Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-01-09
University Notes.

Methods OF improving the 100000
dairy herds of Wisconsin that furnish
milk to 1900 creameTies and cheese
factories. the drainage OF swamp lands,
the making I 20 I'd roads, horse rails
ing, and the care of orchards, will
form the chief subjects of discussion
at the fourvh annual farmers course
to be held AT the college Of agriculture
Of the University Of Wisconsin in Feb.
ID. From present indications from
800 to 600 farmers will avail themselves
Of the opportunity 20 get the latest in
formation in agriculture Last year
40 we're registered, q m4rked i",r ase
over the preceding year. The course
is intended for farmers over twenty
five years of age who are unable to
avail themselves of other instruction
in a. riculturai methods. No fees or
charges of any kind are made by the
university for this course.
The special feature Of the farmers
course this winter will be the con-
sideration of methods of improving
the 10000 herds of dairy cows that
furnish milk TO 5000 creameries and
cheese factories. Methods of imprOv-
ing the 1airy breed by substituting
registered, pure bred bulls for the
scrub bulls now used will be consider
ed. Demonstrations Of the milking
machines which have been installed in
the dairy barns will form an interest
ing part of the instruction in dairy
methods. Tuberculosis in dairy herds,
with post norton demonstration OF
the presence of the disease in COWS
and the method of applying the tuber
culin test, Will form another important
part of the work for those interested
in dairying.
Professor A. s. Alexander will con-
duct the work in the raising of horses,
and will lecture on draft horses, types
and breeds, methods of examining for
soundness, and similar topics. The
operation of the new stallion registra-
ton law,and the possibility of develop
ing Wisconsin as a great horse rails
ing state, will be discussed. Improv-
ed varieties of barley and oats for
Wisconsin farms will form the subject
of instruction by Professor r. Moore,
and will be illustrated by samples
and stereopticon slides of improved
grains. Professor E. p. Sandsten will
present the subject of the lay ing out
of orchards and small fruit gardens,
and the selecting, planting, and care
of fruit trees. The need of land
drainage in Wisconsin, the projects
of drainage as eased on data gathered
from farmers, and the cost of draining
marsh land as compared with the
benefits, is another practical topic to
be considered,
The aim of the ten days farmers
course is to give busy farmers the
maximum amount of instruction in
the minimum amount of time. The
program, which is now complete,
prorides for lectures, demonstrations,
and practical work from 5 o'clock each
morning until 9 o'clock at night. All
the resources of the college of agri-
culture viii be placed at the disposal
Of the farmers and dairymen of the
state who take advantage of the means
of instruction thus provided.
PRIZE TOBACCO SEED.
Professor E. p. Sandsten of the col
lege of agriculture, University Of Wis
consin, has just announced that he
has on hand considerable quantity
of the tobacco seed which won first
and sweep stake prizes for the best
tobacco grown in the state at the re-
cent meeting to the Tobacco Growers
Association; and will distribute 1t to
those interested in raising high grade
tobacco. The agricultural experiment
station mas been working for several
years to improve the variety of tobacco
grown. As a result of careful selec-
ton strain of tobacco seed has been
developed which is superior in every
respect TO the old varieties grown.
This improvement is worth hundreds
of thousands of dollars to the tobacco
growers of the state.