American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1916-04-06


ers, who put many of the hints thus
received into practice. Moreover, this
work served to keep progressive agri-
culture before the people in a very
definite way.
If Felix Blister raised a big crop of
melons he was made the subject OF a
short sketch setting forth his methods
and results. If Bill Olson kept a
model dairy Re was given honorable
mention. My articles were all highly
localized and in them l made no effort
TO supplant the agricultural papers
and magazines. but the personal ele-
ment which was f~reQuestly woven in
and their local character made them
readable.
A bulletin describing the various
soil types found in the county and CIV
ing briefly the lines of improvement
to be followed, together with their crop
adaptations, vas much appreciated by
the farmers. 1t was used by the teach
ers as an outline for the study of soils
and greatly facilitated the answering
of many letters both from within and
from without the county.
In a county having 5000 farms there
IS a great variety of farm enterprises,
and in this particular county there
were a number of very different types
Of farming. There were grain farmers
and stock farmers, truck farmers and
dairymen. There were undrained
swamps and sand ridges; there were
muck and clay and sandy soils. Hence
the questions covered a wide ange.
Some were easily answered; three
fourths of them could be answered
without help; a goodly number were
pertinent station and a few were of
little importance or were ridiculous.
How many dairy cows will a forty
acre sand farm maintain"
How much can the average dairy
man afford to pay for a bull?"
What can l do to my soil to make
it produce the most?"
What insects or diseases affect the
onion crop and how can they be con
trolled?"
"My orchard has the scale. Which
trees shall l cut down and which ones
shall l save and spray?"
What size tile shall l use and how
far apart and how deep shall l lay
the drains for best results?"
Il have fifteen COWS. Will it pay
me to buy a making machine?"
will it pay me to hold my potatoes
until spring, considering present and
probable prices?"
These questions are typical and
show that a mans judgment is taxed
about as heavily as his technical
knowledge. Most farmers are very
reasonable and realize hat many of
their questions are very difficult for
anyone to answer; it is always a
pleasure to advise with such men.
Some farmers are unreasonable, just
because a certain percentage of all
people are unreasonable. However
such men do not often seek the help
of a county agent and are met only
| NCNtiSlOlldllg l. htNCl llidd0 any VI
fort to avoid the kickers, SO occasion
allv we met. Sometimes they hunted
me, but never with any serious conse-
quences. One fellow, after purchas-
ing seed corn from a firm which
mad recommended, sent me the follow
ing letter:
Dear Sir: Is there any way o.
you making those seed men sell gooC
seed. When a man pays SO for a bu'
shell of corr and can pick out a 10
that won't grow, and it is suppose t.
be graded to and / wish you coulC
sec it. If you come out my way stoI
and see the seed corn / have. | thinl
il is a shame that the farmers has t
put up with shutch trash as is in thu
qeed business. And when the farme,
says anything they will tell him tina
he amt no seed judge at all. If yol
do anything i wish you would com
and see the stuff if you are goin thi
way. Hoping you will ON and Sc
tho seed before / put it in becous
have got Z plant it or some Other
But / cant pay So every day for seed
yours resp'y
"WM. LUKINS."
/, / called on the gentleman severa
|, de- US later and found that his bar
was worse than his bite. / found tina
y a good rule in all such cases was :
r say as little as possible and let m
D man talk himself out of anything t
say. This fellow invited me to Dime
= and although he never became a stron
supporter he ait least caused me n
worry. At another time. having sci
f out several hundred circular letter
: relative to a prospective cow-testin
2 association / received the followin
S highly complimentary letter:
r Dear Sir: Your letter Of the fit
at hand and would say i do not wal
e to join your association. / think tn
: farmers has sense enouf to know WIFI