Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1913-04-03
WHAT A FARM
ADVISOR DOES

Those who heard the merits of
the proposed farm adviser for Monroe
county presented to the county
judges last Friday got different ide
of the duties and possibilities of the
office than is held by the general pub
lie. To begin with, the adviser will
not go meddling around among far
mers, attempting to tell them what
to do and how to do it, Wide-awake
farmers, however, who were looking
for better methods and practical as
sistance would find him ready to act
when called upon. II they were buy
ing seed he would make tests to de-
termine If 1t was pure. If they so de-
sired he would test their seed corn
to see if it would grow. If they
thought a field needed fertilizer he
woul lnalyze the soil and tell them
what sort to buy in order to get tie
element lacking in that special piece
of soil II they produced to crop of
extra good wheat, oats, or corn, and
wanted an extra price for the grain
he would seek out buyer who was
willing to pay more than the market
for such seed or grain. II they want
ed to hold township or school dis
trict farm institutes he would do the
work free of charge. Ithey had an
epidemic Of hog cholera such as has
ragged in Monroe county for three
years, he would make an organized
and scientific effort to stamp it out
and substitute for the every-fellow-for
himself policy the plan of co-operat-
ion in combating the disease. In
short, this gentleman would bear the
same relation to farm interests that
the county superintendent bears to
the school interests. The unfortu
ate feature of the innovation is the
name farm adviser" 1t gives a
wrong impression and creates unmer
tied prejudice. County Bureau Of Ag'
riculture would sound better and be
more correct. Nothing probably will
be done toward securing man for
Monroe county this season because
neither funds nor men are available.
is hoped, however, to get one for
next season by beginning early
enough. The right sort of man must
not only know his business but must
not only know his business but must
be an organizer, talker. diplomat and
politician Such men, needless tc
say, are few and far between. Sam
Jordan is one of them. He is on the
job in Pettis county. Here is his
creed:
81 believe in making the sol
more fertile. believe in the use o
purebred sires in live stock. believe
in dragging The roads. l believe II
sheltering farm machinery. I be
lleve in selecting seed corn from th'
field early in the fall. believe in i'm
proved rural schools. I believe in la
hor-saving convenience in the farn
house. believe in better rural hom
to the end that better boys and girl
may be born"
Five days in the week Mr.. Jorda
devotes to field work, to visits {
farms where he has been invited {
consult with the owners or to hol
neighborhood institutes. At thes
farm gatherings the attendance ha
been from Is to more than 900, d.
pending upon the location of tn
farm and nature of the meeting. On
day in each week is office day an
the farmers pass up and down th
steps leading to headquarters, r
minding one of the crowd that come
and goes to and from country tow
postoffice, following the arrival
daily mail on paper day. Some of t
visitors have with them prize cor
, wheat, oats, or alfalfa; others tai
some "pesky insect" to have ide
titled and to learn how to fight i
others go for consultation on crops
. Paris Appeal.