The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1915-12-17
Shiawassee Will Some Day Fall in
Line

Among the farmers residing in the
southwestern part of this county there
is a growing sentiment in favor of
employing a farming expert in Barry
county. Many of these farmers, who
reside near the Allegan county line,
have seen actually demonstrated be-
fore their eyes the practical applica-
ton of advice handed to their neigh
bors in the adjoining county by c. B.
Cook, the expert, who has showed
many farmer how to increase his
profits. These farmers have promised
to support literally the movement
which Former Representative w. H.
Schantz has started for organizing a
BARRY County Crop and Soil I'm
provement Association. This pro-
posed organization is being considered
by members of subordinate oranges
all over the county. 1t is planned to
secure several hundred members who
will contribute for supporting the ex-
pert. The farmers of Kalamazoo
county could not be induced to dis
pense with the service Of their expert.
Hastings Banner.
The Grand Rapids Herald publishes
the following from Cadillac:
That the work Of the farm agent in
Wexford county during the past year
has been a splendid thing for the
agricultural interests of the county is
strikingly shown by the report of the
bureau, recently issued. The report
shows that County Agriculturalist
James F. thinner has accomplished
very gratifying results in securing the
interest and cooperation of the farm
ers of the county in the establishment
of better farming conditions and that
the efforts Of the department have
been great aid to the farmers Of the
county in the solution of their many
difficult problems.
A total of 1856 public meetings was
held in the county during the past
year as the result Of work started by
the bureau, and practically all of these
meetings were attended by Farm
Agent thinner. The total attendance
of these gatherings, at which farm
matters were considered, was 1920.
The farm agent visited 1,040 farms
and there were 97S visitors at the
bureau Offices in the court house,
who went there to make inquiries rela-
tive to farm matters. Three potato
growers associations have been form
ed during the year and these organi-
cations have a total of 376 members,
while six livestock associations have
been organized, with total member
ship of 270 farmers and breeders. AS
a result of the work of the livestock
organizations 81 thoroughbred cattle
were brought into the county by the
local farmers. ,
A total Of 204 members of the pota-
to organizations treated their potato
seed during the year, most of them
for the first time in their lives, and
500 bushels of seed potatoes were sold
by the Wexford potato associations.
The report also shows that 200 boys
and girls of the county have joined
various clubs and "better farming
organizations. An important accomp-
lishment has sbeen the discovery by
County Farm Agent thinner of 200
acres of mari, the value of which as
a fertilizing agent, is regarded of
great Importance. 1t is also shown
that 700 additional acres of alfalfa
were sown this past year, that $1,000
young fruit trees were planted and
that large number of pruning and
spraying demonstrations were held.
1t is very doubtful if it will ever be
possible to accomplish as much in ag-
ricultural directions as has been
brought about here during the past IL
months. AS result Of the bureau s
work, Wexford county has come from
one of the poorest agricultural cunties
of the state to place very near the
front. AS result, too, more farmers
have moved into the county in the
past year than in the five preceding
years, and every inch of farm proper
ty has increased tremendously in
value.