Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-08-16


Referring to the statistical fact that
Iowa farm values have increased 119
per cent in the past decade. Dean Cur
tis said the real problem was to keep
it going. and he was confident the adj
vance would continue tho probably not
so rapidly. He declared that the great
est factor in rural depopulation is dis
satisfaction and the greatest cause for
| alarm is the rural school depopulation.
This he said was because those prae-
teal studies. those things which hold
the pupils interest, are not being
taught as they should The farm boy
is a practical fellow, willing to go to
school if he can be interested and bene-
fitted There is widespread sentiment
for reorganization and REIMBURSEMENT Of
our school work and it will be brought
about because our present system is
inadequate. Industrial and agricultural
education is the highest requirement
now.
The rural church problem is anoth-
er important and essential factor, The
religious and social life lies close to
agricultural success. No man can oV-
erestimate the value of this little
church and of your farmers orsaniza-
ton. which has grown out OF the
cha angling conditions.
Professor Curtiss said the tenant
problem is bad enough but not so
alarming il we can get it upon the
right basis. The renter should become
a more permanent factor in the COM
munity and not he changing farms ev~
cry Year. Longer leases will conduce to
the welfare of both landlord and ten
an. and the former should do more to
encourage the latter.
Adjournment for dinner was taken at
the close of Dean Curtiss' address and
rs usual this Was Il big feature of the
event Such variety. abundance, ana
quality of rural cookery fully demon
strated that no serious inroads have
been made by the dry weather in the
Iowa larder and kitchen at least.
Mosher on Good Seed Corn.
After dinner Irof. " L Mosher.
representing the farm crops depart
nlent at Ames college, gave an enthu-
siastir and exceedingly instructive tax
upon the gospel Of good seed corn, IL
Illustrated with comprehensive charts
and clinched With the irrefutable sta
tistics cleaned from the experiment
stations Of the state.
He explained that nearly 1000 sam
pies OF seed corn. taken from the
planter boxes here and there. in over
thirty counties of Iowa. had been
tested. all under the same conditions.
and that the average weld was fifty
seven bushels while one in ten yielded
sixty Eight bushels: that sample Sc
cured IN our own county. near La
noble, produced eighty-five bushels
and another but thirty-one bushels
This means. he said, that the man
with forty-flve acres Of corn who has
taken proper care of his seed is get
ting about 5000 more for his product
than the average farmer with that
amount. He urged the farmers to save
four times as much seed as they need
and then selec, the very best from the
whole. Don't buy your seed corn from
outside seed houses" he urged. save
Your own, or buy at home. The aver
age in Your own neighborhood is bet
ter than the best you can bring IN.
Select 1t in September and take care
of IT, The secret of big yields is sooo
seed and 10 waste land. Don't folio"
oats with corn. if IL can be avoided
Rotate your crops for best results
changing to clover seed at least once
in four or FIVE years.
Barney On Sios.
w. B. Barney. Of Des MONIES, state
dairy and pure food commissioner. gave
one of the ablest addresses OF the day
He strongly commended farmers or
and cooperative assocla-
tons. because of their results. He
wondered at the scarcity Of silos In this
uart Of the state and declared that the
farmer is realizing on only about
so per cent of his product by reason or
rot having a silo and he expects 20 |
live TO see silos as plentiful as corn
cribs on Iowa farms. There is nothing
about this ensiage ques-
ton he said. but a better class Of silos
is coming He defined the fundamental
points Of the silo system and gave min
ute Instructions regarding the filling.
strongly advising that corn be fully
matured before being cut and plent-
fully watered during the filling process.
Passing to the dairying interest Mr..
Barney said OF the 100000 cows in the
state one third are not paying their |
heard, while another third are barely
doing so. and the remainder are good
deal more than paying their keep.
These worthless COWS should be weeded
GU; by breeding to Jersey bred sires. he
advised having cows come in In the fall.
as better results are obtained, as to
both milk and calves.
Van Law Gives Address.
Senator e. H Van Law was the next
speaker His time was limited, but he
made good use of it in a stirring adj
dress. He declared there was no coun-
Try on earth like Marshall county, Iowa,
and 10 spot more plea nj or attractive
than this upon which the farmers and
their families are today assembled
He wanted to drive home the propo-
sition, ne said, that 1t pays to hold on
10 your job, and the man who doesn't
his job better get something
else. The man who plows, who raises
corn and hogs, and doesn't realize that
nc is contributing largely to the wealth
and happiness Of the community mas
missed the best there Is in life. We
are beginning to comprehend. he said,
that there is more science in the soil
than in the book. In the mastery or
this science we are contributing in the
largest measure toward the welfare Of
and the largest opportunities
of life are today appealing to the boys
from the farms. If we save this nation !
it will be because we preserve the high
est ideals. in the preservation of the
home and the safeguarding Of the