The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1916-10-06
MONTHLY REVIEW OF
COUNTY AGENT WORK
Potato Growers Convinced

thirty potato growers OF the Deer
Flat section, which is becoming not
ed for its fine potatoes, became con-
vinced that the control of potato
diseases can be made effectual and
profitable. These men attended a
demonstration meeting August 20,
called by County Agent Mccall on
the farm of Charles Oellion who has
been conducting some very success
full demonstrations for the county
agent. Here the sections planted with
selected and treated seed were a
finet object lesson, when contrasted
with the adjoining field, planted in
the usual manner.
Treatment Least Part
Mr.. Oellion told the farmers Of the
methods used, emphasizing that the
treatment with corrosive sublimate is
the least part of the program which
it Is necessary to follow to have good
potatoes. He urged all growers to
practice hill selection in the fall of
disease free potatoes; to use, strong
uniform potatoes; more careful Gull
tural methods; and advised every
grower to have his own seed plot.
Experts Smile
e. P. Taylor and his successor, e.
H. Bennett, potato specialists, to-
gether with Miss Willis, pathologist
of the University Of Idaho, were pres
ent at the meeting. They did not
have to argue, however, for rational
methods at this meeting. The OBJ
ject lesson shown by the demonstra-
ton field was worth thousand argu-
ments. That is one great feature of
the work of the county agent. His
demonstrations do the talking and
really convince the farmers.
Thresher Explosions Prevented
From Lewis county, A. e. Wade
reports that he held a very success
full demonstration at Ilo-Vollmer,
August Is, in preventing fires in
threshers. This was made possible
thru the cooperation of the Univer-
sity of Idaho and the United States
Department of Agriculture. A fire
was generated in a separator, and
this quickly extinguished by the auto
matte fire extinguisher devised by
Elmer Johnson of the department.
There were about 225 persons
present and of these rs or more were
men who operated threshing outfits
of their own. AS a result several
made arrangements to have the ap-
paratus installed in their machines,
while at similar demonstration held
at Moscow, orders were given a local
firm for the installation of eight
extinguishers. This dem
onstration received a great deal of
favorable commentator.
Can Prevent Large Smut Losses
Following the demonstration, the
county agent gave lecture on the
prevention of smut, making the fol-
lowing recommendations.
Experience has shown that the
greatest difficulty in controlling smut
arises because the soil is infected at
harvest hime. If this danger is avoid
ed by early seeding, the weather con-
ditions later will have little effect,
If properly treated and clean seed
is sown.
Where it is impossible to SOW be-
fore harvest, the smut infection can
be prevented in measure on OBJ
serving the following:
1. The danger Of infection is
slight if the average temperature at
seeding time is above IS degrees or
under 35.
2. Seeding from four to six weeks
after the fall rains begin will tend
to reduce the danger from infection.
8. Seeding Immediately after fall
will tend to reduce smut.
4. Disking after the first fall
rains and seeding thereafter within
a few days is likely to produce
large amount of smut.
S. BY seeding ir vet ground from
The middle of September to the Md
die of October, the danger from smut
Is greatly increased.
As result Of the demonstrations
and talks, over 1900 acres of wheat
were sown before harvest this year
in Lewis county.