The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1916-01-28

combines ordered for 1915, which
numbered 80. For this year 40
orders for combines have been placed
with one factory.
The financing of development like
this is tremendous task. No country
bank can supply more than small
part of the money needed. Losses
and long deferred payments under
such circumstances are inevitable.
These factors make interest rates
higher than they should be. But If
q banker is to be of real service to
such a community he must take
chance along with the rest. The CO.
operation of all classes, bankers,
business men and farmers, is essen
tial to the fullest success.
In order to meet the demands Of
our locality few years ago, we
shipped in $50 work horses and $50
good grade cows and sold them to
the farmers on time. We have re-
ceived our money for all the horses
but are still carrying some of the
paper on cows, our debtors income
being used for other purposes. Sew
.eral purchasers of cows tell me that
their cows reduced their grocery bills
from one-third to one-half. I be-
lieve in helping the farmer to help
himself. Realizing several years ago
that the tendency Of our farmers was
to adhere too closely to wheat, our
bank adopted the policy of giving
every farmer partron good farm
and livestock paper instead Of the
usual calendars. We have adhered
to this policy every since and have
been pleased to note a steady tend
ency to ward Investigation and live
stock growing. am a firm believer
in scientific farming. We are just
beginning to learn the essential
things about tilling the soil. When
we reflect that about IS per cent of
the elements which go to produce
crops can be conserved or supplied to
the soil, and that only about Is per
cent remains for the soil itself to
do, we begin to understand how bene-
fetal training of our young people
in scientific agriculture may become.
I am glad to know that our normal
schools are adopting short courses
to prepare teachers for rural school
work. believe every Idaho boy and
girl should receive such instructions
as will enable them to make choice
between country life and town life,
and give them knowledge that will |
enable them to look on a field of
grain and tell what soil element is
lacking and how to supply it.
have had the pleasure of visit
ing the John Deere & company's ex-
perimental farm near Moline, Him
OILS. tits marvellous what they are
accomplishing In the way of increas-
ed grain production. An interesting
experiment was made by them in |
oats, where they used bacteria i'm
ported from Germany on one half |
Of the field, while untreated seed was
used on the other half, all other CON !
ditions being equal. The difference |
in yield was more than SO bushels
per acre. Such increases in crop
production will bring. about increns-
ed LIVESTOCK and all other finished |
farm products. Such an increased
Tonnage means greater transportation
demands, which means increased de-
mands for labor; increased labor
means greater consumption and
better prices for products of the farm
and widening circle of prosperity
will result.
AS a basis of Investigation we
should encourage livestock growing.
One Of the most successful ways of
doing this is by means of livestock
shows. We have started movement
at American Falls which we hope
will make it livestock center, and
that is to secure exhibits of the best
livestock in the northwest at our
county fair. / have been in the habit
Of visiting the Lewiston livestock
show and each year notice a marked
Increase in numbers shown and an
in quality. This is the
greatest educational show I have