The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-02-17
Lee County Farmers at 1nsti-
tute Yesterday Voted to
Make Canvass Of
Situation.
CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS
This is Solution Of Education
For Farm Children, Ac
cording to the
Speaker.
[By STAFF Correspondent

-
[By Staff Correspondent.l
DoNNELLSON. Iowa. Feb. IL
Several years ago the Farmers In
stitute made a canvass Of the farm
ers of the county for the purpose Of
sscertaining whether they were de-
strous Of employing county agent.
At that time there was q generous
response from banks and railroads
and other institutions that might in
directly profit from an increased pro-
duction on the farm brought about
through the cooperation OF county
agent. But the farmers themselves
we're not enthusiastic enough, and
The proposition was dropped.
It is believed that the time Is now
.ipe for employing such a man. The
attitude OF the farmers has changed
somewhat, 1t is believed, and for this
reason the matter was brought up at
the meeting Of the institute yester-
day afternoon.
Professor Bliss. the Scott county
agent, and himself very successful
man in this work. was on the pro-
gram for the express purpose OF tell
ing the farmers how the plan has
worked in his county and other coun-
ties under observation.
Bill In Legislature.
Before Professor Bliss began his
address, President Beebe read com.
munication from committee at the
legislature in Des Moines which pro-
posed introducing . bill touching d.
rectly on this point. The measure
provides that two hundred members
may organize and after raising $500.
apply to the board Of supervisors.
whose duty it shall be to appropriate
| 1880 annually to the support OF a
county agent. To this, of course,
will be added the $1,000 which is
received from the United States gov
ernm emit. This bill will make the
county agent much more efficient.
He can devote all of his time to bet
terment work without having to run
from one end OF the county to the
other trying to collect his own salary.
Before the meeting adjourned it
was moved that a committee be APP
pointed, one from each township, to
make canvass and report through
the newspapers.
Professor Bliss gave very inter
esting talk. In part he said:
Professor Bliss Talk.
"Our county was one Of the first
two counties in the state to have an
agent. The time will come when
every county in the state will have
an agent. The movement is perma-
nent. His function is to find out
what methods are most successful
and advertise them. The county
agent does not go to the individual
farmer to tell him how to farm. A
county agent must be raised on
farm before he is much Of sue
cess. Then he, should 60 away and
have four years education at Ames.
He must be man OF common sense.
The educated fool is all the bigger
fool because Of that education.
'The success of the movement de-
Ponds on the agent and then the
committee that stands behind him.
am convinced that this movem ent
Will soon be nationwide. In Iowa,
i is only FIVE years old. But in
Germany. france and Denmark they
have had for years these men who
correspond to our county agents.
Leading men have said this is the
greatest movement in the country to
increase the farm production.
Modern Methods.
The speaker told Of treating oats
With formaldahyde to get rid of the
moot, and Of the great success at
ained.
1T is only the last three or four
years that farmers are treating
Brain extensively. In our county now
learly everyone treats the grain.
we have advocated spraying. 1t
loes not cost much. Even with light
prinkling of blossoms you get fair
rop with spraying. II not sprayed.
ne worms get the fruit. This is only
mother thing done BY the county
lgent
The best way to keep up soil fer
paty is to raise live stock. But we
nust have good grade Of live stock.
% do this we have live stock
Feeders association, and publish q
Pook which is mailed to every farmer
the county IN the book is listed
ne stock breeders and the grade
aised. Then a farmer can be in
ormed when he wants to purchase
ell bred cattle.
TO make live stock profitable !
eheve the silo has a distinct place.
nave 220 silos in our county. 1t
one Of the most valuable things
have on the farm.
we advocate the permanent stlo.
ne that is not going to be blown
yer by the wind.
And next. alfalfa. We have been
posting alfalfa for five years. 1t 10
re finest kind ~ Hew That Won rnU