The Mena weekly star., 1912-05-02

>, 1912.
nearly 100000 acres. II takes but
/ a moments consideration to con-
vince one that the value Of this
work is incalculable. II aids set
tiers to select the proper soils fer
the line of agriculture they wish to
follow and calls the attention Of
farmers to the possibilities of the
soil on their own farms, to the OPP
portunities for Investigation OF
crops, and for other necessary
changes. Added to this is the value
of the work as a basis for expert
mentation by scientific investigat-
ors This value will grow as time
goes by and as the work is used by
specialists in farm management,
crop selection, seed selection, and
in plant breeding. While charting
the soils, The laboratories in Wash
ingion have studied the organic
soil constituents and identified sub
stances derived from organic mat
ter that are harmful or beneficial
making discoveries that have
broadened existing theories of soil
fertility and pointed to better prac-
tices in management. Investigations
OF the fertilizers OF the country
show we have ample resources
Of phosphate in the south and
in the vast deposits in Utah, Wy
oming and Idaho; of nitrate as by
products Of the coke industry; and
of potash in the beds OF kelp Of the
Pacific coast. So interesting is the
idea recently advanced by the de-
parlment of producing potash as an
annual crop from kelp that a report
on the work has just been transmit
ted 70 congress by the president.
Noxious Insects.
Whenever insects attacks the
crops the dismayed agriculturist
need not despair. An appeal to Sec
rotary Wilson will bring practical
advice if the pest is known, and if
Il is new an expert scientist starts
hot-foot for the scene. Careful mi
leroscopie study follows, funigation
aud spraying are tried, and if these
fail, off to foreign lands goes out
scientist where, perhaps, in an out
0f-the-way corner he finds a para
site that viii prey upon the pest
ard keep il down to harmless num-
berts. NO insect was ever studied
more closely than has been the boil
weevil by the department, and The
| system upon which the growers in
infested states are now succeeding
IN raising cotton IN spite of the
weeyi is based upon these studies.
TO fight the devouring moths OF
New England the department has
Imported nearly 100000 shipments
Of parasites which have held the
pests in check and promise eyentu-
ally To- destroy them. Insects cause
as much damage TO The forest as do
fires, aud in tive years the depart
ment has demonstrated that this
damage can be prevented at cost
which comes we'll within the range
OF profitable business management
II has fought successfully The
thrips which threatened the pear.
peach and other fruits on the Pa
eliic coast; standardized and cheap
ened the processes of fumigafion
against scale insects; routed the
grape root worm and the insects
that damage cranberrics; found sat-
lsfactory sprays against the white
fly OF. the orange; devised measures
for the control of the tick which
transmits spotted fever; aud above
an has devised and urged, with
iteration and emphasis, practical
methods to fight the deadly mo-
sduito and the more deadly house
! fly.
The Travelled Highway.
What shall it profit to raise great