Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1915-01-08
FARMERS SHIPPERS
AND MILLERS LEARN OF
SCIENTIFIC METHODS
Continued from first page

OF lt0uleu Oll. ne aSStlNt ihd'
farming is not business OF one
year or o years, but a never ending
business. and advocated the raising
of live stock as the best way OF main
tanning the fertility OF the soil. lie
cited experiments in Minnesota
which proved conclusively that land
which had been cropped continuously
for many years had lost enough hui
mus per acre to retain 60 tons OF
moisture. and this loss of moisture
had resulted in loss of 6 y bushels
OF wheat per acre Live stock on
the farm furnishes the manure which
will keep the soil from deterioratine,
Beef and sheep he particularly
recommended for the profitable utili-
zation OF the roughage incidental TO
grain production After concise
statement of his argument he devut-
ed the rest Of his time to answering
questions which poured in from the
audience regarding the best systems
of feeding. and the relative value Of
different rations for live stock
Farm Dairying
j. d. Carson. the Pullman dairy
man, discussed Opportunities for
Dairying in the Palouse Country in
a simple and convincing style. lie
argued that it costs as much to pro-
duce a pound of beef as pound of
butter. that a comparison Of the price
of beef and butter proves that the
dairy COW is more profitable ami
NAL than the steer lie made an in
teresting comparison OF the profits
of wheat raising on farm of lG0
acres with the profits OF dairyins on
a farm of the same size Assuming
that one-half the wheat farm is sum
mer fallowed each year and the 9th
er half yields 35 bushels. which is
sold for an average price of Co cents
per bushel, he figured the annual
earnings of the farm at $3.50. On
dairy farm of the same. size, assum-
ing that 20 COWS are kept each of
which produces 300 pounds of but
terfat year total OF 5000 pounds,
which sells at an average price of 35
cents per pound. the income would
be S2100, to say nothing of the
value of the calves and the manure.
The dairy farmer labors under lesa
risk than the grain farmer. and does
not have to employ as high priced
help lie has steady chores for his
boys, which they can do without in
terfering with their school work, and
the income is steady. enabling him to
pay cash for his supplies and thereby
get better prices. He stated that his
income last month was $1S5. and
that each year he has number o.
good COWS TO turn off, and they al
ways bring good prices. He argued
that the Palouse country is splen-
didly adapted to dairying and has a
fine market for dairy products.
Factors Affecting Profits
In discussing Some Factors That
Affect the Profits in Farming" BY
ron Hunter mentioned the amount
of capital the size of farms, and
the labor income, as among the mast
important factors. With lantern
slides showing the results of CONF pre-
hensive farm surveys in the eastern
states, he demonstrated that large
farms give better results than small
farms in labor income. horse and
machinery efficiency, and crop yields.
He argued that too little attention
has been devoted to organizing the
farm work so as to get the best re-
suits from the horses. machinery and
labor and showed how system is as
important in farming as in any other
business.
Smut Explosion Demonstration
A typical smut explosion as near
under field conditions as possible
was produced on a small scale before
the wheat growers Wednesday after
noon by Prof. A. l.. Sherman, assist
ant station chemist, showing that a
mixture of smut and air in the right
proportions is as combustible and
explosive as gasoline vapor or ordn-
airy powder.
The smut was mixed with the air
by means OF bellows and the mix
ture exploded in an open glass vessel
by means of candle held over it.
An electric spark would have done
the same thing and this forms the
basis of the theory formulated by the
station workers this fan as to the
cause OF the smut explosions which
destroyed 300 machines in Eastern
Washington last summer
There were a series Of contribut-
ing causes" said Director Cardiff of
the Experiment Station in his report.
that made this year a phenomenal