The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1911-09-14
TIMELY TOPICS
Geo. Severance, Superintendent.
Western Washington Expert
ment Station, Puyallup. Wash.
B Y

It is a noticeable fact that many
of the most successful farmers of TO-
dav are men who for various reasons
have turned from the unhealthy con-
finement and nerve wearing trials of
business and professional life to the
healthy outdoor life of the farm
bringing to the farm no practical
knowledge of farming, but, instead
bringing studious minds and business
methods. They have studied their
farms, their crops and their stock,
as they had been accustomed to
study other problems, with an intel
ligent mind and without any stub
born prejudices. They have studied
carefully the latest and most author
itatiye books and bulletins on agri-
culture, and have applied the inform
alton gained, to their local conditions
with discriminating judgement Their
first efforts have been ridiculed by
the old type of farmer, who sneers
at the idea of book farming, but ri
dicule could not effect the laws Of
nature, and soils, plants and animals
have responded so generously to the
intelligent application of scientific
methods that almost phenomenal re-
suits have been secured, with some
of the more exacting and high priced
type of crops. Where returns per
acre running well above the $1,000
mark are secured, it is usually by
people who do lots of reading think
ing and observing. They look for
information from any reliable source.
They realize that the best books
and bulletins give the best thought,
carefully worked out, of the best
authorities, and represent the pract-
ical teachings of wide experience or
the exact results of careful inyestig-
ations. BY using our best agricul-
tural literature we take advantage of
the experience of the best who have
gone before. We may start in prac-
ticallv where they left off. Then
how abelrd for any farmer to in
sist upon beginning way back and
Caring all knowledge by expensive
experience. Where would our med
ical profession be today If each srsF
doctor would scott at the idea of
absorbing any written information,
about diseases and should insist on
tackling cases of diphtheria or scar
let fever in brazen ignorance, and
try to learn all about the diseases
from his own experience. None of us
would patronize such doctor, yet
many good men hold the same at
titude toward the use of written ex-
perience in agriculture.
No farmer in these progressive
times can afford this. During the
coming months there will be lots OF
opportunity for study. Those who
have no good agricultural books Or
bulletins at present should provide
themselves with such of this nat
erial as pertains to their particular
line of work. Write Experiment Stat
ion. Pullman, Western Washington
Experiment Station, Puyallup, WASH
ington, and ask to have your name
placed on the mailing lists to re-
cieve all Station publication. Write
Secretary of Agriculture, Washington,
d. c. for latest List Of publications
Available for Free Distribution
From this list may be selected bull
letins along almost every line OF
agriculture. Write again, stating the
bulletin number and the names of
the bulletins you wish, and they will
be sent gratis. Ask also to have
your name placed on the mailing list,
to receive the Monthly List Of Pub
LEGATIONS" This list will come to
you each month and will contain the
names and short descriptions of all
new publications of the w. s. ID. A.
for the month. Ask your represent
alive in Congress for a copy of each
O. the year books available. These
contain many valuable articles by
the highest authorities on agriculture,
and may be secured gratis from
your representative, if available.
II you are willing to spend a few
dollars for a few good books, write
for catalogs of rural books from
Orange, Judd Co., Chicago, Mcmillan
Publishing Co., New York, Sanders
Publishing Co., Chicago and Double
day, Page & Co., New York. Ex-
cellent books are available on nearly
all lines of agriculture, and these cat
alloys give sufficient description of
each book to enable one to select
those most suitable. These sugges
rtya $n od or