Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-01-03


opportunity and efficiency. The spe-
cial classes Of farmers are organized
and quick to seek advantages, but the
class of general farmers is morgan
lied, and slow to do this, so that both
education and legislation must en-
deavor to look out for him better than
he does for himself. His last step for
ward means gigantic strides in the
production of the state.
"The short course in agronomy is
planned primarily to serve the gener-
al farmer. The fundamental factors
in agricultural success-the soil and
its management to increase fertility,
and the field crop, its growth and i'm
provement-are the features of the
course most thoroughly treated. Sec
ondarily, the special farmers are con-
sidered, in the discussion of the meth
DDS Of handling the different types of
soils throughout the state, and the
growing Of rotation crops adapted to
the different forms Of animal products.
The soil and crop conditions in each
part of the state are considered
"The maintenance and increase of
soil fertility are given major weight in
the courses in the soils, while in crops,
the growing of many intensive and
higher yielding plants, especially Of
the forage types, is the main theme.
Fertility and feed rotations for each
different soil and each different class
of stock in the state are given special
attention in my course on soil fertili-
ty in Oregon.
"In the course in farm machinery, a
new development this year will be Mr.
Bracker's demonstration in knot tying,
and the use and handling of rope. In
the course on seed crops, Prof Hyslop
has newly prepared lectures upon the
important question Of potato growing
and clover seed raising. In my course
on forage crops, soil crop system
adapted TO both Eastern and Western
Oregon will be given. Assistant Pro-
fessor Powers has some new illustrat-
ed lectures on farm buildings.
"The land drainage problems Of
both Eastern and Western Oregon
farmers are explained, and solved in
the course on that subject. The spe-
cial course for the Eastern and Cen
tral Oregon farmers, one in dry farm
ing and one in irrigation farming,
which were given last year, are offered
again this year, with much new mate
rial available. The farmers of these
sections should take pride in the fact
that the Oregon Agricultural College
was the first college in the United
States to offer courses in these sub
jects, and has them more fully de-
veloped, perhaps, than anywhere else
in the world. The institution has spe-
cialists in both of these lines Of
work.
Another Of the newer courses is
that in weed eradication, which
aroused great interest last year. A
special lecture and demonstration on
char-pitting will be repeated again
this year, as it has already attracted
great deal of interest heretofore.
"In the course in farm management,
the problems of the boss on the farm
are taken up and such questions as
the best use Of the farm capital; the
handling Of man and team labor; the
laying out and management of the
fields, together with the utilizing and
marketing of their products are sub
jects each separately discussed in this
course. The practical problems in Ore
gon farm management have taken a
great deal Of my own time in the past
five years, and have learned that no
matter how skillful a farmer may be
in the handling Of the silos, and the
growing Of his crops, unless he is
equally skillful il handling all tie
units on the farm together to gain a
definite end, he may yet put little cash
to his bank account,
"a course in hop growing, which |
have been planning for the regular
students, find will be impossible to
give the short course students, be-
cause of the over heavy burden of
our present program, which already
rests heavily upon the instruction
staff. ! hope to be able to give this
course another year, as the interest
in improved methods Of handling both
the hop plant and the soils on the hop
fields is becoming pronounced in the
state.
"The department will attempt to
give assistance to the hop growers the
coming season through cooperative
work, dealing not only with the Quqes.
tion Of cultivation and fertilization Of
the crop, but with proper handling Of
the vines as we'll.
"The practical work in the soil
Judging and grain selection must also
he abandoned Oh account of the la,l
of laboratory facilities. However