Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1916-06-07
| Am Not A Hog.
C-Brain commoton by E. H. NJ
Cooperation In Buying Seed Proves
Valuable to Marinette County Farmers

Marinette, Wis, (SpeciaD the
plan whereby farmers purchase CO
operativeIy pure-bred dairy cows and
sires on credit has worked out sue
cessfully for two years, the Marinette
County Experiment Order, which is
one of the largest in existence, launch
ed plan last March to buy pedigreed
grain and grass seed and pure-bred
potatoe seed in the same way, to be
paid for after harvest.
Seed valued at $4,000 has been pur-
chased through the Experiment Order
for spring planting and plans are be-
ing made for the sale of between two
and three times that amount in 1917.
The order arranged a gurantor's
list of $1,000 to insure the trustees in
charge OF the sale of seed. The trus-
tees are Charles Lauerman, D. J. Madi-
gan and Prof. S. d. Bullock. Mr.. Bull
lock is a professor at the Marinette
County Agricultural school.
Farmers Must Apply.
Briefly, the seed plan is as follows:
The applicant files his application
with Secretary Bullock, who, with the
two other trustees passes on whether
the security given is sufficient. If the
application is accepted, the applicant
is then advised of who furnishes his
seed, and when he may expect it. Be
fore he files his application he knows
what prices he will pay. The farmer
gives security by chattel mortgage or
indorsed note. All notes become due
on or before Dec. l.
This year the Experiment order has
arranged for the purchase of seeds
from the following places: Potatoes,
oats, barley, early black soy beans
and some of the corn in Marinette
county, prices for delivery at the
nearest station; wheat and buckwheat
from Beaver Dam; clover, timothy
and alfalfa, Malone, Fond du Lac
county; peas, Sturgeon Bay. Appli-
cants were notified early in the spring
by Secretary Bullock that when the
present visible supply was exhausted
it might be necessary to charge a
slightly higher price. Wherever pos
sible, farmers who purchase seeds
were encouraged to club together in
their orders.
Charges Are Small.
In addition to the per cent inter-
est on the loan, there is an extra
charge OF per cent to cover the
charge of printing, stationery and clerk
hire. All seed is guaranteed and dis
satisfaction arising from sales are
settled through the Experiment order.
Whenever possible, orders are filled by
farmers near purchasers, so there is
no freight charge.
Only two varieties of potatoes are
sold by the association. This is in
accordance with the plans of the Wis
consin Potato Growers association to
limit the number of varieties are Rural
New Workers and Triumphs. This pro-
vides one early and one late variety.
Each farmer buying seed under the
plan agrees to treat such seed for any
possible disease. This means that,
beginning with this year, compulsory
treating is in effect in large portion
Of Marinette county, and there is lit
tie doubt but what this will have its
effect in rapidly promoting better
farming methods throughout the
county, especially in planting of seed
and their termination.
New Settlers Urge Plan.
The new plan came largely as a re-
suit of demand from the new settlers
in the county. They wanted to plant
the very best seed procurable, but did
not always have the ready cash. At
the same time this plan gives the
members Of the County Experiment
order home market for large part
Of their pedigreed grain and grass
seed.
There is, of course, the further value
Of extending the growth OF pure bred
seed.
As in the credit cattle plan, it is
the banks of Marinette county which
advance the money to cover the seed
plan. 1t is a business transaction all
the way through.
Marinette county men, who are eth
er directly or indirectly interested in
agriculture in the country beginning
to realize that within two or three
years, a prophecy made by an agricul-