The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1909-02-17
SCIENTIFIC ADVICE
TO THE FARMERS
The FARMERS INSTITUTE ORGANIZATION
BRINGS TWO FABM SPECIALISTS.
WEST SIDE AND CHARTER OAK
Have Good Meetings Addressed by Professors
Bliss and Horneman Of the Extension
Department ofState College.

dairymen living in the vicinity of
West Side and Charter Oak had an
opportunity of hearing much which
could we'll be of benefit to them, from
the lips Of two instructors of the
state college at Ames. The West
Side session of the Farmers Institute
was held in the big hall where all
public exercises of a general nature
in that town convene. The citizens
of that enterprising town kindly gave
the Institute free, the hall, and pro-
vided the music by the band. The
gathering was called to order at 80
by Mr.. R. j. Dieter. president of the
organization in this county. The
secretary, S. A. Krall was also on
hand. Mr.. Dieter made a good pre-
siding officer. and his opening remarks
showed he was deeply in earnest in
his endeavors to have successful In
stitute in this county. The West
Side band, all the afternoon. played
very we'll. and the audience gave it a
vote of thanks.
The first speaker was Prof. G. R.
Bliss. His remarks covered large
range. but what he said was most
interesting and illustrated by charts.
holding close attention. We give con-
densation of this talk as follows
Showing pictures of corn he insisted
that good seed was needed by every
corn grower. and that such should be
procured at any price. Pointing to
the chart he showed how some kerr
nails of corn were narrow at the tips,
and other wide all the way down.
Of course the wide ones we're the
kind man wanted. Some showed
much white or starch, and this
was not good. for what was wanted
was corn rich IN oil and protein.
The Smelling PERCENTAGE is better
when the kernels are plump. Prof.
Bliss was sorry there was no corr
contest at the institute for these con-
tests help men to pick out better corn
such as will yield more bushels to the
acre. He said the Reed Yellow
Dent corn was good for central and
southern Iowa. In planting do not
use corn from the tips and butts. He
showed how the testing box was fixed.
Use six kernels from each ear. The
contents of the box when ready for
the test should be: Wet saw
dust. a good cloth, the seed. good
cloth. saw dust. He gave figures
showing how some seed corn under
the same conditions produced "a
bushels to the acre and some 40. 1t
lay in the producing power of the
seed. A bushel would plant eight
acres and it would be more7 in the
pocket in the end if even $40 was paid
a bushel for seed.
Prof. Bliss next spoke of po.a.o
culture. He said one should get 200
Had 300 bushels to the acre. The
average in the state was 80. The loss
in yield came from poor seed and in
different culture. He said for farm
ers to write Sec. Wilson at Washing
ton for Bulletin 35. He recommend
ed using as seed. potatoes cut in halt
being sure to have two good eyes,
and the pieces large. Scaby potato
seed could be treated with bath Of
sFormalin." He now spoke as tt
apple scab and apple pests generally.
Ames bulletin 80 would give full in
formation. Bordeaux mixture should
be used for scab. Insect pests dit
immense damage. For these the
trees should be sprayed four times j,
the season. Potatoes should b.
sprayed three and five times. using
Paris Green and Bordeaux mixture
In closing remarks he spoke abou
growing trees for fence posts. Fo
this the ttCatalpa'' was the bes
kind. Posts should be we'll dried
Put big end in the ground. Dip il
creosote. being particular to have tn
preservative where the post met tn,