American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-07-01
HOCHBAUM TALKS
ON FARM TOPICS
TELLS HOW COUNTY AGRICUL-
TURIST WORKS, AND ADVISES
EMPLOYMENT OF ONE FOR POW
ER COUNTY.

ER COUNTY.
Takes 12O-Mile Trip Though Fields,
Renders First Aid in a Few In
stances. and Makes Suggestions for
Retirement = Will Visit County
Again in Near Future.
"There are no problems here at all
for county agriculturist to solve.
said H. w. Hochbaum after he had
covered about 120 miles in an automo-
bile. But he had his fingers crossed
and was laughing Just little when he
said It. He had been west past the
places of County Commissioner Egg
gers, John Deeg, the Neu's. past the
German Lutheran church and back to
American Falls on the road leading
east from the church and saw both drv
and irrigated fileds. Then he went
from American Falls 70 Roy and re-
turn, making a side trip to the splen-
did farm of ]. T. Fisher in the foot
hills near Rockland. On these trips
he saw all kinds Of grain from good
to worse than poor. and all kinds OF
farming At the conclusion OF this
inspection he said: There Is four
lines of work to any one OF which
county agriculturist could give his ex-
elusive attention and give results
which would amply justify his employ
ment: The eradication of weeds; pet
ter methods Of cultivation; the live
stock interests and the encourage
ment and building of silos."
Mr.. Hochbaum was Dusy man dur
ing his two days stay. In addition
to the trips taken he met numpcr Of
farmers on the street and addressed
about fifty farmers at the Auditorium
explaining the work of county agri-
culturist. At the close of the meet
ing he met few farmers who had
problems to solve. He was charry
about giving advice except In gen.
eral way stating that he had quit
guessing. Before advising he want
ed to investigate and learn actual
conditions.
]. S. Morris and Ross Bolton were
two of the men who had problems to
solve, both relating to the feeding
and care of hogs. Mr.. Morris had lost
several pigs and others were not do
ing well. He has about $50 in all,
among them a large number OF brood
sows. Mr.. Hochbaum, after question
ing him concerning methods Of feed
ing and care, advised radical changes
in his methods Mr.. Morris has lost
enough pigs to pay his share of the
salary and expenses of county agri-
culturist for lifetime.
At Roy Mr. Hochbaum took samples
of grain infested by aphis. The in
sects were in the roots just below
the surface, and in great numbers. 1t
was their presence that led him to go
to Roy. Samples were taken and sent
to the bureau of entomology at Wash
ington. to learn all about them. He
pointed out where they had been on
the leaves, doing some damages He
was of the opinion that they had done
little damage, but owing to their pow
ers of reproduction said they might
become very much of a pest. He be-
Iieved they had been on some plant In
that vicinity ard through its destruc-
ton had been transferred to wheat
fields. The samples were taken from
the fields OF John Reimann. They ap'
peared to be worse in spring grain
than in fall.
On his return Mr.. Hochbaum visited
the splendid ranch of ]. t Fisher
where he inspected the crops, the
buildings and animals. An incident
here showed how a county agricul'
turist can make himself useful. Among
Mr.. Fishers pigs were some not do
ing we'll, and few that were very
much stunted and unthrifty appearing
One was pointed out, which had sore
eyes and appeared to have swoller
places about the neck and head, ant
an abnormally large stomach. Mr.
Hochbaum said from apparences h'
would say barley boards were respon
sible for the trouble. Mr.. Fisher sait
that could not be, because there hat
been no barley on the place. Th'
pig was then caught and examined
for other possible causes, without an,
success. Mr. Hochbaum finally asket
to be taken to the hoghouse. Their
he examined the straw used for bed
ding and readily convinced MIR. Fishe
that there was barley on the place, al
out of handful of the straw he fount
a number of boards. A change In feed
ing was recommended and put into eff
feet at once. A number of pigs wer,
lost on the farm due, Mr. Hochbaun
believed, to wrong methods of car
and feeding. He pointed these out Il
Mr.. Fisher and made a number o
helpful suggestions.
Mr.. Hochbaum's casual investiga
tions led him to suggest the following
Deeper and better plowing, bette
cultivation and earlier summer fal
low.
Summer fallow with cultivate
crops, peas for hogs, flint corn, beans
etc.
More hogs to follow header and com
bine.
More livestock. Lands near hill
will grow alfalfa hay. Grow alfalf
for seed on favored hill land
Build pit silos and keep more dair
cows.