Evening star., 1912-11-24

man who is both a scientist and a
practical farmer. That man is to be
the buffer between the department and
the tiller of the soil. He is to find a
way to get the two TO WORKING To-
gether.
This division is particularly fortunate
scientist of international reputation.
He is one of the few scientists who Is
entirely practical. He grew up on
farm and appreciates every phase OF
the problem from the standpoint OF
the people that are to be reached.
Mr. Spillman is administering the new
idea. He it is who is called upon TO
weld this final link between the sci
enlist and the farmer. He has been
working on the scheme for years and
has every detail in mind. When the
bill was passed he knew a score OF men
who Just fitted into his plans and who
might be Immediately put to work.
There was A. B. Ross of Bedford
county, Pennsylvania. Mr.. Ross was
scientific and practical farmer. He had
been doing missionary work in Bedford
county for half a dozen years. Five or
six wears ago he got three of his neigh
bors to prune their apple trees properly
under his direction. and then to spray
these men in the preparation of apples
for market. The result was that TWO
wears ago these three men shipped three
car loads Of apples to Philadelphia under
his direction as to marketing. Ihey re-
ceiyed S5 cents a bushel. as against
maximum Of 35 cents under the ola
method. Bedford county is good apple
region, but the trees had been neglecteo.
This example of the possiblilues OF
right handling OF the orchards and the
crops resulted in great numbers or iafl,-
org adopting the Ross methods the FOL
lowing wear. and the result was forty
two car loads of good apples shipped TO
Philadelphia. ,s,
Mr.. Ross as volunteer MoIhei. a.s
noticed that the clover crop of the region
was falling Being a scientist he kne"
that the we'll being of clover or any othef
of the legumes depends upon the exist
ence of q certain bacteria in the soii
This bacteria fastens itself to the roofs
~ the clover. 1t extracts nitrogen from
the air good deal as We take oxygen
from it, This nitrogen is turned over "
the plant which consequently thriVes
Without the bacteria to help II OUT lne
clover dies. Mr. Rose knew that 1t was
comparatively easy to inoculate SOIL
with these bacteria He showed the farm
ers how to do it, and their clover nelas
Immediately came into abundant bearing
knowing OF Ine "Ol titit IsO''-
formerly been doing, Mr. Splllman I'M
mediately employed him as the county
and governmental representative for that
district. He today has LOO farmers VINO
are growing crops under his advice. Hls
horse and buggy are now too SLOW as a
method OF transportation. and the count!
has hired an automobile for him. In TINS
he is going from morning to night, every :
where looking into farming conditions
and giving advice.
In Thomson county. New York. fed
eral agent found a farmer who culu-
waited four acres in potatoes on some
wornout hill land and harvested forty
bushels Of small potatoes to the acre. Ills
family had literally lived upon these po-
tatoes for wears. The demonstrator
showed this farmer how to cultivate his
match and secured for him some first-class
seed. The following season resulted IN
the sale OF 1000 bushels OF potatoes from
the four acres and the culls left over
were eaten by the family and pronounced
better than the best potatoes OF previous
years This personal service to 1nd1vid-
usl farmers is the purpose that the
county agents are intended to serve.
The graduate OF the agricultural col.
lege who has returned to the farm and
had four or five years OF practical ex-