Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-06-07
DEPARTMENT. OF AGRICULTURE
PLANNING TO EXTEND EpucA- !
TIoNAL CAMPAIGN.
CONGRESS VOTES LARGE SUM
FOR FARM TRAINING
Campaign Aimed to Stop Movement
From Farms to Cities and to Keep
Boys interested. in Agriculture, at
Same Time Giving Thorn Practical
Education.
Especial Correspondence. ]

"dSAlu6tOu, JUNO S.-AHtluldtSIy re.
lated to the question Of how to reduce
the high cost Of living, is movement
which Secretary Wilson Of the depart
ment Of agriculture. and DR.. Galloway.
head Of the bureau Of plant industry,
have begun to inaugurate in northern
states, the demonstration work on the
farm which has been carried on SO sue
cessfully in southern states.
This demonstration work has a spe-
cial interest for Iowa because it was
for years in charge Of the late DR.. s. A.
Knapp, formerly of Ames. and is now
in charge Of his son, Bradford Knapp.
An Interesting Story.
Secretary Wilson. In speaking Of the
fact that the senate had recently al
lowed an increase Of funds for farm
management work, said:
There is an interesting story to be
told in this connection. The cities have
been filling up and the farms have been
deserted. The cost Of living has risen
and many thinking men are graphing
with the problem as to why it has risen.
When the boil weevil came to the south
something had to be done. Many south
ern farmers were one-crop men-they
grew cotton and upon the advent OF
the boil weevil localities were being de-
serted. Congress gave the department
Of agriculture money with which to
fight the pests.
ut was a new undertaking. Sprays
chemicals. etc, were of no use in this
case. The weevil hid its eggs in the
bolls where chemicals could not reach
them. But something had to be done.
The department first concluded that it
would be wise. among other things. to
encourage the people in diversified
farming. This succeeded remarkably
It would be a long story to tell all the
steps taken; in fact. longer than peo-
pie have time to consider in this busy
age. But. in short, the college was
taken 70 the farm-the ablest farmer
In each county was selected to visit his
brethren and help them towards bet
ter things. The farmer was taught to
help himself. The department has now
some 500 Of these farmer agents. Cot
ton was not neglected. and thru such
instrumentalities as the departments
men could think OF. cotton growing was
more cotton than ever before in its
history. It may be said that 1t was q
favorable year. Very good; that was
corn aleo last year than it ever grew
before.
Trained Towards the Farm.
when the college reached the farm
thru the best farmer in each county
xoJ, TO- Al&>
crops of al kinds The boys were en-
listed. There is an opinion prevalent
among the people Of the department
OF agriculture that the boy must be
educated on the farm to a certain ex-
tent Education in the past, as far as
the farmers boy has been concerned,
has had tendency to take him away
from the farm. And away he went.
Now he is being trained towards the
farm and becoming interested in the
occupations Of his father The boys
who grew acre crops Of corn have had
the advice in their counties Of the de-
partment's agents. and many interest
ing stories are current with regard to
the enterprise and pluck Of these boys.
who are mostly under Is years Of age.
Great yields are being harvested. more
than the country ever knew Of before
@proven. certified yields.
These are the first steps towards
better agriculture. The cattle fever tick
has been a curse to the south. and the
department Of agriculture. attacking 1t
with federal money. has cleared the
tick out Of an area equal In size to
three southern states. There will be
dairy products and meats coming, be-
fore long, from those localities to north
ern markets.
There Is one more thing Of magni-
tude and moment that want to bring
about. That is, to introduce into other
sections Of the country what has been
80 successfully accomplished in the cot
ton states along agricultural lines.
went to the house committee and told
them this They asked me how much
money I wanted. I told them that
wanted $4,000 more this year. and
| would probably ask for 100000 in
crease next year. The house commit
tee on agriculture did not hesitate a
moment. but put the $4,000 into the
bill When the bill reached the floor
OF the house that body increased the
appropriation to total Of $251, 900. Now
thru the senate, sufficient amount
has been added to make the total fol
4.