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

The above is not a sum total of tn
work accomplished but includes G
statements of efforts pertaining to
the main project handled during the
time above mentioned.
There are two general methods that
the county man may use in approach
ing and developing his work in ser
vice to his county. One is to foll3W
the miscellaneous calls for work made
upon him by individuals, the other co
sists in the agent projecting his work
and outlining relatively definite
plan of action Each kind of work
needs to be done, but without Questio
greater efficiency is secured through
the latter procedure and it is pOSsl-
bic that work falling in the first grou
can be taken care of largely as the
agent is conducting work under the
second method of procedure 1t is eX-
pected that the County man will dis
cover projects from his people, and
then supply the generalship to help
accomplish the work that should be
done.
The great strength of the plan Of
a federated district Of county agents
is that the agents can undertake pro
jects comparatively and accomplish
what the individual cannot. Some of
these projects upon which emphasis
has been placed and in which large
results have been accomplished are
as follows:
1 The growing of corn
2 Importation of improved live
stock.
8 Introduction of more alfalfa.
4 Better care and Improvement CT
stock now owned.
5 control of hog cholera.
6 Treatment of apple blight
Soil fertility maintenance
s Cooperative work with schools.
8 Organization Of farmers clubs.
The Importance Of encouraging the
growing of more corn is made clear
when it is known that in the fifteen
counties involved there is an average
of less than Is acres eff corn per farm
on farms averaging 246 acres in extent.
Moreover when corn is becoming more
adapted to this region and higher
yields obtained it is evident that
the growing of more corn will prove
profitable The better tillage given
the soil growing corn, with the result
Of land being cleaned of foul weeds
will make the growing Of other crops
more profitable. AS a beginner for
the extension of corn area next year
the county men report that there has
been no less than 10000 bushels OF
seed corn additional selected due to
their efforts this year in the seed
corn selection campaign.
That alfalfa is a successful crop in
every county in the district is beyond
experiment. Some farmers have
been growing alfalfa successfully for
the past II years. Many fields the
past year yielded five tons of hay
per acre, others yielded two ton
hay crop and see! crops bringing from
three to six bushels per acre. Know
ing the interest in alfalfa growing,
and the demand for seed, the County
Farm Bureaus in cooperation with
the West Central Minnesota Develop
ment Association have purchased for
next years seeding. three carloads of
alfalfa seed, with an option on two
additional cars, to be distributed
among the farmers of the counties
employing agents, at the actual cost
of seed. In a number of counties
during the past season as many as
thirty to forty farmers have cooper
ated with the county man in each
county in demonstrating the cultural
requirements of alfalfa. This num-
Der as is evident will be greatly in
creased next year.
Concerning the movement for more
live stock it may be said that through
the efforts of the county men. no less
than so carloads of cattle have been
imported into West Central Minnesota
during the past year. About one half
of these consist of breeding stock. the
remainder of stockers and feeders.
Into Stevens county FIVE carloads of
high grade and pure bred Holsters
were imported, and this seem to in
dictate that ere long this county will
be prominent Holstein center Big
Stone county has taken lead in the
importation of breeders, no less than
Is carloads coming in this fall.
There is much effort being made
by the agents to improve present
herds. Farmers are being urged to
nroIo ,,o %bo;u bouJa H.,