Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1910-12-29

men. 1t is claimed that II the cor
lege had 100000 for this work ii
could reach every county in the state
every year and give consecutive ex
detrimental demonstrations on the
county farms in each county as web
as short courses. AS 1t Is but twenty
two counties are reached and the
work is not carried on consecutively
ear alter year, but Is conducted with
view to getting around to all of the
neighborhoods desiring the short
course as often as Is possible. Last
year about $500 farmers were reach,
ed. There are 100000 farms In Iowa.
If a short course could be held in
each county $4,000 farmers could be
reached each year on the basis OF
the attendance in 1909. But with the
| guarantee OF a consecutive and well
planned course from year to year, 1t
is reasonable to presume that the at.
tendance would be largely increased
and that the major portion Of the
:armers of Iowa would soon be en-.
Listed in the work. If but 10 per
| cent of the results obtained by the
| 81 farmers cited herein could be oD-
| tanned, it would mean an increase OF
| 100000 per annum in the value of
the corn crop alone. taking an aver
age OF 100000 acres planted as a
basis. The returns would be pro-
| rortionate for small grains, hogs,
cattle, dairy products, ETC., for all OF
the departments are taught at the
short course. And what is more i'm
portant is that the results are last.
ing and come year after year, once
the farmer starts along the improved
lines.
Many readers of this article have
attended the lectures given on the
seed corn, soils, dairy, small grain
and breakfast bacon specials oper
ated by the railroads and conducted
by the members of the faculty from
Ames. You have some idea of the
benefits these half hour talks have
Eeen to the farmers and Of the good
that has come from them. What
would the results be if these men
could come into your county for six
to ten days in each year and devote
that many days, to the educational
work instead of thirty or forty min
| utes? What If early in each spring
they sent men into your county to
| gather samples of your seed and tc
| make records of your feeding and
rniliyino rncuItc and RI pNnhrNt
experimental plot on your county
farm and used the cata of the rec.
ords and the experiments in each
| short course held?
In Denmark, with an area not larg.
er than the state of Iowa, there are
| four agricultural colleges and staff
| oil experts is continually in the field
each year instruCting the farmers In
! 1909 when the Iowa farmer was con-
tent with an average profit OF $3.50
| from an acre of corn, the Danes
raised enough from their farms to
feed their population and exported
out Of the country over 50 for each
acre of land devoted to farming. Den.
mark land Is no tetter than Iowa
land. The difference is in the meth
cd of farming. q 1t is due to rota
| ton, soil restoration and the app!i.
eaton of right methods. There are
many farmers in Iowa who are dem.
onstrating each year that more can
be gotten out of an Iowa acre than
out of a Danish acre, but these are
away in kthe minority. What would
Iowa be If they were in the major
ity?
Henry Wallace, Professor Holden
and other authorities. are agreed that
for years Iowa farmers have been
mining the soil of the state instead
of farming it.
# December 10, there was held in Des
Moines, a meeting that was attend
ed by over 1000 representatives OF
the grain trace, the railroads, com
mercial organizations, agricultural
colleges, terminal grain markets, ETC..
| besides several hundred of the best
| farmers in Iowa. At this meeting
Henry Wallace, Professor Curtis,
| Professor Holden, the grain trades
men, farmers and others were unit
in their advocacy OF greatly in
creased appropriation for this kind
of work to be expended through the
extension department of the agricul
! tural college. They are men who
have studied and looked for results
many of them men who are securing
results, and all are interested In the
future of Iowa to tire extent Of mil
lions invested in the state. They
want Iowa's resources advertised
not only to the outsider, but to our
own people.
The slogan OF the meeting wac
1.-THE State Government is Business
Organization. Give US l-ss Politics
and Lot More Business"
The good business man spends 2
per cent of his income for publicity.
If the state will spend much less than
one-tenth of one per cent of its as
sessed valuation on extension work.
it can put an experimental plot and
fully equipped short course into
every county in the state and do II
every year. Is II worth while? II
you think 1t Is. II is up to you to
talk the matter over with your repre-
sentative and your senator and make
it your business to see that it is
done.
The man who owns Iowa lane
should be interested. 1t means q
bigger production, a higher rental
and better price for the land. The
farmer who rents should be inter.
ested. 1t means a bigger crop from