The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-03-29

6 per cent seed ears and the remain
der common feeding corn.
Wisconsin Experiment Association
EARLY in the breeding work 1t was
clearly recognized that after the
select and pedigree varieties OF
grains were bred there was needed
force of careful farmers to grow
and disseminate these grains. To
have such body of helpers for close
cooperation the Wisconsin Expert
ment association was organized
February %, 1901. This association
is composed of young farmers who
have been trained in the College OF
Agriculture and competent to handle
the pure bred grains in the best
possible way. The association re-
ceives a state appropriation of $4,000
a year and the state prints 5000
copies of an annual report. While
the association is an Independent
state organization, it co-operates
very closely with the College of
Agriculture in all of its work. Through
this body of workers the experiment
station makes its dissemination OF
pure bred seed grains and carries
on tests with soils, alfalfa, and gen.
eral forage plants.
The membership are supplied
with sufficient pedigreed small grains
for an acre each or enough corn
for two acres and are required to
establish what is know as pure
bred grain centers. After the first
year each member grows sufficient
to plant many acres and his seed
center becomes the source of seed
supply for his community and the
state at large. Through this system
of dissemination we now have prac-
tically whole townships growing the
same varieties of farm grains.
After ten years growing and dis
semination OF the Swedish select
oat, Wisconsin No. 4, we estimate
tnat over one-half of all the oats
grown in Wisconsin are of that yari-
ETY.. IN the same way has the Oder
brucker barley, wisconsin No. $50,
been disseminated until over three
fOurths of all the barley in the
state is of that one breed. and
Wisconsin grows one-eighth of all
the barley in the United States.
Four Varieties of Corn.
-Four varieties of corn have been
bred and disseminated, namely Silver
King. Clarks Yellow Dent. Golden
Glow and Wisconsin No. s, which are
now being eagerly sought by the
farmers and seedsmen in Wisconsin
and adjoining states. We have q
membership in the association OF
approximately sixteen hundred, near
~ all of whom are active seed grain
growers and have equipped them
selves with all the conveniences for
handling the select and pedigree
seed grains in large quantities. BY
following the method of having these
seed grain centers established in
practically every township of the
close proximity 10 the farmer where
he would have an opportunity to
study the grains while they were
growing and see them threShed be.
fore deciding to grow them on
his own farm. Many farmers will
study cOrnfield or a grain field
beside the road when it would be a
hardship for them to study from
the printed page.
How to Keep Boys on the Farm.
"One Of the best ways to keep
young men on the farms is to give
them an opportunity TO think and
10 have as good or better earning
capacity on the farm than elsewhere
in life. The growing and selling OF
select seeds in Wisconsin has been
the means of keeping hundreds OF
young men on the farms and also
has been a chief factor in determin
ing the taking OF course in the
College of Agriculture, so rs to en-
able them to join the association and
get into the business
"On account of the large member
ship of the association scattered Sc
widely throughout the state it was
deemed advisable to organize loca
associations in those counties that
had fifty or more regular members
Twenty seven counties are now or
ganiZed. These organizations ar,
known as county orders of the Elk
pertinent association and are officer
ed similar to that of the state as
ISOLATION. The secretary of the
county order is appointed as farm
inspector for his respective county
and his duty is to visit all member:
of his order and all farms upo1
which pure bred seed grains are
grown. He is expected to give ad
vice to the local members in regard
70 facilities for growing and hand
ling seed grains and report to tn,
State Association
49, by exercising close supervision
poor grains are kept out of the mar
ket. The Wisconsin pedigree an,
the select seed grains are nov
known everywhere. Foreign countrie
as well as all grain raising state
in America are buying the Wisconsin
pure bred seeds.
The seed houses Of Wisconsin
and elsewhere are now able to pun
chase and sell to their customer