The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-08-29


1nmbia, Mo-, has made arrangements
for sending out farm advisers to sep
arate counties in the state. The work
* being taken up as an experiment
this year and only few men will be
sent out. At present the College OF
Agriculture is to pay part OF the
salary of the expert and the country
securing the man is to pay the bal
ance of his salary Already one man
has been assigned to a county, and
nerhaps only three more men will be
sent out this year, as the plan is new
the available men for the work are
limited. and only few counties as
vet either do not understand the I'M
nortance of the work or are not In
full sympathy with it. If the plan
nroves as profitable and practical as
the authorities of the College of Agri-
culture and the leading farmers OF the
state anticipate. no doubt within
yerv few years every county in Mis-
souri, will be supplied with farm adj
wiser. or soil doctor. Missouri, OF
course. is taking the lead in this par
ticular agricultural line, yet quite
number of other states are leading
out in similar lines for the betterment
of the individual farmer. Ohio, for IN
stance. has established a special
sheep farm in one of the hilly counties
Ct that state to scientifically demon
strate the profitable production OF
mutton in connection with general
f9-nine on land not we'll suited to reg
ular field crops Missouri, Arkansas
and some of the neighboring states
would do we'll to establish special
demonstration farms, for the profit
able handling of live stock of differ
ent kinds on hilly and otherwise I'M
productive land. The time is fast
coming, and is even now at hand,
when all of our heretofore waste lands
must be made to yield food products
for a large and ever-increasing, con-
suming population. The possibilities
ere there. but it will take the plan
ming and work of experts to bring II
to a living reality.
Farmers in general now have be
come educated to the Importance OF
expert. scientific aids in their farming
operations. The idea of soil doc
tors" for individual counties is being
favorably received everywhere. Col
leges of agriculture all over the land
have done much in the education oil
young men and women for better
farming, better farm home life and
better rural citizenship. But now the
sentiment everywhere is to bring the
agricultural college and experiment
station to the individual farms with
their individual problems. A large
farm in one of the Southern States
had not been paying expenses. Inc
land was hilly and badly washed INTO
gullies. The owner decided to grow
alfalfa if the soil was suited to TINS
and crops was secured to look over
the lands and recommend treatment
The soil expert found that natural
conditions were favorable Tor the
growing of alfalfa. He recommended
deep blowing, smoothing OF the lahd'
lining of the soil, the use of phos-
phate fertilizers and other special
treatment. The soil expert and the
owner of the farm in person superlh-
tended the work of rejuyenating the
soil and sowing the alfalfa seed. Inc
second year after the soil had beeh
treated and the alfalfa seed soWn
some of the land produced as hlgh as
six tons of choice alfalfa hay to the
acre, and all of the farm produced eE-
ira large yields of this valuable and
proper forage and hay crop. Inc
alfalfa hay in that section sold last
year for more than $40 per ton; hence
with special treatment the land, which
before had not paid expenses, last
year gave d SlOSS ltAui "a "a iAASA $500
a hundred dollars TO the acre.
The soil experts, who are to aid IN
dividuak farmers, do not come to the
farms for experiments, but with prov
en- facts and. wide knowledge of soils
and crops. They examine the lana
and crops growing upon it and recon-
mend in a definite and positive way
what treatment the soil is to have,
what crops are best suited to the con
ditions, and how and what to use IN
rotation. These men have accurate
lricultural knowledge combined with
actual field and crop experience
Formers who employ them Will IN
many cases be able to double or more
than double their crop yields within
a few years.
Every county in Missouri, and every
county in every agricultural state OF
the union, could we'll afford to en-
p,oy a soil expert permanently the
same as it does sheriff or surveyor.
In education, special training and eX-
perience he should be the best and
highest paid official of the county in
which he serves. All of his salary
might we'll he paid by the county em-