv Washington, Sept. 1.?special carejt to place the soil in good condition in; a preparation for planting wheat and v rye will go a long way, says the _ United States Department of Agri- p culture, toward assuring the production of the bumper crops of those grains which the Department hopes to see harvested next year. If winter grains are to be grown on lands devoted to similar grains ? during the preceding season, the land should b? plowed as soon as the old crops are removed and occasionally surface cultivated to kill weeds until planting time. Plowing should be to a depth of about 7 nches. Just before planting time the land should be harrowed if fairly moist and free from weeds; otherwise it should be disked and harrowed. Wheat and rye may follow practi * L. 1 .Mi cally any crop wmcn may dc gou uui. of the way in time. Where a choice is possible, however, it is better to have these grains follow a cultivated crop, preferably a leguminous crop such as soy or other beans, or cowpeas. To have them follow corn is a common practice in parts of the, com belt. In the South they may! follow cotton and in the i southern! Great Plains region, the sorghums. J In some sections farmers find it a good plan to follow potatoes with wheat or rye. ^ If the wheat and rye follow cul-1 ^tivated crop which has been kept free vfrom weeds, it is best not to plow the land. The land may simply be disked and harrowed, harrowing to be performed again just detore seea-( ing. Under all conditions drilling is: preferable to broadcasting as a m?>-; thod of planting, and if the farmer! has no drill of his own, it will be j \ ; worth ^vhile for him, in most cases, to rent one. When a drill is used less seed in required, the seed are covered betterand may be planted in j contact with moist soil, and a more even stand is obtained. Fertilizer is used on many farms east of central Kansas and Nebraska,; ? but is used less frequently in the region to the west, Fertilizer is not r / generally used in growing rye. In; growing wheat where fertilizer is1 used acid phosphate is considered of chief importance. Under present conditions it will hardly pay the farmer to use potash. From 200 to 350 pounds of phosphate to the acre is Al? ?' T4- onnliorl uie usuai iate. it 10 utD? through the drill at planting time. Lime should be used on land on! which wheat is to be grown if acid conditions prevail. The lime or ground limestone may be applied at the rate of 1,000 to 4,000 pounds to the acre with a lime spreader or drill, two or three weeks before planting time. SEED CORN SELECTION. Car* Should Be Exercised to Secure Good Re?ult?. A rrrollr ftirnnoli fV>o uvpmcrp rnrn field of South Carolina will convince the observer that very little core has been exercised in the selction of the seed corn. Very few perfect ears will be found in an entire field. Much of ? the seed that is planted is purchased already shelled, therefore the planter has no knowledge as to the type of ar it came from. It is none too early for the farmer to begin thinking about the selection of his seed for the next crop. As soon as the corn has hardened and before any frost has touched it go through the field and select only those ears that are well rounded on both ends, where no particle of the cob is exposed and where the rows --f AU _ __U ? I Ui cum vii wic wu axe ouaviubCij i straight. Every grain should be uniform in color. Select only those ea^ that have a deep grain and . a small cob. It will pay to take a whole day to do this work properly. Do not limit your seed supply, have enough and to spare. Strip the shucks back on the ea^ and tie them together, which makes j a splendid hanger. Secure a dry place in the bam where the corn can be hung up on racks to dry thoroughly and where it will be kept away ' from the rats. A month or so before planting time, secure a box and make 18 to 24 pigeon holes, like you find in the! postoffice, making each sufficiently j large to hold an ear of corn. Num-i ber these pigeon holes and fill withj ears. Select a warm place and I"ay| off into small squares v.th brings to, correspond with the number of pig | eon holes and number these squares.1 Shell three or four grains from each ear in the pigeon holes and place j them in the squares leaving the same number, then cover with wet saw-] ________________________________ i he Farmer I lust. Thus you will discover the ears hat will germinate, discarding the' ars where the grains do not germi-1 tate and filling the pigeon holes nth other ears until all have been estde. This will insure a good stand; nd save considerable time and fork.?J. W. H.?The State. (AMES OF THE* SOLDIERS FOR THE NATIONAL ARMY (Continued from Page One) Alonzo Reed