The Washington herald., 1907-11-19

dreamed wealth OF the soil. and nv which
even greater treasures arc 10 be Iiber-
ated In the future The farmer must
become acquainted with the soil. ThouEh
ne mas lived on it for generations il still
needs an introduction. Some farmers are
fast realizing these scientific possibilities
but the mass Of them are only beginning
as primary pupils IA the great school OF
agriculture. a Virginia farmer bought q
farm some years ago which was below
the average n quality. The highest Weld
OF wheat ever made on it had been twelve
bushels per acre In twenty years thar
farm was growing some thirty bushels
OF wheat 90 the acre. and had eroV-n
iorty-tour bushels In an exceptional sea-
son Where it grew twenty-five bushels
or corn when he bought IL. the farm has
recently grown eighty-three bushels 10 the
acre what this farmer has done with
wheat ana corn he has done with his
o'her crops. with his horses. cattle. reouI-
lIy' ana hogs. His books show that with
the same acreage to-day as he had then
his chicken and dairy products Weld as
much profit AS his whole farm did when
ne took charge Of IL. What he has done
l1oD other farmers have done II IS an
que TO agricultural education and the
intelligent application OF this knowledge.
II the average farmer can De taught 10 do
what many Of his enlightened nelghbors
are doing to-day, II would suffice to make
an annual increase in the products Of the
farm sufficient 70 purchase bodily one-haIf
oi the railroads OF the United States.
This work Of spreading the gospel OF
good farming has reached unusual pro
portions. Some 100000 farmers buIle-
tins are annually printed and distributed
besides many other publications. The
farmers everywhere are waking UP TO the
value Of the work The department is DO
ing- Nearly 1-J0oG09 Of them are annual
ly attending the farmers institutes thar
are being given IN the various States.
The Congressional seed distribution. SO
often laughed at by the city press. has
a great value. \ Senator sends several
packages Of seeds 10 the wife OF
farmer constituent. \ neighbor drons in
and likes the Tadishes or the lettuce or
the cabbage, or the tomatoes. The one
VINO got tie seeds saves them from her
nrst years crop. and all the other house
wives In the neighbOrhood have IN. i'm
proved variety next year. This iS nor
an exceptional case. 1t is the rule and
millions Of people have eaten better
radishes, milder onions. or more tender
lettuce through this great seed distribu-
ton over seven million packages Of
seeds sre sent out each year
The insect and animal pests Of the
country annually destroy farm property
worth billion dollars. It is estimated
that the Texas fever tick is fatal to cat
tie worth S60.O00.000. and that the Hessssn
fly and the joint worm may cut the value
or a wheat crop even more than thar
one of the principal works of the de
partment is 10 aid the farmer in COM
batting these pests. Ii has. so to speak.
set the dogs on insect pests, by bringing
from remote parts Of the world Other
insects which eat them and their eggs.
Birds are also being sought which will
aid IN the destruction OF insect nests and
many species have been found which IN
this requirement Conta gious diseases
are beng sought that win be fatal only
20 rodent animals. and as soon as the
experiments have proved satisfactory the
virus for starting epidemics among them
viii be sent 10 farmers. Epidemics may
De easily started among rabbits. as they |
are especially susceptible to disease. Mice |
rats. ground squirrels. and prairie docs /
VIII soon feel the brunt Of the campaign /
which science is preparing 10 wage |
against them.
The average American who does not
i've IN the country scarcely realizes how