South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-02-27
MUST ENRICH SOIL
To KEEP UP WITH
GREATER DEMAND
Frank |. Mann Tells Farmers
They Need Scientific Meth
DDS to Supply Food for In
creased Population.

pect TO keep pace with the growing
demands for food stuffs caused by the
rapidly increasing population" de-
clared Frank I. Mann OF Gilman. Ill.
in his address at the ST. Joseph COun-
- Farmers Institute Friday morning.
He talked on the subject, Permanent
Agriculture"
The population has increased
nearly 20 percent in the past decade"
ne asserted. and prices have in
creased practically in proportion. The
yield per acre has increased only
slightly and the proposition with
which the nation must contend in
lowering the cost OK living is to equip
the farmer with the best material for
getting big results.
The art of production has gained
a big start among the American
farmers" he declared. but in the
foreign elements methods are not as
improved. The methods do not need
mending but they are not carried far
enough. Tools for carrying on his
work has been supplied 10 the farm
er and the mechanism has made him
up to date. but there is "a lack in his
methods of lettering the soil cOndi-
tons"
Need of Fertilizer.
lie pointed out that the farmer
must fertilize the soil ana put neces-
get the big results Organic matter.
nitrogen and phosphate are necessary
he seid, and showed that the soil
must have its supply Of these mater
ials. He urged the farmer to test his
land and find out what qualities are
needed TO make the necessary sup
ply. He emphasized the use OF clover
in building up the soil and showed the
substances that were needed IN grow
ing il. -
The program Friday morning was
opened by invocation made by Rev.
John j.. DeGroote. and a piano solo
was furnished by Miss Mary Gerst-
bauer. Mrs. Ralph Ballard of Niles.
poultry raiser, gave one OF the prin-
cipal talks of the institute in the
morning. She used Poultry as "A
Business Proposition and Money Get
ter" as her subject
Urges Higher Standards
She urged the raising of poultry of
higher egg standards. asserting that
many of the farmers are now pro-
ducing birds with records around the
20 mark when they should have stock
with records at $50. She pointed to
England and Canada as high record
poulsry raisers.
ut is necessary to get a recognized
egg strain for breeding" she said.
She showed the proper methods Of
caring Tor me CHICKS ana Tor curing
diseases of the poultry. In the after
noon short business session was held
followed by address by ID. d.
pimmick Music was furnished by
"A ladies' quartet.
The Improvement OF roads and
facilities OF transportation will play a
big part liz the reduction of the high
cost OF living, declared A. r. Parding-
ton, Detroit. Mich, executive vice
president of the Lincoln highway.
Thursday afternoon, when he talked
on the subject. GOOD Poads."
The cost OF transportation and the
rapidity vi it'll which produce can be
carried TO the consumer are largely
material in considering the cost of
the produce. Bad roads make travel
difficult and the farmer can only take
a small load, while with good roads
on one trip. the producer can carry
considerable more OF his produce to
market at a much smaller cost TO
him and the cost TO the consumer will
necessarily be lowered he said.
The farmer finds difficulty in get
ting his material TO market during
the seasons when the roads are the
worst and necessarily then the prices
are highest. If the roads were I'M
proved he could use them at 81 times
and the prices would be more equal
lied and necessarily lower"
Increase Land Values.
Besides pointing 10 the need of good
roads as a benefit 10 the farmer in
getting his produce TO market Pard-
ingtOn showed how good roads in
crease the value of land. When a
farm is accessible, even though the
buildings are not improved and the
soil Of the best quality, it will bring
double the price OF the good farm
which Is located a long distance from
good roads, declared Mr.. Pardington.
He pointed out how the cross
country Lincoln highway will mater
tally help every farmer within 100
miles OF il and viii increase the value
Of farm lands along the route The
advantages in the scarcely populated
western states. he said will be eX-
tremely large, opening up access TO
large farms.
one OF the things that the Lincoln
highway will do for indiana is the
probable establishment OF state
board Of road commissioners or a
state ONCE which viii have charge of
the supervision OF roads. He showed
how network OF good roads will be
constructed over the state as a result
OF the long highway
Money Being Raised.
Already, he said, over $4,000 600
has been raised. besides large dona-
tions ia material for the construction
OF the route IN some states StnOni
children are planting trees along the
highway and PaTdington showed how
efforts would be made 10 improve
lands along the route.
The sale OF buttons and pins and a
frontpiece for automobiles. advertis-
ing the route. has helped swell the
subscription fund
Farmers OF ~. Joseph county are
heartily in favor OF the new road. ac-
cording 10 II. IT. Swain. who intro
duced the speaker, and asserted that
they Will not lose the chance 20 add
as much as possible toward incrcas-
ing public sentiment for constructing
the road
a violin duet rendered by Miss
Verna Railsback and Laverne sam
son preceded the talk by Mr. PardinC-
ton. Miss Laura Hagey gave a read
fng. and Q. L Colleen. county agent
OF Elkhart county. was the other
speaker of the afternoon. using
Proper Handling o. Live Stock" as
his ~ Inject