Presher, Lowndesville Allen Morrison, Abbeville. Oscar Cunninghom, Honea Path Wm. Warren Keller, Abbeville. Henry Cureton, Lowndesville. W. J. McCord, Abbeville. Chas. Wesley Kellar, Abbeville. Chas. ee McCain, Due West. Charlie Roberts, Antreville. John Robt. Eakin, Donalds. Benj. Wade Williams, Abbeville. Matthew Hunter, Calhoun Falls. Willie Williams, Abbeville. Jas. Clarence McAllister, Iva. Joe Earle Lewis, Lowndesville. Timothy Ware, Honea Path. Acy B. Minor, Lowndesville. Thos. Susewell, Due West. John C. Bonds, Lowndesville. Jas. R. Wilson, Abbeville. Jesse Johnson, Lowndesville. Emmett Gordon, Abbeville. Caesar Glover, Lowndesville. David Chiles, Abbeville. Harrison Williams, Lowndesville. B. C. Branyon, Honea Path. Jas. M. Marina, Honea Path. Eugene D. Woodward, Abbeville. Joe Williams, Lowndesville. Neuffer Black, Abbeville. j Jesse David Bell, Antreville. Robt. Neuffer McNeill, Abbeville, i Ernest Scuddy, Antreville. Roy Mattison, Honea Path. T. B. Osborne, Abbeville, Rt. 5.i1 Hertford Cann, Antreville. Nelse Casey, Antreville. Willie A. Bonds. Lowndfisville. Sam Leonard, Abbeville, || Walter Forest Clary, Jr. Abbeville i Charlie Raindrop, Calhoun Falls. !i Luther Cowan, Honea Path, R. 3.'' Richard Davis, Jr., Abbeville. Joe Rapley, Due West. Geo. Scott, Abbeville. Jas. Kay, Due W,6st. Julius Martin, Antreville. s Ben Lee Norwood, Abbeville, RFD^ Charlie Williams, Abbeville. Robt. H. Martin, Abbeville. Lewis Reeder, Due West. Jack S. Smith, Honea Path. Willie Napoleon,1 Calhoun Falls. R. E. Agnew, Donalds. John Burno, Donalds. Reese Hill, Lowndesville. Milton Bailey, Abbeville, Rt. 3. Foster Allen, Abbeville, Star Rt. Jas. W. Davis, Abbeville. Thos. DuBose, Lowndesville. Charlie Gordon, Level Land. Wm. B. Crooker, Lowndesville. Burlie Smith, Abbeville. Oliver E. Jones. Due West Thos. Cannon, Abbeville. Jas. Reese Hall, Abbeville. Paul Wilson Cox, Calhoun Falls. Arthur P. Rosenberg, Abbeville. Eddie B. Nickles, Donalds. Charlie Hunter, Hester. Amaziah Garrett Fisher, Level L. J. A. McGowan, Antreville. Joseph Ferguson, Antreville. J. R. Eakin, Donalds. J. B. McCord, Abbeville. Augustus Smith, Abbeville. John Smith, Level Lnad. Dave Tribble, Lowndesville. Hertford Cann, Antreville. Ritch Mitch, Lowndseville. Walter Gordon, Due West. Lem Reid Stevenson, Abbeville. Robert Bolden, Antreville. Burt Thomas, Calhoun Falls. Erskine S. Young, Due West. Ben. 0. Berry, Calhoun Falls. Samuel Calhoun, Hester. Raymond Browrijee, Lowndesville. Ulysses Aiken, Donalds. Furman Ellis, Due West. Bishop Belcher, Lowndesville. Eddie Yeareen. Abbeville. Mahlon W. Gordon, Antreville. Jas. J. Roche, Abbeville. Wm Albert McClain, Lowndesville Clement Patterson, Lowndesville. Thos. D. Williams, Due West. C. B. Wilson, Abbeville. Phillip Pressly, Abbeville. John Elmore, Abbeville. Scott Scotland, Lowndesville. Floyd Bonds, Lowndesville. Jim W. Bolden, Calhoun Falls. Raymond Carr, Antreville. Ned Jennings, Abbeville. Jessie Clayton, Calhoun Falls. *r t ? t 1 :n_ luarviii l-iuwnuesviue. Jas. G. Bell, Latimer. Willie Brown, Lowndesville. Earl Martin, Lowndesville. Wm. H. Patterson, Hester. Ernest Coleman, Abbeville. Jas. Johnson, Abbeville. Clarence Stuart, Due West. Willie Linzy, Abbeville, R F D. George Blue, Calhoun Falls. Elisha Davis, Calhoun Falls./ TRAPS STOP MOLES | Raider Destroys Harmful Insects and Need Not Be Exterminated. LIFE HABITS OF EXPLORER Leveling of Ridges by Means of Roller .lends to Discourage Further Incursions of Animals?Ready Market for Skins. (Prepared by the United States Department of Agriculture.) The case against the garden mole Is not clear-cut The damage that it does by burrowing in the soil and uprooti ng plants is somewhat offset by its helpful habit of feeding upon Insects and in working the soil. A specialist in the bureau of biological survey of the United States department of agriculture, who has made a careful study of this underground explorer, concludes that judgment against the mole may be rendered when it actually invaues the lawn or garden?the overt actbut that no general warfare against an insect-eating mammal should be encouraged. In Farmers' Bulletin 583, "The Common Mole o:! Eastern United States,"/ a report Is made of investigations In the life habits and methods of destroying this animal when necessary. Trapping is the most effective means for putting an /end to mole depredations. Although this bulletin considers the common garden mole of Eastern United States, to a great extent the Instructions for trapping it apply to all American moles. Three general types of traps?the harpoon, the scissors-jaw, and the choker?are on the market; and most of them give good results. Specific instructions for handling