Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1911-07-07


lines OF business have been doing a
great deal of splendid work in the
country to encourage larger Yields
but up to this time, there has been
no concerted effort of the business in
terests and in consequence, there has
been no clearing house of informa-
ton so that one line of endeavor NAV
know anything about what the 9th
ers are doing.
The time is now ripe for a union
or all these grand forces. Never In
me history OF the world has there
heen such universal interest in the
production of the soil. Every man
regardless of his calling is deeply in
;erested in the subject. The work
is being taken into every county and
and is being introduced into the pub
lie schools as rapidly as possible
The farmer is being taught his place
in the business equation. He has
begun to realize that he must employ
scientific methods IL he wishes to
hold his acres. The old-fashioned
farmer who considers the dark of
the moon and who still employs the
methods of his grandfather, is rapid
ly disappearing and in his place is
rising a sturdy yeomanry who are
learning sood selection, rotation.
diversification and soil building, and
who are growing upon their own
acres all the necessities of life and
IN this way are gradually obtaining
the luxuries This Is the dawn of n
new area. The available farmi ing
land in all of the older states is now
under cultivation Cor abandoned)
and the new plan is to get as much
out of 10 acres as under the old
plan was produced on 40. The price
OF farming lands has so advanced
that it Is no longer profitable to get
a few bushels out of large acreage.
but every acre now must be made to
produce enough to pay proper per-
centage on the investment.
The grain yield OF the Pacific
Northwest could be increased at least
20 per cent if the bankers of Oregon.
Washington and Idaho would lend a
very little assistance. would sug-
gest that every banker secure the
best seed to be found in his section
and plant same in box to be ar
ranged in n window in his bank.
Have the box partitioned and in one
half SOW any old wheat just as the
average farmer does because no care
is now taken and very little thought
given to seed selection by us. AS the
farWers come in the bank they will
ask questions and its up to you to
give them a talk on seed selection
without allowing them to assume
that you are trying to teach them
something. Such efforts put forth
our Northwestern states
by the bankers will bring results un-
dreamed if properly carried out and
it is pleasure to experiment in this
you will get interested
in the propagation work
as will the farmers. The farmer
laughs attimesat the professors from
the colleges, but never at the banker.
and the average farmers meeting has
about as much effect as the old-fash-
Toned revival camp meeting. He may
become enthused for few hours,
but unless he learns something of
definite value, and unless there are
occasional meetings all the year
around, he may backside. Here is
where the banker has his innings,
and it is a duty that should be ac-
cepted with pleasure and so carried
out.
Every effort should be made by
the bankers to absorb the bulletins
issued by the State Agricultural col
leges and keep a supply on hand to
give out as occasion warrants to such
parties as may be in peculiar need of
some particular publication. find
that the counties which have a com
of business men and farmers
considering the welfare Of all con-
cerned. sre those which are making
the most rapid progress is crop inn
provement. The bankers have
great opportunity in this line of
work. The Bankers Association of
Illinois is now actively interested In
soil Improvement and seed selection
and recently appointed a committee
on agriculture and vocational educa-
ton. On May 18th. this subject was
by the Minnesota State
Bankers Association at Morris,
Mimi, and is on the program for the
bankers annual convention at Man
haitian Beach, N. Y. The bankers of
Iowa, by counties, are organizing
clubs for the discussion of these sub
iects and giving prizes to boys clubs
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