The Mena weekly star., 1910-08-18

clover. etc. On any land where one of these crops grows one year. there will be better crops the next year.
 How Nature Produces Fertilizer.
 MT. Evans described the method nature used to gather the nitrogen and place it in the soil It is through the work of bacteria, little living things, so small that millions could congreeate on the head of a pin. These gather along the roots of the plants, extract nitrogen from the air that is contained in the soil, and con vert it into solid form, forming the while small white. pulpy knots called nodules. each of which is the home of millions of the bacteria These bac- teria he termed the slaves" of the plant for which they worked.
 The Washing of Lands.
 MT. Evans spoke of the distinction possessed by Polk county in the fact that all streams flowed from it, and none toward it. He realized the ad- vantaees of this. but that it also had a disadvantage, in that these streams continually were carrying away of our best soil, thing it is necessary to stop so far as possible. He suggested three methods. each of which would help.
 First-Deeper blowing.
 Second--Winter cover, cover crops, the keeping always of something grow ing on the lands, especially of roll ing character He suggested oats, wheat. winter clover-anything to stay on land and keep it from wash ing off.
 Third--Hillside ditching and terrac- ing.
 The speaker pointed out to the teachers their interest in better farm ing-that only with prosperity among the farmers could they expect better wages.
 Demonstration Farms.
 The work ofthe demonstration farms is to promote the better preparation of the soil. the use of better seed and better methods of cultivation.
 Iii Arkaiissas there now are fi56 demonstration corn farms. A careful record is kept by the government as to the results on each one, and this record shows that the average produc- ton is 15.3 bushels per acre above the average of the state. There are plant ed to corn in Arkansas 2.600 900 asres If each of these. then, was farmed in the same way as the 1436 demonstration farms, the result would be 39, 7S0, ,000 more bushels of corn, which at 50 cents a bushel would put in the pockets of the Arkansas farm CTS SIS. 9.69O. .O0O-a very respectable sum surely.
 But the demonstration work does not stop with corn.
 There are 2.000 cotton patches farmed the same way. under the di-f rection of agents of the government. The records show that these acres averaged 396 pounds more cotton than the average for the state. There are one million acres planted to cotton in Arkansas Under the improved meth ods, then, these acres would have pro- ducch 396. .000, GOO pounds more than the present state average yield. which at as low as 10 cents a pound would give the cotton farmers $39. 600 .000 extra as pocket change. or on cotton and corn. they they would have SIS, 7S0, ,000 more than now-more than a million dollars a year additional for each county in the state.
 Boys Corn Clubs.
 Mir. Evans said he hoped to see a big Boys Corn Club in Polk county next year. He stated that most of the boys who had participated last year were in knee pants-school boys and yet they had. right on single acres of their fathers farm, raised from 40 to 87 bushels per acre by fol- lowing instructions while the average yield of the state was but little over IS bushels per acre-a result that should make the fathers see the val ue of the lessons taught.
 At the close of Mir. Evans remarks, | James Lyles. farmer present, spoke with utmost earnestness for the cause of education in better farming, ex- pressing the conviction that there was certainly something wrong with the present methods that made the farm so unattractive to the boys.
 The rain broke up the picnic and Mir. Evans had no further opportunity | .Ix1.<.. tt., fornaoro aoJ x.r;tl, M-