Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1911-05-04

tax is made payable in cash. Unfor-
tunately the house failed to enact
into q law the bill which the senate
had passed almost unanimously, CIV
ing more authority to the highway
engineer in designing bridges, etc.
Laws Affecting the Livestock Industry
Laws in relation to the control OF
contagious and infectious diseases OF
livestock were completely revised
and codifed and put into more work
able form than ever before.
A Study Of Kansas Soils.
Under the provisions OF bill in
troduced by Mr.. Barrier, OF Green
wood, the Agricultural College is re-
Quired to begin a systematic survey
OF the soils OF the state, and an appro-
priation OF $4,000 a year for the next
two years was made for this purpose
The cooperation OF the United States
Department OF Agriculture in this
matter has already been secured, and
the government will contribute as
much money as the state is putting
into this work.
1t is proposed to make a detailed
survey, including physical and chem
ical analyses, Of limited areas in diff
ferent parts of the state, and a study
Of the adaptation OF each soil to diff
ferent crops. This is the state TAX
ing account Of its permanent capital.
The greatest asset OF Kansas is the
plant food in the soil. 1t is OF the
utmost Importance that we know how
much we have, how long 1t will last,
how 1t may be conserved, to what
crops It is best adapted, and how we
may use it to the greatest good to
ourselves and to those who are to
follow.
irrigation In Western Part Of State.
Under the provisions OF bill in.
troduced by Senator Robinson, the
agricultural college was authorized to
undertake experiments in irrigation in
the western part of the state, in CO.
operation with the United States De-
partment of Agriculture. Here, again,
the government will meet half the
expense. 1t is proposed to study the
methods of utilization of windmills
and other cheap methods of pumping
water. TO see to what extent the rain
fall may be in this way supplemented,
and intensive agriculture supplant eX-
tensive farming.
Experiments in Every County.
The state appropriation to the Ex-
pertinent Station was increased $500
each year. with the understanding
that a major portion of this money
is to be used in the conduct of what
may be termed outlying experiments,
or experiments away from Manhattan.
1t is proposed to begin by making
test OF the different varieties Of corn
in every county in the state. The
same test will be made with wheat,
beginning this fall. Later, expert
ments IN growing alfalfa on areas not
now considered to be adapted to this
crop will be made. In the western
third of the state q careful study OF
the sorghums will be made. Already
feeding experiment is under way az
Manhattan to test the value OF sor
ghum, milo and Kafir seed in COM
parison with corn for growing and fat
tening hogs. This is to ascertain to
what extent these drouth resisting
crops may be utilized in the support
OF q livestock industry in that por-
ton of the state where the rainfall
is least and where milo and kafr
are more reliable crops than corn. 1t
is expected that some systematic ex-
pertinent will be conducted this year
in every county in Kansas.
To Improve the Wheat.
The millers introduced, through
Senator Hunter, a bill in the senate
which has become law requiring
the college authorities to make sys-
tematicc study of wheat in the diff
ferent parts OF the state, with a view
to determining what varieties will
produce not only the largest yield
but wheat Of the highest milling quail
ity as well. 1t has been said Of near
" every wheat state that sooner or
later 1.-THE wheat quality has gone out
of the soil" That means that for
some reason as yet unknown both the
yield and quality decline. To bring
both the yield and the quality above
the standard of former years is the
purpose Of this new duty imposed
upon the college.
More Institute Work.
The largest increase in the appro-
priations to the agricultural college
was to the extension department for
farmers institutes, movable schools in
domestic science and agriculture, etc.
This is the taxpayers appropriating to
their own use a part Of their own
money. 1t will mean that more and
better institutes will be held, larger
number OF sewing and cooking
schools will be conducted, attended by
high school girls and women in the
villages and from he farm. 1t will
mean more and better work in help