The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1915-10-29
Has Unusual Value to Readers

| This paper has been interviewing
farmers and publishing crop reports.
In the course of the interviews we
decided that in the course of such
work we should be able to find out
just what is the matter with this
country and to offer the remedy. We
observed that the more successful
interest in studying the reports when
published, and that they are generous
about giving information as the best
method in getting results. We take
the liberty of reproducing here some
| of the comments that have come to
us on the subject:
A, Whitten: Saw your crop re-
port, Read it all. 1t was good. Work.
| ing ON another chapter? Well, you
will have to get up something pretty
sood if it is any better or more in
teresting that the first one."
]. B. Sage: II have been reading
your cl op report. That sounds good
and l enjoyed seeing what the other
follows are doing. My work is all
with wheat and hogs, it might not
interest anybody. Yet, it is different,
and that might be the reason others
would want to know about it. When
we began on this dry farm we were
ridiculed so much-but guess that's
where the story comes in now that
we are getting along with it so we'll.
Yes, I'll tell you what little there
is to it."
III tn. hnA h0
way to get us all to acting on the
best known methods. There's a lot
to learn about farming anywhere,
and beneficially here. am glad you
are taking notes on these matters.
You don't need to think there isn't
any news worth while outside of the
city limits"
DR.. V. C. White: 81 have just been
reading your crop report. am glad
you are taking up discussion of
conditions in the country. That will
do more good than anything else
could suggest. Your suggestions
about the filth in some hog pens and
stock yards appealed to me. 1t Is
just awful in some places, and on
nearly all farms there Is something
that needs attention in that respect.
So many farmers and their families
are just simply worked too hard try
ing to keep up with big farm, and
they never get caught up with their
work. They try to attend to the
things that are the most pressing,
and accustom themselves to the rest
as it is, and they become Indifferent
to matters that are dangerous and
of vital Importance. This thing of
keeping flies screened out of the
house, and things clean and sanitary
has not yet appealed to some of our
good farmers. There are a good |
many who do not provide suitable
shelter to keep animals comfortable,
protected from extremes of heat and
cold. | have not paid so much at
tention to the crops in particular,
but the conditions in which the ami
mails and the families are living just
makes my heart ache sometimes.
We need the county agriculturist,
as you say, and yet l have noticed
that where they have them, those
who need his help the most are the
least disposed to accept it. Men
make that old remark that they
know more about farming than that
fellow just out of school. Every
county agriculturist / know of is a
young man, necessarily young be-
cause it is a new work. If fellow
who has farmed few years should
go to an agricultural college and
learn the why of plant and animal
growth, and then receive an appoint
ment to go out advising the farmers,
and should go to successful man
like Mr.. Whitten, for instance, old
enough to be his father, 1t would
seem awkard for both of them. Mr..
Whitten would probably have the
good sound sense to study the fellow
and give him chance to show what
he was good for, when he found him
sincere and qualified for his work,
they would get to understand each
other and help each other, but there
are too many who would be disposed
to criticise and ridicule, and thus