Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1908-02-19

IL-=NA NE OF the most important movement
. 40 haI RI that has been projected in recer
-EAI1HI NH years is that looking to the establish
T E&sN ment OF small experiment stations o
5l6friT private farms throughout the country
be conducted by the farmers themseve,
is proposed to have the federal department Of agrcu
ure furnish selected DIS for all kinds of staple crop
produced in this country to one or more farmers in eac
county OF the various states who will agree to set asid
from one to i've acres to be cultivated under the dtecio
OF the agricultural department Instructors from the state
agricultural stations will make the rounds Of these farm
several times year and give the farmers the benefit 0
their advice and instruction In this way is believed
that farmers generally will watch the experiments WITH
more interest than they have manifested heretofore in th
governments operations in this direction and in tha
event is reasonably certain that they will be enabled
double and multiply in still greater ratio in most instances
the value Of their production
1t has long been matter of complaint among farmers
that the governmental experiment stations, state anc
national too tar away to be visited in any consider
able numbers, and that even though the farmers could a
ford to do they spare the time to watch The
experiments long enough TO gain much practical infor
nation Another cause Of dissatisfaction is that the
governmental reports to experiments in farming toe
vague and ragmentary to be OF much value to practica
farmers hese reports issued in great numbers, ir
volumes and pamphlets but it is a we'll known fact tha
hardly farmer in hundred ever gets one and the
matter is compiled in such forms that fewer still take the
trouble to read their AS consequence the belief is
general among practical farmers that the government
officials who conduct the experiments may be very scen
tlhc IN theory but practical farmers they not worth
their salt Whatever the truth of these criticisms It is
certain that the department OF agriculture and the state
experiment stations have made very little impression upon
the farmers products lar increasing the volume or
enhancing values is concerned If it we're left to vote
OF the farming classes those who raise the great staples
as well as the truck farmers and fruit growers there is
little for doubt that large majority would declare
ed ont Tho
stations not worth the money required to maintain
them.
And yet, beyond question there is great need for edu-
cation among the farming classes as to scientific methods
IN raising This is demonstrated not only by the
greatly increased volume of production where scientific
farming is ntelgenty conducted but also by the marked
disparity between the production Of any Of the staple crops
IN one state. or even county, compared with any
other | he yield OF wheat for example in Kan
about fourteen bushels to the acre and yet in many
cases the yield goes high forty and even Fifty bushels
per acre, the kind Of soil and under practically
the natural conditions as obtained on the farms that
produced the lowest yield The same rule applies to the
raising OF corn and the disparity becomes greater on
the cotton plantations here the south Some planters raise
from and half to two bales of cotton to the acre
while their neghbors operating under the same conditions
get above half bale The average Weld Of the
aluvlal soil in the Mississippi valley is about one half
bale to the and yet in every instance where small
plot OF ground to hive acres has been cultivated with
scientific methods the yield Jumped to minimum of two
and halt bales to the acre.
The railroads in the Mississippi West have been
doing missionary work OF this character for several years
which has proved immensely valuable In Iowa several
years railroad sent out special train over the
state, equipped with the modern appliances Of an expert
mental station and carrying number OF lecturers, com
prisng college professors and practical farmers who had
used scientific processes in raising corn Farmers inst
es we're held at the county SEATS along the line Of the
dc and Iao, !. IL. 4 IL 4
tons as to seed selection preparing the soil and cuva
ing the crop he result that the crop Of Iowa
was increased S300O0OOO in value the following year
Other roads doing the same thing in the South and
West and other states each spring and aand the
results have richly justified the value Of the service
Farmers as class eagerly seek practical knowledge
given in this way, and the railway conducted farmers
institutes are invariably largely attended Last year in
MssissppNvhen the roads were so miry that riding or
driving was out OF the question hundreds Of farmers walk
ed from to ten miles to attend the institutes IL the
agricultural bureau is brought to practical
basis, contemplated in the movement which has been
recently set on foot to bring the experimental stations
he farmers, the results will be conspcuousy manifest in
he next few in marked increase in the countrys
staple crops.
There is no reason on earth Why the wheat crop Of
Kansas should not average forty bushels to the acre in
stead Of fourteen, or why the crop Of Missouri should
lot reach minimum OF htty seveny-hve bushels
Q the the Mississippi cotton crop two babes
9 the acre. these results have been attained in every
Instance where scientific methods have been employed
=
One cold, wintery morning man Of tall and angular
uild walking down steep hill at Va quick pace,
ays the Philadelphia Record "A piece Of ice under the
now caused him TO lose control Of his feet; he began 10
lide and was unable to stop AT crossing ha,, az
own he encountered large. heavy woman The meet
ng sudden, and before either realized Il collision
nsued and both were sliding down HILL the thin man
nderneath the fat woman on top When The bottom was
cached and the woman was trying to her breath