Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1913-02-28
THE SOIL DOCTOR.
Congress Appropriates $685.
900 for County Farm Experts.


c.. February 26. 1913.-In the
agricultural appropriation bill re-
ce 1tly passed by the House,
is an item of 1915. 900 for the en-
,ploynent by the Government of farm
experts. or, as they were termed by
one, agricultural soil doctors. :"
whose business it will be to visit
farms and carry instruction and demon
stration work in agriculture to the
farmers. Several of these farm ex-
perts have been intrusted with similar
missions during the past year or so,
and they have been working under the
direction of the Department of Agri-
culture in cooperation with the State
Colleges of Agriculture and local com.
munities. The counties in which it
is proposed to introduce the work are
obliged to share in the cost of the un-
dertaking. Enough of this work has
been done in the past to convince
Congress that communities are fast
beginning to appreciate it's Importance
in local development. Furthermore
it has been found that on the whole
communities are willing to cooperate
with Uncle Sam in giving the move
znent boost. Minnesota will profit
as the result of this years Congress
sional approximation, and operations
already commenced under the pro-
visions the appropriation act of last
year will be stimulated.
Farm-management work proper was
first provided for in the appropriation
bill of 1904. at the same time DR..
Knapp of the Department of Agri-
culture began his famous farm demon
stration activities in the South. Here
was an excellent field to demonstrate
the real worth of the farm manage
gnent scheme. AS result of DR..
Knapp's effort the corn crnp of the
South has been increased almost 200,
600. 600 in single year, according to
a statement recently made. When he
and Ills band of farm specialists first
invaded the Southland they found
that the farmers depended almost
wholly upon the single crop of cot
ton. They bought their n1eat, their
aouE, and substantially everything they
used. When the cotton crop failed.
they were prostrated financially. Dr..
Knapp and his soil doctors soon dag
nosed the trouble. and pulled the
Southern farmers out of a dangerous
rut. They demonstrated TO them the
advantages of diversified farming.
The success of his efforts suggested
the extension of the farm m-management
work on larger scale. Accordingly.
two years ago Congress appropriated
the sum of $3.50. 600 for an extension
of these operations. Last years ap.
preparation for this purpose was in
creased to $500. COO. Secretary OF
Agriculture Wilson asked Congress
this year for $435. 600. but the House
committee on agriculture cut this down
to $375. 600. This is the rum carried
in the bill as passed by the House.
It is quite possible that the Senate,
which is more liberal than the 'owel
body in the matters of governments
expenditures. will substantially in
crease this amount.
AS result of the increased appro'
priation of last year the work of the
fory,a onornan+ b,,~aau hoe hoox
organized in about sixty counties ir
the United States. The plan il
eventually to have ''soil doctor" ir
every State that is just as soon al
Uncle Sam through Congress makes
the necessary appropriation and th'
counties come forward to bea
their share Of the undertaking.
At the present time the Government
will pay about 500 month toward
the salary of a first class farm expert
the county to foot the balance of th
bill, including travelling expenses
The county must provide the necessar,
funds over and above the $1,000
year supplied by the Government. i
order to secure the services of tn
farm expert the county applying 70
the federal aid must give ample as
surance'of guaranty fund suficien
to place the enterprise on substant
ial financial footing.
In addition to the counties wher
the work is already in progress 2
counties have made preliminary al
engagements and are waiting for th
assignment of men. It is stated tina
.250 counties have made applicatio
for these farm managers. Those no1
in the field are scattered througho,
81 states. For example. Minnesot
has had farm agents assigned to seve
counties, as follows: Bigstone. Grant
Otter Tail, Pope. Stevens. Swift an
Traverse. The North Star Stai
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