The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-02-10
NEBRASKA WOULD
RIVAL MICHIGAN
Recognizes Value of Farm EX-
perts as Aid TO PrOduc-
tivity of State

over in the state ~ Nebraska the
farmers nave az ;ast awakened 10 the
fact that they need tne help OF experts
in their rarm operations Late reports
carry the new sthat the farmers in IS
counties have asked for the assist
ance OF men trained in scientific agri-
culture. and they are insisting strong
ly on getting them.
Ii is triumph oil the book farm
or over the horny handed tlller OF
the soil. and the TACT that more than
half the farmers OF The state have
Joined in the demand for scientific
instruction. shows just how complete
is the surrender OF brown 10 brain.
The 80 counties that have appealed
contain more than 80 per cent or the
farms aud farmers or The state, al
though in numbers they represent but
one-third OF the counties OF the state
But that half the farmers have recog
nized the need OF scientific instruc-
ton. and have turned to the young
men tor that teaching has proved a
revelation even 10 the scientists OF
the state farm themselves.
The last session OF the state legiS-
lature enacted a law that whenever
certain proportion OF any county shan
petition the commissioners OF that
county for a farm demonstrators, the
commissioners must levy a tax upon
property and employ competent man
who has taken "A course in scientlnc
farming AZ first the farmers we're
little shy A very large proportion
could not see the necessity for dem
onstrator And especially when they
knew that these so-called book farm
ers" were years and years younger
than Themselves and that their knowl-
edge OF farming had been gained very
largely on the state farm.
While the farmers hesitated. the
government sent four expert demon
strator sinto as many counties In Ne
Seward Gage, Merrick and
Thurston give their knowledge
and teach them the best manner of
farming. Now last seaso nwas an ex-
tremely hard one on Nebraska farm
ers. but il was quickly noticed that
the crops OF those farmers who had
followed the instruction OF these gov
eminent experts we're far and away
ahead OF those crops which had been
cultivated in the usual way. When
the crops were gathered, those OF Sc
ward Gage, Merrill and Thurston were
so superior to that OF their neighbors,
that there were no further doubts OF
the wisdom in employing demonstra
tors
The farm demonstrators is an ex
pert agriculturist. He has been trained
at the experiment stations, but very
likely been out on the actual farm for
some time since he left the expert
ment station. and hence il seasoned
in his experience and steadied IN his
judgment BY reason OF his expert
training he knows grains and soils and
fertilizers and rotations OF crops, how
TO select seed, when to plant and how
much 10 cultivate. lie is familiar
with horses. cattle, hogs and has ex-
pert knowledge on what 10 feed, and
how to feed. and he knows the dis
eases OF farm animals and their symp-
toms and the preventive and curative
remedies.
He has an intelligent acquaintance
and relation with the work and au-
thorities OF the experimental station,
and is In constant or in easy touch
with both He is an authority out in
the state on various agricultural sub
jects, being in fact a representative
OF the experiment station or state
farm. vehicle If such crude figure
of speech might be permitted, or OF
between the state farm and the needs
OF farmers out in the state.
And the fact that more than so per
cent OF the farmers OF the state have
asked the commission TO send these
expert demonstrators to teach them
the best method OF planting, harvest.
ing and marketing their crops, shows
just how earnestly these Nebraska
farmers have come to look to the
book farmer" for advice and instruc.
ton in operating their farms
II is the day OF the expert farm
demonstrators in Nebraska, and his
work is likely 10 increase the agricul-
tural products OF the commonwealth.