The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-01-23

Continued From Page Three.
and by so doing has added greatly to
the popularity and value of his work.
EARLY in December, 1912, L. NJ.
Winsor began work as agricultural
agent for the four counties compris-
ing the San Luis valley in southern
Colorado. For many years the lead
ing cash income of the farmers in
this valley has been secured from the
sale Of hogs. On hi. first trip over
the district, Mr.. Winsor discovered
much hog cholera. Dead and dying
hogs were in evidence everywhere,
thousands of acres of peas designed
for hog feed were an utter waste. In
short the hog business was democrat
lied and the farmers completely dis
Outraged. With the assistance of
specialists, to whom Mr.. Winsor gives
a large part Of the credit, the disease
has been practically stamped out, the
farmers are thoroughly organized to
prevent its return, sanitary precau-
tons are being observed, and a bust
ness worth $500, 900 annually
has been saved to the farmers
of these our Colorado counties. n
Last August a dozen of our field
men spent n week making farm
surveys in Allegan county, Michigan,
under the efficient direction of MT.
Dixon, and during that time we learn
ed to appreciate the value and limi-
tations of such work. In every coun-
ty, farm surveys Of typical farms
should be made and a few farms
should be studied in detail. Such work.
II done carefully and if analysed cor
rectly, will add much to the country
agents knowledge of his district, place
clearly before him the leading prob
lens to be solved, and furnish him
with some Of the data necessary for
their solution. 1t is easily possible to
Ver-emphasize this type of work, but
L am fully satisfied that every county
agent should learn how to make a
farm survey if for no other purpose
than to enable him to interpret intel
ligently the surveys made by others.
considerable time will be required
to make the rounds and visit every
farm. If there are 5000 farms in the
county, the field ma would have TO
visit about ten farms a day to get
around to each farm once a year. This
would not be practicable and must not
be expected; yet it is very desirable
that he should help all who wish his
services, not once, but many times
each year. This can be done by group
ing the work. Pruning or spraying
demonstrations held at four carefully
selected points in each township, will
bring the county agents work into
every neighborhood and give all the
people an opportunity to meet him
personally. Such work is not to take
the place Of personal visits, but rath-
er to supplement them.
THE county agent who helps to
make two blades of grass grow where
only one grew before has accomplish
ed much for his district but he has
not gone far enough. The marketing
Of farm products Is as important as
increasing the yields, and the coun-
ty agent should not neglect this phase
of his work. "r
THE county agent must not forget
that his work is very closely related
to farm management. He may work
with individual crops but he will al
ways have in mind the enterprise of
the entire farm. He will rarely adj
wise, radical changes in systems Of
farming, but he will work with the
farmers of his district and help them
to strengthen the weak points in the
systems already in practice, .Togeth-
err they will select seed corn on the
stalk, seed potatoes in the hill, and
seed grain in the field; together they
will test seed corn for termination,
.inoculate clover seed. and lime land
for alfalfa; together they will select
and mix fertilizers, prune and spray
fruit trees, and sort n pack apples