The Mena weekly star., 1918-08-22
CHAUTAUQUA FOR
 FARMERS FRIDAY
Specialists From University of Ar kansas and U. s. Department of Agriculture Talked on Topics of
 Vital Tmport.-The Personnel.

Polk county farmers who failed to attend the agricultural chautauqua ct the court house Friday missed the years best chance for advanced in- formation on important farming woblems. A squad of experts from Ae University of Arkansas and the g. s. Department of Agriculture, aaking a flying tour of the state, en- esrtained and instructed 8 small crowd sn such topics as increased livestock production, the federal loan system, Asll grains and pastures and poultry Adastry.
 In the party were J. II Sled, poul- @y expert; Dr. E. G. Norris, profes- -or of agricultural economics, U. of A; II. P Wood, animal husbandry department, '. s. Department of Az nculture C. M Tucker, specialist in plant diseases; H. K. Sanders, expert in swine production.
 Because of the small number of interested farmers no morning pro- gram was attempted. In the after noon County Agent A. J. Smith pre- sided and short talks were made by the visiting speakers.
 One of the most interesting was that by Dr. Sled, veteran poultry expert, who emphasized the import ance of pure breeds over mongrels. A convincing argument offered was that mongrel hen might lay as many as 60 eggs annually, while a pure bred would lay from 120 to 200 in the same time on practically the same amount of feed. in these days of high grain prices this is considered most important item. To illustrate the ex- tent of egg production in the United States, Dr. Sled stated years out put of hen fruit would require a train with caboose in New York and engine 300 miles west of Chicago, each car being 40 feet long and each filled with cases holding 30 dozen eggs,
 A most timely subject was chosen by Prof. Wood, who talked on the work of cutting and shocking corn and planting the land to fall grains for winter and spring pastures as a method of relieving possible short age of feed. He also advised the pro duction of plenty of oats for feeding purposes next June.
 Akin to the feed question were the demonstrations given by Prof. Tucker in treating oats, wheat and rye to prevent smut. The use of formalde- hyde was recommended by this ex- pert on plant diseases.
 Dr. Norris was an earnest advo- cate of the federal farm loan system and recommended it's use to farmers who financial aid in bettering their holdings. This university man did much to convince the gathering that Uncle Sam's plan was safe and was really designed to help the farmer.
 "More Pigs and Then Some" would have been a good title for the short talk given by Dr. Sanders. He em- phasized the obligation the farmers owed the government in the matter of pork production and laid stress on the fact that the men somewhere in France" must have such meat to keep up their winning gait.
 The session was opened by Dr. l.. w B. Long, pastor of the First M F. church. who gave a five minute talk on "Why President Wilson Wants Us to Pray at the Noon Hour" Dr. Longs explanation was that while we are the strongest nation in the world we can be still stronger thru prayer and the help of God.
 A special session of the ladies was held in Supt Pigg's office A talk on "Beautifying the Home" was given by Miss Queal, home demonstrator in the interurban section of Texarkana