Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-11

Flowing Under Heavy Growth
In blowing under a heavy growth, if
the furrow is neatly turned over, much
of the growth is left as layer in the
bottom of the furrow, and this prevents
the passage of moisture and let's the
crop suffer in a dry time, but II the
ground is well disked before blowing
and the growth is more or less cut
up and mixed with the earth, this par
TALLY overcomes the difficulty If
plowed with a mold board of less
than ordinary dish" the furrow is
left more on its edge, and when the
disc follows, the organic matter is
better distributed in the soil. With
the use of the disc harrow it is not
necessary to cover well all trash
Frank l. Mann, Iroquois county.
Five Books for Every Farmer.-The
Farmers institute appointed Directors
w FAIR as a committee to examine
agriculture books with view to rec
ommending those that were found re-
liable and worthy and helpful for gen.
eral reading A large number of books
were examined and at the last meeting
of directors the following were recon-
'mended: Bacteria in Relation to
Country Life" Lipman. Macmillan &
Co.; Feeds and Feeding" w A. Henry,
published by the author; "Soil Fertil-
ity and Permanent Agriculture" Hop
kins, CHM e Co.; Economics of
Forestry" Fernow, T. Y. Crowell &
Co; Beef Production" Mumford, pub
lished by the author: Types and
Breeds of Farm Animals Plumb, CHM
& Co. It is OF distinct advantage to
have the benefit of this careful exam
ination of many books by practical
men who know, and the committee is
made permanent to continue the work
and report other books. The standard
set was that the books must be true,
In harmony with scientific investiga-
ton, in plain language. and must be
applicable to Illinois conditions. The
committee finds that much of che most
valuable matter is contained in the
bulletins and circulars of the Illinois
experiment station, as well as other
stations, and urges a much wider use
of these publications by farmers. Chair
man Mann explains this small list for
such a large field, saying it has been
but few years since there was enough
science in agriculture to get into the
books published; that a large number
were rejected because they did not
apply to Illinois conditions or contain
ed false teaching; that many were out
of date; that most of the books on
soils were not in harmony with re-
suits demonstrated on Illinois expert
ment fields. Mr.. Mann says. and the
Institute says, This is list that every
intelligent farmer ought to have, and
he can depend upon the information
he gains from the list as being the
best and most reliable in its class"
Why County Road Unit. - A
stretch of road of the utmost impor-
lance to a locality may be of little
concern to a particular township I'm
volved (the people using another
road, and hence there is no oppor-
tunity to have the entire stretch OF
the road improved as it should be.
And we conclude that no system of
roads that will answer present needs
can be built under township units, be-
cause they are too small to carry on
the work. Moreover the cost would
fall wholly on the township, whereas
the center toward which the road goes
is as much benefited, but may be in
different township. County control of
the main roads would be better; the
law could let each county vote for or
against county control.-A. N. John
son, state highway engineer.
Institute Publicity Work.-Secretary
H. A. McKeene has printed Cor multi
graphedl and disseminated, the past
year: 5000 copies Rockford resolu-
tions; 10000 bulletin 10; 10000 house
hold science circular 1; 10000 house
hold science year book; 5000 institute
extension circular; 10000 state insti-
tute programs; 10000 score cards for
agricultural products: 10000 mailing
cards Ito use in asking for agricultural
bulletins) $4,000 county institute pro-
grams: letters and blanks to county
institute officers; 80 reports, programs
or items~duplicated for department OF
household science; $4,000 copies 14th
annual report.
Natures Corn 10 Days Earlier
Mr.. Mann says also: From many
sources the complaint is made that