any particular make should be obtainable from the manufacturer. Successful Mole Tnip. In general, a mole trap can be successfully 'operated only when set on that part of the runway that Is near enough to the surface to upridge the sod or soil. A little observation will soon enable one to distinguish the newer and more frequently used runways from those that have been partially or wholly abandoned. In placing the trap, one of the stretches of the run that seems to be leading In some definite direction should be selected rather than one of the turns of a labyrinth that may not be traversed every jUi ft 1 ?????. I j klole Trap??a, Harpoon; b, Sclwor . Ck.L.. tlIWi V| Wlivnei* time the mole comes Into the vicinity. ' Before setting the trap It is well to Ascertain the course of the burrow by j thrusting down a lead pencil or a stick ' of about the same size. The trap selected should then be lined up with ( the course as nearly as possible; that Is, the jaws of the sclssor-jaw type should be astride It, the loops of the choker type should encircle It, and the spikes of the harpoon type should be | directly above it. If the harpoon type is used, it is best to force the impaling spikes into the ground once or : twice to facilitate their penetrating Into the burrow when the trap is later sprung. This type of trap injures the pelts of moles, and is not recommended for use when It Is desired to pre*, serve the fur. I Repeated leveling of the mole ridges i on the lawn by means of a roller not j only tends to discourage the animals : from making further incursions, but I prevents that injury to the grass j roots which otherwise would result, j and restores to the lawn Its more J sightly appearance. Unjustly Blamed. The mole is blamed for much dam* j age It does not do, the specialist ex-, plains, because otber small animals, particularly voles or meadow mice,; deer mice, and sometimes ordinary j house mice use the convenient run-1 ways of the mole for marauding. Most of the Injury to seed grains, tubers, I and roots of cultivated plants Is directly chargeable to these Intruding rodents, as an examination of the toothmarks on the damaged products will show. From an examination of the stomach contents of 200 moles taken In all -? IV. I. ??? montns or tue year iu nao iuuuu mai earthworms and white grabs constitute the bulk of the food. Beetles and their larvae anc other Insects that enter the ground, spiders, centipedes, cocoons, and puparla also form a part of the diet. In one stomach were found the remains of 171 small white grubs, in another 10 cutworms, and in an other 12 earthworms. Tlie presence ctf starchy material in seme of the stomachs is proof that the mole occasionally finds vegetable food, as certain seed grains, softened by contact with the moist soil, an acceptable addition to its worm tind insect diet Sleed coats of corn, wheat; oats, and peanuts have been identified In a few ttomachs. Market for ttkins. Moleskins have founl a ready market in recent years owing to the gradually decreasing number of wild for bearing animals. A new industry amounting to many thousnnd.3 of dollars annually might be developed In this country in the utilization of moleskins, the specialist believes. It is not feasible to attempt to breed moles for their pelts, but farmers' boys or others may easily earn small profits by capturing moles found damaging crops or seriously interfering Mth garden plants, cemeteries or lawns. - Information regarding addresses of firms that will purchase moleskins, the care of skins, and home tannin# will be furnished by the biologies! frurvey on request SOIL SERVES AS A STOMACH Expression "Available Plant Food" Is Explained by Expert of Mls> souri College. Every reader of a farm paper must have encountered frequently the ex pression "available plant food." As defined by R. R. Hndelson of the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, It means the plant food which will readily dissolve In the soil water so that the plant can take It up. In the animal stomach there are certain ; digestive fluids that dissolve the food so that it can be absorbed Into the bipod stream. The soli must serve as a stomach for plants and as the plant food dissolves in the soil water it is absorbed Into the plant juices and moves up through the plant, where It can be used. The extra water evaporates from the leaves and moves up, giving a constant circulation. From this It can be seen that only dissolved plant food can be used. Almost all soil materials can be dissolved to a slight extent, but often the rate of dissolving Is too slow. PREVENT DISEASE OF STOCK Many Places Where Parasites and Germs Are Harbored?Danger In Feeding Green Corn. Proper