The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1911-12-26
Extension Work in Agriculture
by the University of Idaho
(From Idaho Country Life)

Deen wonderful increase IN the actlV-
tiles and usefulness of the several
Agricultural Colleges in the various
states. Previous to that time, the erer.
gies of the officers and professors of
these colleges, together with those of
the Experiment Stations associated
Herewith, were confined to the giving
Of instruction in the various subjects
in the college proper. to the conduct
of research and demonstration work
in the Experiment Station. and to
more or less desultory kind of exten-
sion work in Farmers Institute meet
ings
The research work of the small
army of scientists in the State Expert
ment Stations and the Federal De-
partn,ent Of Agriculture has resulted
in the gathering of such vast amount
Of scientific data, on almost every
phase, of agricultural activity, that it
is not extreme to state, that the general
practice of the farmers of the United
States is at least ten years behind the
known and regularly classified facts,
or the science. of agriculture. Ibis
being true, it is not surprising that
the Agricultural Colleges are, while
not neglecting the work of instruction
and experimentation in the Colleges
and Experiment Stations, each year
devoting greater proportion of their
energies and funds to building up and
improving the actual farming practice
among the active farmers of the coun-
try. These Colleges and Stations will
not be fulfilling their real mission until
they become vitality interested in aiding
and developing every agricultural in
terest i'll the various states.
The Agricultural College and Ex-
pertinent Station of Idaho, while not
in the lead of many of the other states,
is happily not any longer in the rear
in this onward march of progress.
At the present time, there is being
operated, i'll addition to the Central
College Farm and Experiment Station
at Moscow, four Demonstration or
Sub Station Farms SO located geo.
graphically that they may be of the
greatest service to the farming inter
ests The first of these to be estab-
lished, was located at Caldwell in Can
yon county, in the center of one of the
richest irrigated farming sections of
the state. Unfortunately, the tract of
land selected for this farm was not at
all characteristic of the farming land
in that section and has not proven sat
isfactory for the purpose intended.
The surface soil is very uneven in
character, and lying beneath the sur
face at depth of from Is to 80 inch
es over the entire tract, is pectll'a.
calcarious, finty deposit ranging in
depth from six to ten feet. This de-
post is absolutely impervious to water
or the roots of plants and, as conse-
quence, the crops that may be grown
are few and not profitable. While this
farm offers excellent opportunities for
research work in soil building and i'm
provement, the resources of the Col
lege at the present time are not such
as to justify the expenditure of the
necessary time and money required,
is this true when this tract
is not representative of any large body
of land in that vicinity, and when there
are so many hundreds of thousands of
acres of rich, deep soil in the state
awaiting the advent of the farmer.
The second farm to be located is at
Gooding in Lincoln county, and here
the conditions are almost ideal. This
farm consists of forty acres, all irri-
gated with good supply of water. A
broad and comprehensive series of
demonstrations and Investigations are
under way, chiefly concerned with the
Use and amount of water to apply to
the various farm crops to produce
maximum yields of highest quality.
At Clagstone, in Bonner county, is
% be found the third farm operated by
he College and Experiment Station.
This consists of two hundred acres OF
,ut-over timber land that was until
hree years ago heavily timbered with
oine fir and tamarack trees. The prob
EN- at this farm is study of the most
economical methods of clearing the
and of brush, logs and stumps, and,
fter clearing, to bring the inert soil to
high state of fertility by unlocking
he stores of plant food In common
With most of the timebered sections
f the northern part of Idaho, the land
5 dead" owing to the lack of sum
ght and air for untold years while
eng shaded by the heavy growth of
mber and carpeted with several inch
S of leaves, moss, etc.
The last farm to be established is
lie one near Aberdeen in Bingham
ounty. This is known as the DRY