The Yale expositor., 1917-11-08
Work of County AgricuIturist

1
drainage project. Under the direc-
tion of Mr.. o. E. Robey of the
Michigan Agricultural College
portions of the farms of the fol-
lowing men were surveyed, maps
made, and number and size of tile
calculated: j. H. Doherty, Clay;
c. w. Kester, Cottrellville; Ira
Parke and Max Bartholomew, st.
Clair, and A. ]. Smith, of Lynn
township. These systems will ag-
gregate over 100 acres and will
constitute valuable demonstrations
in the different communities where
they are located. 1t is expected
that arrangements will be made
with the owner of a traction
ditcher to dig the bitches.
On land that was tile drained
last fall by Peter Distlerath of
China township, the oat crop this
year yielded 63 bu. per acre while
the average for the vicinity was a
round 80 bu., and double the
amount Of corn ensilage was har-
vested from the tile drained area
as compared with undrained land.
Besides the increased yield, the
corn matured better and Mr.. Dis
tlerath was able to secure many
bushels fit for seed. He states that
he was able to work on the drain
ed land much earlier and at times
when it was absolutely impossible
to till the undrained portions of
his farm.
A few men in the beet growing
sections have been requested to
report the approximate acreage
and yield of sugar beets, and fig
ures carefully compiled by John
L. Shepherd show that in Berlin
2300 acres were planted but only
600 will be harvested with an av-
erage yield of about 6 tons per
acre. The condition of the beet
crop this year affords another val
liable illustration of the need of
under drainage. When it is con-
sidered that tile drainage would
have saved all or nearly all of the
100 acres that were lost, and
probably doubled the yield per
acre, and that the remainder Of
the county has suffered just as
much, and some portions even
worse, it can easily be seen that
st. Clair county is losing from
100000 to $500,000 of farm pro-
ducts each year on account of
lack of drainage. This very con.
servative estimate of the annual
lcsssexperienced shows very con-
clusively the Importance of get
ting the. work started and putting
forth the greatest possible effort
in it's development. In some of the
townships large county bitches
have recently been dug, and many
farms adjacent to them can now
be easily drained with a minimum
amount of expense. The County
Agent will be glad to arrange
with the Agricultural College to
have fields surveyed and maps
made wherever the owners may be
interested.
Recently, septic tanks and sew
age disposal systems have been in
stalled under the direction of Mr..
Robey at the homes of Alvin Bal
den of Mussey township and H. j.
Vogt and son of Columbus town
ship. These outfits make total of
thirteen that have been installed in
eleven different townships and all
that have been completed are
working perfectly. The interest
being shown by the neighbors in
the various communities indicates
that large number of others will
add these conveniences to their
farm homes next year.
Arrangements have been com
pleted for holding of several agri
cultural and home economic:
schools during the coming winter
as follows: agricultural school a
Burtchville Town Hall, Agricul
tural and women's school with the
Starville Farmers Club, agricul
tural and women's school at the
China Cleaners Hall, agricultur
al and women's school at Allen
ton. Tentative plans are also un
der way for the holding of ser
les of one day meetings or insti
tutes shortly after New Years
Among the leading subjects dis
cussed will be "Tile Drainage,
"The Care of Farm Manure,
Livestock" and Farm Grains
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