Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-31

producers, the city and town people,
must suffer first from a short food
supply. We had a lot OF talk about
boycott because so many people
cannot understand that already there
is short food supply. 1t will not
be a question of prices but a ques-
ton of food as long as you and l hive.
There is where the right to appro-
pirate money for the upbuilding of
these agricultural interests comes
from. 1t is just as much a duty to
foster and protect the food supply as
TO create great navies.-Ralph Allen,
Tazewell county.
Summer Institute at UniversIty.-An
important new departure was decid-
ed on by the Illinois Farmers insti-
tute directors in the March business
meeting when Ottawa was selected
for the next annual meeting, Director
E. w. Burroughs elected president,
Secretary Mckeene and Superintend-
ent Hall reelected summer meet
ing of three days at the university,
Urbana, Aug. 16, IL and Is. SUPER
intendent Hall believes that this sum-
mer gathering at the university will
do more toward bringing the farm
ers of Illinois into touch with the
great source of agriculture informa-
ton than anything yet attempted,
and he regards as superior fttrac-
lions 1.-The oldest experiment field in
America with the 2O-bushel crop of
corn growing beside the 1OO-busheI
crop; the clover on land treated with
nh hot 10 A1fI 4L1A
treated land; the alfalfa fields, the
stock barns, the feeding experiments
with cattle, horses, sheep and swine;
the great 20-acre dairy experiment,
the buildings and laboratories, the
class rooms"
Many excursions of interested
farmers and young people go to the
university during the summer, and
many of these parties could be timed
to attend this institute. Thousands
of visitors spend a day or more in
summer at such colleges of agricul-
ture in neighboring states and Can
ada, and this is a fit time and fine
way for Illinois to encourage such
college visiting and offer much defin-
lite information. After talking an
experiment OF subject over in the lee
ture room, the actual test or demon
stration in the field-the growing
crops and contrasts in growth-will
be viewed, with further explanations,
questions and answers. Separate
classes will thus pursue different sub
jects at the same time.
All the Farmer Has to Do.-Another
factor in the highest crop yields is
the man. His function is to apply
details. Great variation is permitted
in this but the details must all come
within certain fundamental laws. He
can even be- an imitator and follow
the practices of those who under
stand essential principles. The farm
er does not need to investigate; the
problems OF seed, soil and tilIage are
worked out for him. Soil problems,
feeding problems, breeding prob
lens; in fact in every line possible
men with true scientific spirit, with
immense plants established for re-
search, are working for him. He
has free access to the results of the
ablest men in chemistry. entomology,
botany, agronomy, etc.-Frank l.
Mann.
Can't Blame the Season.-The wealth.
er is beyond our control; we can have
no influence on the rainfall, heat
and light of a season, but the rela-
ton Of the soil and crop to these
seasoned factors can be greatly modi-
fled by the controllable factors. HUI
mus and drainage reduce to the min
imum the injury from excessive rain
fall and from excessive drouth; and
an abundant supply OF plant food
enables the c.op to make gre4c -
growth with limited heat and light.
Is 1t ignorance that pleads the sea-