Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1913-12-12


saved $4,000 to his county is put
ting the estimat7 low enough. Other
counties have accomplished similar
results.
Early last summer practically everv
apple orchard in Western Minnesota
became affected with the ''fre
blight An expert in the control of
this apple tree disease was secured
from the experiment station and every
agent was visited, demonstrations be-
ing given as to how to control the
outbreak. During one month over
two hundred orchards were visited and
systematic plans outlined to clean the
orchards. The work on this will be
continued during next spring months.
Every new farming region goes
through a period wherein crops are
produced at the expense of the native
soil fertility. The procedure usually
obtains until there is little difference
between returns and cost Of produc.
ton. Happily for this great section
| it has launched movement which is
stopping soil exhaustion and seeks to
establish a permanently successful
agriculture. When scores of farmers
are calling on the county agents in
the movement for more alfalfa and
clover, when information, is wanted
relative to PHOSPHORUS fertilizers,
how to test soil for acidity and to
apply lime, and how to plan scienti-
fic AID practical crop rotations it
does not seem that there is any
near danger of soil exhaustion. Plans
for a number of soil fertility de-
monstrations in each county for next
year are under way.
Through the schools some splendid
work has been done interesting the
boys and girls in farm and home life
by encouraging. the acre yield corn
| contest, conducting seed corn selection
demonstrations and contests, sch. oil
corn shows, interesting the youngsters
in the study of the common farm
weeds and their control, in testing
dairy cows and keeping records, and
conducting Junior Short Courses.
Another year it is hoped to launch
work pertaining more to the home for
the girls, such as the canning club
project, and to develop the work for
the boys that comprehensive scheme
of some phase of farming may be in
cluded III their activities, such as
growing corn and alfalfa and raising
pigs that products grown may be util-
lied on the farm.
What is being accomplished through
the farmers clubs by the county man
is too much to include in this article.
It furnishes an organization through
which self help is possible on the
part of rural people, and it also furn.
ishes unit through which the county
man may work most efficiently, both
because Of the greater number reached
and through it community effort on
pTOJeCJ5 can De secured.
Two cooperating organizations, the
West Central Development Associa-
ton, which fathered the movement
for counties to employ agents in this
section, and the county Farm Bureaus
are of most vital help in promoting
the county agents work. The Devel-
opment Association enlists the sup.
port of all classes-farmers, business
and professional men-and secures by
a somewhat popular propaganda the
coordination needed throughout the
federated district. The County Farm
Bureau is to the county much what
the Development Association is to
the district in securing active and
harmonious cooperation of all organ
izations and agencies in the county
having for their purpose. agricultural
betterment. An essential and i'm
portant feature of the Farm Bureau
organization is the provision for
various committees so that when any
important phase of work or project
is to be carried out the county agent
may have the advice and support of
a committee so delegated. There is
far more work in county than the
county agent can do. but with the
cooperation of number of commit.
tees the agent can accomplish vastly
more than by working alone.
Essentially the county agent is
co.worker with all classes of citizens
and as such he should secure friendly
cooperation between all. He is vir-
tually connecting agency. He is not
supposed to know everything, he must
know much, and must know where to
find what he does not know, and where
to find someone to do what he cannot
do. In other words he is to connect
the farmer to the great experimental