Arizona republican., 1912-06-19
FOR
 THE FARMERS
Maricopa County Institute Presents a Plan for Stim-
 ulating the Agriculturists to Practical Experimental tion and Testing Methods


 right direction by arranging for the giving of prizes that it is believed will inspire the farmers to make the organization more effective than ever The object of the institute as most people are aware is to not only in tereSt and help the farmers by the theoretical presentation of new meth odS for the raising of better crops, but to do everything possible in the way of demonstration to induce them to put this theoretical knowledge to practical use. It is believed that the offering of prizes will have a salu- tary effect in that direction. It is true one ought to try suggestions for his own benefit regardless of special inducement, but every experiment in wolves some trouble and the stmula- tion of good prize in addition to agricultural success gives a double incentive for work
 The president of the Maricopa County Institute is P l. Edson q successful farmer who lives east of Phoenix and the chairman of the committee on prizes is w S Hum bert of the Arizona Seed company, who is also engaged in farming and who has been a successful and prac- tical farmer for many years. The in stitutes are in sense a state move ment the inspiring genius being Pro- lessor McOmie of the state univer- sity. He has been engaged for q long time in perfecting county or ganizations which are now operating nicely in Maricopa, Yavapai. Yuma and ot IT iO Jo signed to adopt the prize system in all the counties and when the entire state shall have been organized the Institute interests can pIausibly face the legislature and ask for state ap- rropriation in providing these prizes. But until the entire state is organized tt is confessedly not a state move ment and prizes if given must be se- cured from private sources.
 In the case of Maricopa county the committee on prizes has concerned it. self in securing the voluntary con tributiOns of those liberal minded business men who feel inclined to do something for the betterment of the agricultural interests, and the result 1 thus far has been very much gratify- | ing. Everybody approached has been |. | secured the subscriptions of a gOodly number of people the committee then i sought the board of supervisors for l further assistance. It was told that 1 there was no fund which could be used for that purpose except perhaps 1 the advertising fund and the board agreed to set aside $2OO from the fund to be used for printing. sta ! 5.,,,. 1 bills to be audited by the board Un- l der the circumstances the committee felt grateful for that help realizing ! that it was all the board could do 1 Prizes offered for the raising of 1 spring crops will be awarded on July 1 20 on the occasion of the Watermelon day celebration. Prizes for the later 1 crops will be awarded at fair time but the prizes given at both times will be assembled and on display at | the fair next November. In addition 1 to the cash prizes offered there are a number of special prizes provided 1 for.
 l The most expensive special prize | has been contributed by the Ryan l Vehicle company, manure spreader valued at s15O. The conditions of l this contest are that there must be seven or more entries and the con test will not take place until fall. In the meantime the implement has been turned over to the institute and placed under the care of MT. Hum bert The contest will be for the far mer making the best showing on five acres of alfalfa on which manure is lapplied with this machine as against five acres alongside where no fer tilizer is used. Any farmer in the fcompetition, may have the use of the Ispreader by listing his application with MT. Humbert and taking his turn. He may practice with it this summer if he likes and be ready for the contest the coming fall. Compel itorS must each set apart a ten acre field with is near identical condi- tiOns all over it as possible. This will be divided into two sections on enc of which manure will be used
 while or the other the alfalfa will be grown without it.
 1 Admittedly Salt River valley soil is rich and will raise good crops even without fertilizer but it is desired to 1 demonstrate that no soil can be too good and even good soil may be forced to greater achievements Mr.
 Humbert says he has demonstrated
 this to his own satisfaction already.
 Last year he had a field that yielded | a half ton of hay to the acre. He manured it and the next crop return | ed ton and a half and the third
 crop ton and a quarter to the acre.
 He spread four loads of manure to
 the acre at a cost of $1.20 per acre,
 increasing his yield three fold.
 The Phoenix National bank offers
 a prize of $25 for the best dairy rec
 ord for sixty days, for a herd of not Hess than fifteen cows.
 The National Bank of Arizona of
 fers a prize of $10 for the best two
 bales of alfalfa
 Pratt Gilbert & Co. offers as a spe-
 cial prize a $25 grain grader. for the
 best bushel of early bar wheat.
 There are many cash contributors