Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1913-07-04
MANY FARMERS VISIT
SCHOOL ON WHEELS
II. S. c. Demonstration Train Dis
penses Farm knowledge to Eight
Thousand Farmers in East.
ern Washington

4
ing from the trip on the Genesee
branch, which concluded the 1O-Gays
tour through Eastern Washington.
Thirty-three towns were reached by
the train on the trip and a total of
5000 farmers took advantage of the
opportunity to listen to the lectures
on farm topics by the w. S. c. ex-
perts and to view the exhibits of live
stock, grains, grasses and innnmer-
able farm conveniences.
By the officials of the road who
accom- panied the train, and by thou
sands of persons who visited the
train during the tour, it was pro-
nounced the best which has been OPP
Grated in the state thus far With
perhaps one exception, it was also
the largest demonstration train that
has thus far been operated in the
United States.
The trip was made on the Central
Washington when farmers were from
InHlI
work, though it seemed that this did
not materially affect the attendance.
1t rained every day of the tour, and
in several instances, the farmers
came for many miles in spite of the
inclement weather and bad roads
Part of the good spirit which was
nj 4 4 IL,
certainty of bountiful crops which
4 exists throughout the route of the
train Along the Washington Cen
trail along the main line from Con-
nell to Spokane, and down the Pa
louise branch farmers expect the big
gest crop in the history of their
farming. On the Cornell & North
ern from Adrian to Cornell, there
was some suffering from drouth
though it was raining in this coun
try at the time of the visit through
there.
Dairying was a dominant theme
throughout the trip. In some places,
country and in the early part Of the
trip on the Washington Central, this
interest was very prominent; but
everywhere, even in the dry country
along the Connell & Northern, it was
IN evidence. This interest brought
into discussion the question of silos
particularly of concrete slos--for-
age crops needed in this industry;
corn for silage, dairy buildings,
equipment for modern diaries, and
50 on. The exhibitors and lecturers
In charge of this work were kept
busy at every stop.
interest in live stock production
mounted high throughout the trip,
and nowhere was more in evidence
than in the Palouse. Something of
revival in sheep raising was stirred
up, particularly in regions where
there are an abundance of weeds
which is about everywhere. Mr.
Monroe's talks upon sheep, in which
ne pointed out how the sheep may be
used as "weeders," converting the
weeds into a source of income, and
Oy their removal, making room for
other crops, were well taken at every
point.
One of the strongest arguments Of
iefed in behalf of stock raising ana
uHlfVinp uyap tot in oh
panatory of the nutrients of forage
crops, and the fertility which their
sale from the farm, as such, removes
from the land. The chart showed
mat ton of alfalfa sold from the
isfm removed about $12 worth OF
FERTILIZER from the farm-the estl-
mate being based on the present
price of commercial fertilizers IL
was shown that the sale of ton OF
outer from the farm took away o4
vents worth of fertilizer; presuppos-
ing, OF course, that the animal ma
nufes had been returned to the SOIL
IRON which the crops had been
@ken. In the production of meat
ANNALS, 1t was also shown that the
Oalance in the fertility of the lana
van preserved. Studying inns
mart 1t became evident that herein
"es the reason why, in countries
which have been farmed for several
thousand years, the fertility OF the
shd remains undiminished; and why
.ne soil in other countries, which mas
seeh farmed for less than a genera
aon' already shows signs OF eXhaus-
ton.
10 a greater extent than ever De-
'ore In the work of the dem onstra-
oh trains, the farmers along 'he
Hne showed consciousness OF their
needs in farming. and desire to ne