cleaning of the farm would largely eliminate sickness of stock. Many persons think their place Is properly cleaned when In reality It has dozens of places in the lots and pastures which are harbors for parasites and disease germs. There is scarcely a vicinity, where hogs are grown to any extent, that has not some disease. The same drastic measures that are used with footand-mouth disease, glanders, or any other fatal stock disease should be taken to free these vicinities from hog /thAlai*a There are only a very lew herds that are not infected more or less with parasites. There is much -danger from feeding green corn since It has a natural tendency to lower the vitality of growing hogs. ORDER FRUIT CRATES EARLY Unltdd States Department of Agriculture Urges Farmers to Make Necessary Preparation. Fruit growers are again being urged by the United States department of agriculture to place their orders for fruit packages at the earliest possible moment In order to Insure their delivery when needed. It seems that the supply Is likely to be scarce and the price high. Shipments should be made early as there Is likely to be a slow delivery of anything that looks like non-perishable freight LIGHTER SOILS FOR MILLET Plants Are Heavy Feeders and Need Full 8upply of Plant Food for Their Best Qrowfiih. Millet does best on the lighter soils apd those that are well drained, loams and sandy loams giving the largest yields. Heavy, poorly drained soils are entirely unfit for the crop. The plants are heavy feeders, and need a full supply of plant food for their beat growth. On poor land, finely rotted stable manure should be plowed down before planting. OATS AND PEA HAY MIXTURE Rather Hard to Cure on Account of High Molsturt Content?Handle v Hay unreTiiiuy. This mixture Is rather bard to core on account of Its hi gh content of moisture. It should be cut when the oats are In the milk find net later to make the best' hay. The hay should be handled carefully and kept cocked if the weather is unfavorable. The less It Is exposed to rain lifter being put the better hay it makos. CULTIVATE EARLY AND OFTEN Constant Work Will Keep Soil in Ideal j Physical Condition arid Keep Out Harmful Weeds. j Constant cultivation should be the | rile, for this will keep the soil in an 1 Ideal physical condition for the roots to grow In, besides keeping the weecu I in check. Cultivate early and persist* | ently and keep ahead of lie weeds. 1785 / 1 * ' COLLEGE OF CH> . / South Carolina's Old 13Zd Year begins Se Entrance examinations at all the county-s o'clock A. M. Four-year courses lead to the B; A. and B medical course is given. > A free tuition scholarship is assigned to e Spacious buildings and athletic grounds, \ excelled library facilities. Expenses moderate. For terms and catal< HARRISCW Stop in the next time you are in this Webster Pattern. Always pleased to sh? You will find our prices very reasonat dependable, our services most courteous to the dot Make this store your store You should not only use the Web*t table, but should give it for presenl birthday, Xmas, etc. Nothing would j ing or pleasing satisfaction than silvers design. - ? W. E. JOHNSON, Abbeville,, S. yr Teach / Childrei m To Save I Start the kiddi H right by making th< want, to save their mon A personal savings accoun a high-class banking ins! / tion like this, where are given the proper and encouragement die their own finai is a good start in right direction. dollar opens an ac< I Safety?Honesty?Cou The Nation Abbeville S t / . .V I - Money To / * 1 . 1 am prepared to n on farm property in t city property at Ab Carolina, on long tim< at seven per cent. N made except for insp< erty offered and foi stracts. William P. C Abbeville, f The" Semi-Weekly Press and Banner The I $1.50 per year. Subscribe now! I $1.50 i I , . / 1917 ' \ ' > VRLESTON "r lest College iptember 28. \v-; J'Y ; i '.5<V-'< eats on Friday, July 18, at :9'r . S. degrees. A two-year pre- , ' ": '*{*&$(? ; V;... ach county of the State. veil equipped laboratories, onague, address ' f RANDOLPH, President ' , ' : , i vicinity and see the new ^ ''v iw you any of our goods. p., >le, our goods absolutely and our promises fulfilled ar to beautify your own ??weuuingi ttumycrawrjrj jive a greater, more lastvare in the new Webster v- l-;S .. .1 .^uaa : - ' M , Jeweler ' ^ **' ' - imimiireuaiwnwmmnMMUiHMWMtawMMWiwiitwwtwBMWWMWWMMWii . ; 7 ^ iZTr ^""" ^ ^ ^ children \ attention to han rtesy-Service Jj' al Bank i n ?. C. > Loan : v , 'v i , ;?1 . VK } ' M-l egotiate loans he County, or i beville, South i -v infmiAftf Willi 11UV1 o charges are jction of prop making ab :i i ireene, : r :. i -?'I Semi-Weekly Press and Banner >er year. Subscribe now! 9