Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-24
BANKS OF COUNTY
AID EXPERT MOVE.
Those in City of Rock Island Have
Pledged $500 Toward Work Of the
Agricultural League.
FARMERS DOING THEIR PART
Reports from Localities Throughout
State Show Excellent Results OBJ
tanned by Adviser.

Banks in the city of Rock Island
have pledged $500 toward the employ
ment of a farm expert under the di-
rection Of the Rock Island County Ag-
ricultural league and other banks in
the country districts will contribute
proportionately toward the employ
ment Of a crop adviser. This an
nouncement made today by officers OF
the association, following closely up
on the favorable reports of other bust
ness organizations throughout the
county who have been solicited to aid
in the work Of the league, is taken to
indicate a countrywide sentiment in
support of the object of the organiza-
ton.
The amount pledged from Rock Is
land, through the Rock Island Clear
ing House association, will be collected
from the various institutions upon
basis of ) cents for each $1,000 deposit
distributing the contribution evenly
among the banks.
Reports from banks in the country
district are to the effect that each one
will contribute from $25 to $50 toward
the fund Banks in East Moline Will
subscribe upon the same prOportonate
basis as that in effect in this city and
the Port Byron State bank and the
Hillsdale bank have made definite
pledge Of contribution. The Reynolds
bank, too. will give financial support
to the plan, although it is already
contributing to the Mercer county or
ganizatiOn. and for that reason will
not he able to make such large
pledge to the Rock Island county
league.
Experts Are Successful.
Reports from counties throughout
the state which have employed experts
show beneficial results from the work
of the crop advisers. Their endeavors
combine theoretical discussions with
practical results. Talks upon soil
conditions are made applicable to To-
cal situations and the expert devotes
his entire time to study of the soil
formation of his own county.
Recently published reports Of the
work In Livingston and Champaign
counties show large membership lists
and unanimous approval of the under
taking. In Livingston county the third
year of the work brought the member
ship up to 361 and every member had
a practical map of the soil of his farm
and over 1000 fields were surveyed in
completing this work. Glover was be-
ing grown upon 35 per cent Of the to-
tai acreage for soil improvement and
the work of the expert. devoted hereto
fore to farm management, has pro-
crossed to such a degree that the re-
lation of livestock to profitable farm
management is being taken up. EST
mates showed that sufficient rough
feed was going to waste annually to
feed 100000 lambs. These and other
important features were discussed at
SO public meetings and Il public agri-
cultural observation parties. Dat
smut eradication, clover and alfalfa
growing and wheat return were fea-
lures Of the annual report. Success in
Oat smut eradication attended 1922 pei
cent of the farms where it was at
tempted. The general average OF
wheat per acre in the county was 275
bushels, while nine fields sown on soil
treated with rock phosphate averaged
SO bushels.
In Champaign County.
In Champaign county it is estimated
that treatment for oat smut alone to-
tailed $4,000 on about half the total
acreage Of the county. Treated fields
showed an increase of 81 bushels ovel
the untreated fields. Estimates of the
expert show that the increase OF
alfalfa planting reached 1000 acres
and used for pasture for cattle, hogs
and sheep. During the year the ex'
pert spoke at SO meetings. addressing
$500 people in addition to 21,773 calls
individual letters, distribution of Unit
ed States bulletins and observation
trips In cultivation Of wheat fields
the adviser attained marked success