Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-07-26
Staten Farm proved IS be q SUCCESS

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statien Farm proved IS BE- q SUCCESS
full meeting. The session this year
was held somewhat earlier than in pre-
vious years so that the crops could be
inspected to the best advantage. This
happened TO come at time when ow-
ing to the unfavorable weather the
haying season was prolonged later
than usual.
The program proved to be interest
ing as well as profitable to all people
who took the day off to attend the do
ings. From the time Mr.. F. L. Mus
bach called the meeting to order until
the weed and game contest was end
ed at five o'clock, there was something
doing all the time.
H. L. Russell of the College of Agri-
culture was the first speaker in the
morning. His subject was one of par
ticular interest at this time. In part
his talk is as follows:
II am indeed glad to attend your
meeting here this year. Meetings of
this sort I think are well worth while
These demonstrations you will see are
on by the state, and should represent
the states best efforts. Some people
say, 'Well, I wonder if after all it is
really worth while" You will find in
connection with the Branch Stations
types of work that are worth while
being done. Find out what is and what
is not worth while. Everyone of US
will make mistakes. It is therefore
for US to learn the mistakes of others.
We are trying out things in order to
find what is best on these types of
soil. The types Of soil are so varied
that you can not follow one set rule.
We have got to try various kinds of
agriculture on the various types of
soil. A system of farming which is
excellent for one soil type may not
fit other sections of the state. The
soil conditions here are entirely differ
ent than at Spooner and the prob
lens for investigation are likewise en-
tirely of a different character. One of
the great problems is wheat culture,
and still another is the question of
lining, and the use of phosphates in
Fastening ripening of corn. These
are some Of the things you should pro-
fit by in your inspection trip over the
farm.
Mr.. Musbach said in writing to me-
that the keynote Of the meeting this
year is Conservation and Preservation
as pertains to the food supply of the
nation. To my mind there is no more
vital, no more difficult prblem to dis
cuss at this time. The problem of
conservation of the food supply is al
ways with the farmer and it is also
with the consumer. The interest of
the farmer and the consumer are look
ed upon as antagonistic, because the
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high a price as he can for his goods
and the consumer is interested in buy
ing at as low figure as he can. We
are face to face with a difficult situa.
ton. We are urged by the National
Government to produce as much as we
possibly can. The farmers will pro.
fit by the high prices. The consumer
realizes that under these conditions
it costs him very much more to live
than under normal conditions. Nov
these problems are Of especial import.
ance in SO far as they affect our supply
OF staples. You take for instance oul
wheat supply. Wisconsin is not 6
wheat producing state at the present
time. | can remember when there was
nothing but wheat. Later the inter.
ests of the people were turned over tc
dairying, because in our dairy husban.
dry we found better method for oul
agriculture. The wheat problem is
imminent at the present time because
we have got to the point where it is
going to become a service problem
Under ordinary conditions each human
being consumes on the average about
six bushel Of wheat year, that is in
bread and seed. Under the average
conditions we raise enough so that we
can export to Europe two bushels PEI
acre. For 1915 we had a phenomenal
yield, which gave US ten bushel to the
acre and were it not for that fact the
price of wheat would be still higher
today than it is. What is going to
happen under the future conditions nc
one can tell. The prospects are not
likely to be very good on account of
the severe winter killing which occur
red throughout the United States
Looking over the agricultural crops
this spring, the prospects are that the
wheat situation is one that will de-
mand the attention of the farmers bv
reason of the fact that America must
supply the wheat crop for the whole
world. The reports from Saskatche-
wan and Alberta sections indicate that
on account of June frost, there is
going to be shortage Of wheat. Rus