Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-31

Palmer II. Edgefton.
silo tours in The county These were
attended by something more than one
people, and met with fine sue
cess. Discussion was very general,
every one taking a part. and much
information given Getting |.
a successful farmer TO tell about his
own business is somewhat of trick, {
but when be does it is usually worth f
hearing. The infnrmality Of the siio I
tour accomplished this in splendid T
way. We want more Of this kind OF +
extension work.
During the year the advisor has at
tended and taken part in three farm +
er's institutes and As other meetings in /
the county. These meetings were at
tended by 3,472 people A large num- /
her OF calls have come from COM
munity Clubs and farmers clubs and
these calls have in the main received /
our attention and support
Publicity.
We are fortunate In the county in
having undivided support C the press. !
Anything we want given publicity is
handled by the tri-city papers which /
fortunately have q. wide country circu- |
lation. The two Rock Island papers
last year at the beginning Of the work
gave the league an entire page in their
annual feature numbers.
A popular medium Of publicity has
been through the monthly bulletin and
exchange list. The members like the
personal way in which The bulletin is
written and it has proven a quick and
satisfactory method Of keeping in
touch with the membership
Our first annual picnic was held at
The county farm and was attended by
+00 people. The success of the meet
ing wiz Justify its continuation. Never
before has there been an attempt made
to get both ends OF the county together
IN a common meeting The picnic
proved that il vas possible We hope
another year ta have our ear to row
and variety corn work data available
Oh pieaic day.
Soils.
i, The work Of getting acquainted with
tbe soil types OF the county has been
s.mpliiied by having field copy Of the
soil survey made by the university as
q guide This map has proven accur,
ATE and reliable and the farmers du3
10 lis accuracy consider it a valuable
piece of work.
The big need Of Rock Island county
soils is more humus. Glover has come
tie be an uncertain proposition and
this makes the pushing OF limestone
our first important step in soil build
ing Fortunately we are located in
close proximity TO good limestone
quarries, and a good grade of rock
can be laid down In the county for
from 80 cents "a sI.z5 per ton. As
nearly as I can estimate there was
/ 1850 tons of limestone used in the
county last year and a heavy increase
over this tonnage viii doubtless be
+ used this season if cars can be secured
. to move il Our people are coming To
/ appreciate the value Of limestone fer
clover and ether legumes.
So var il has not been our plan to
1 recommend general use Of phos-
phate, This can well follow when the
clover is properly established. How
ever, there are in the county a num-
Der OF live stock feeders who by the
I generous use OF manure have gotten
\ their soils out Of balance on tine nitro
gen side and are in need Of Dhos-
fphorus 10 stabilize this inequality. We
have contracted for Is cars oil phos-
. phaje for next years use and think
) we will experience no difficulty in dis,
, posing OF same.
An opportunity is never LOST for
= pushing the Illinois system Of perma-
lnent fertility In fact. if all Of oul
: work was as definitely cut cut for US
, and as certain as our soil improve.
ment program, then we would be for
tunate indeed We have in either enc
{ OF the county men who are systematic
! ally practicing the use of limestone
Il iegumes and phosphate and their worl
= VIII be OF great value as demonstra
Z ton material, and as final clinehi7,
: argument for permanent soil building
Our work with the farm crops ha!
been limited largely TO the securing q
new varieties, testing Of seed am
e making recommendations as to seet
, bed preparation and planting.
S Corn.
The late fall OF 1916 guarantee,
p maturity and practically all seed corr
!. SO hat 40 particular campaign of seei
2 testing was deemed advisable. Th
stand this spring was splendid. il
: November. 1917, we made tests of gaet
. corn for % different members. mi
5 corn was all picked the last of Sen
p TENDER and FIRST Of October, The re
: suits Of this test showed per cen
dead, z per cent weak and "a per cen
g strong. These results were made nub
2 lie and members urged toF lock int
their seed corn situations betor
q spring.
y The seed corn situation viii feeeiv
tile attention Of The league with th
idea III mind Of locating and seeuriei
reliable seed TOR the members 10
planting the 1918 crop. There viii i
( large demand for good seed ia tn
county
a definite corn project has bee
I worked ont Tor next year, to he ear
j ried Gus al the county farm. 1t con
& sists OF ear 70 row work and also var
: lety tests.
Oats.
J Que brown sir lean farmers hav
been toF p Tong time ii need If 4.
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