Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1916-08-13
PLUMMER WRITES
OF DEMONSTRATION
At W|NONA RANCH

County Agriculturists Thompson Of
Josephine and Cate Of jackson coun-
ties arranged for farm demonstra-
tion meeting. to be held at Steei's
Winona Berkshire ranch. Saturday,
August 8. for the purpose Of giving
Mr.. Steel an opportunity 20 demon
strate to the farmers Of the surround
Ing country the value Of good breed
ing. rs exempiified by his world-re-
nowned Winona Berkshires.
This was the original intention OF
the meeting. but II straightway de-
veloped into gathering in honor OF
Great Grandmother Steel--eighty-
two years young-who was the center
OF attraction. as the hostess Of the
day. ably assisted by her two grand
children. Francis r and Carol. his
sister.
A roast pig had been provided for
the occasion (Agriculturist Thomp-
son claimed Il was a Duroc Jersey
and the way the 125 people present
dispatched his pigship was no reflec.
tion on his sire. Beside the pig.
there were an even dozen Of roast
ducks, and they. too. followed In the
path OF the pig.
After luncheon, which was served
lin a delightful little oak grove on the
place, interesting speeches were made
by Agriculturists Thompson and Cate
while o. M. Plummer. Of the Union
Stock Yards, gave, very informal,
talk along the lines Of live stock
human and otherwise.
Francis steel was toastmaster and
he hurried the speakers along so that
he might have an opportunity to tell
tho assembled farmers something
about his Berkshires.
Two years ago steel paid $3.50 for
\ the Berkshire boar, Laurel Cham
pion," making this bid on him before
he had been judged. at one Of the
Washington fairs. His success with
this boar Is ample proof of the asser-
tion that one good sire will make the
reputation Of any breeder. Mr.. Steel
has sold over $4,000 worth Of pigs
Of this breeding since the first Of
the year, orders coming from all parts
Of the United States.
The people who we're present surely
enjoyed a treat. as Steel went from
pasture to pasture. going over the diff
ferent boars and sows and young pigs
very thoroughly-pointing out their
good points, as we'll as weak, II there
should have happened to be any, and
explaining what constituted good con-
formation.
The writer has attended many fairs
and seen much Judging but at no time
did he ever know OF an animal being
covered In the thorough way In which
Steel demonstrated his pigs. II we
can get our fair judges to do likewise,
lit will be a great step In advance.
! After the couple Of hours spent in
going over the hogs, the party was
taken to a field OF red clover, ON
which Steel is running test, under
the direction Of County Agriculturist
Thompson. He has taken an average
section OF his ground and plotted II
Off into about eight sectlons-four
check and four test plots. Steels
place Is under irrigation. and his av-
erage crop, this year, without fer.
tilizer. will be about four tons for the
three cuttings. His best test plot was
that on which the Union Meat Com
pany's fertilizer "Beaver-A" brand
. had been used, at the rate Of zoo
pounds per acre. This fertilizer cost,
$45 per ton, but even at that price
. II showed net profit OF $3.50
an acre above the next best plot on
which other fertilizer was used. Or
the plot fertilized with "Beaver-A.' y
! he will secure close. to ten tons pei
/