Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-10-09
CONTINUED from Page One.)

fact which led the early settlers to prt
fer the more rolling lands of Iowa.
During the last % years. however.
the cultivation of large tracts of the
richest prairie lands in our state has
been made possible by the construction
of large open bitches and by tile drain
age.
"As in all new countries. the farm
ers of Illinois first found the crop best
adapted to the soils of the state and
then proceeded TO grow that crop in
line with the greatest temporary profit.
Thus corn was grown in the corn belt
and wheat in the wheat belt. until some
positive reduction in crop yield appear
ed. In later years the rotation of crops
and more recently the use of available
farm manure and the application of
such specific fertilizers as may be used
with profit are being employed. The
state of Illinois make to her agricul-
tural experiment station an appropria-
ton for use in the investigation of var
ious types of sol existing i'll the state,
and the result is that Illinois farmers
are fast becoming informed as to- the
specific needs of the different classes
of soil. As a general result of these
various methods of soil improvement,
the value OF Illinois lands in every sec
ton of the state is increasing very ap
preciabIy and has more than doubled
in the last decade.
For the enlightenment of her aSri-
culturists Illinois now maintains the
largest agricultural experiment station
in the world conducting original inyes-
legations in the six leading fields of ag
riculturC viz: Cd soils. 90 the lead
ing crops. corn. wheat cats and clover
90 orchard fruits, (4) dairy husband
ry. (5) live stock interests and meat
and wool production, 60 fungus enc
mics to crops and trees. The College
of Agriculture has now go courses i'll
the various departments of agriculture
Three hundred twenty-five students who
take what is known as the short course
of two weeks instruction, and 500 stu
dents are enrolled in the regular course.
Information il Disseminated.
For the dissemination of the infor-
nation there acquired. the agricultural
experiment station since its founding
in 1888 has published Ill bulletins and
81 circulars dealing with the results of
its investigations The edition has now
reached 10000. and this literature is
revOlutionizing many of the farm prac-
tees OF the state.
"A system OF farmers institutes is
supported by the state and meetings
are held annually in every county.
AT every county farmers institute
last year save one. the University of
Illinois was represented by one of its
professors. These representatives of
the university lecture along lines Sc
lected by the people of the locality in
which the institutes are held. The av-
erage attendance is from go to 500. |
and has reached 1000.
Work Of Other Organizations.
This work of investigation conduct
ed by the Agricultural Experiment sta
ton is ably supplemented by the work
OF other organizations. such as the Iii
nois state board of agriculture. charged
with the duty of analyzing commercial
fertilizers and licensing the sale of
same. publishing the crop statistics OF
the state compiled from the reports of
more than 700 correspondents: the
State Horticultural society. embracing
three societies known as the societies
of northern. southern and central Hi
nOis: the Illinois State Farmers insti
tute. whose work is educational along
practical lines and is extended through
county organization TO every county in
the state: the Illinois Live Stock com
mission. whose duties comprise the en-
forcing of regulations looking TO the
control and stamping out of contagious
diseases among domestic animals: ILL
nOis Live Stock Breeders association,
for the improvement of breeds of live
stock. and having auxiliary associations
representing horses. beef cattle sheep
and swine interests; Illinois Dairymen's
association. whose work is educational
and reaches all classes of dairy work
ers; Illinois Corn Growers and Corn
Breeders association, holding annual
meetings at the College of Agriculture:
the State Highway commission. charg
ed with the duty of investigating meth
DDS of highway Improvement best suit
ed to- the different localities of the
state.
Attain Concrete Results.
The effects of the application of the
scientific knowledge thus gathered TO
the business of farming is felt in every
branch of agriculture. Some of the
concrete results are as follows:
Illinois is prominently the corn
state. More corn is here grown than
upon any other equal area of the earth
surface, and the quality and quantity
of this staple product has been mater
tally improved by our agricultural ex-
pertinent station. The commercial i'm
portance of this Improvement is not
easily over stated. The uses of corn
are rapidly multiplying and at the pres
ent time more than 20 distinct CONNER
cial products. not including spirits, are
manufactured from corn