Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-11-16

a
give the owners Of piece Of land Of
fsrsd by them = short time ago for eile
per acre chance to unload II on the
state Of Iowa for the modest price OF
| 5000 or more per acre. Not being
very fruitful piece of land it will give
| opportunity to test the mettle and per-
/ severence of the convicts Of the penal
| institutions who are to be assigned to
its confines for reformation by filling
f, the SOIL If the land is too fertile, they
might contract habits of laziness and
| indifference.
Then the environs of our. beloved
capital is another argument in favor Of
the location of the custodinl farm at
Flynnvile. If II were located in the
southwest corner Of Iowa these men
would be subject to the temptations OF
the wicked city OF Council Bluffs. II
in the northwest corner there would
be the equally alluring siren music Of
Sioux City. In the southeast corner
there would be cluster OF tempters
in Burlington. Keokuk, Fort Madison
and Ottumwa. and if the northeast cor
ner was chosen there would be the
danger of too close proximity to the
wicked state of Dubuque. But with soil
that will grow nothing without expen-
sive fertilization, and In the heart OF
the capital city. where the custodial
farmer can come in touch with the
refnment Of Iowa's greatest social
center. and the seat of ats greatest
culture. music and art, not to say oc-
casional commingling with the thrifty
and high minded Des Moines politi-
clans, why not give the Flynn farm the
! benefit Of the fine and @luring features
/ 1t possesses, and not apologize for
| sordid lack OF transportation facilities
or available funds? People in these
parts will vote to put these cosmopoli-
tan citizens in Polk, and the custodial
farm at Flynnville. If the land does
not rise suddenly to $1,000 per acre.
THE COUNTY EXPERT IDEA.
tSioux City Journall
Sioux City boosters who were morti-
fed over the failure Of the AGRICULTURAL
expert proposition in Woodbury. coun-
ty have been somewhat comforted to
hear that it met the same fate in Polk
county by somewhat larger major
ity. There. as in Woodbury.. the city
voted favorably. while the adverse
vote in the country districts killed the
proposal. In Polk county the country
voted Two to one against the plan.
From the comments here and else
where it appears that the prejudice of
the farmers was founded on a false
hypothesis. 1t seemed to be the Inn
preston that the county adviser was
TO set standards to which the farmers
must adhere-in other words. that the
adviser was to regulate the farmers
telling them how they must conduct
their affairs, how they must handle
their herds. what kind OF seed they
must plant, and the like. A good many
votes were cast against the plan on
the theory that they were being cast
to conserve the independence OF the
farmer. Clearly this sort OF OPPOSE
ton can not last
The plan is intended only to place
valuable information within the reach
OF farmers who want It 1t Is not con-
templated that help shall be thrust
upon any farmer who does not well
come 1t or that there shall be any
effort 70 compel farmers to do things
In the most economical way. Really
the idea is TO make the fruits Of agri-
cultural research and experiment ac-
Some farmers get part Of them by
e thin layer by attending extension
lectures in the neighborhood. The good
done in this way. however. Is either
sporadic or superficial. The present
plan is intended 10 place an all around
expert in every neighborhood and let
him familisrize himself with the best
methods of utilizing the advantages
OF that particular locality for agricui-
tural production. With well trained
expert at the county seat no farmer
need watch his apple trees die through
inability TO find out what Is ailing
them. Nor need he watch the yield
from a certain field steadily diminish
without finding out what to do to re-
store its fertility. The efficient agri-
cultural expert would be able 10 dag
nose all such troubles ana prescribe
for their cure
There are nearly 500 counties in the
United States where the experts are
CO. operating with the farmers to the
satisfaction Of all concerned. Several
counties in Iowa are included in the
T; list. Nowhere has the plan been
dropped once it has been tried out.
Polk and Woodbury. counties evidently
need q little more educational work in
! preparation for the educational work
contemplated in the county expert
plan.
Between 100000 and $4,000, 900
pounds Of walnuts are shipped to the
United States annually from France.
!