The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1919-09-26
SHORT COURSES PLANNED
FOR MICHIGAN FARM BOYS


short courses in agriculture, planned
especially for Michigan farm boys and
girls, will be given by the Michigan
Agricultural College during the COM
ing winter. The first OF these courses,
that in general agriculture, open on
October 27, while others will start as
late as March 1, at which time the
second truck and tractor school will
begin.
More interest Us being taken in the
winter courses than ever before, ac-
cording to Ashley M. Berridge, Direc-
tor. Many young men who are un-
able to take the four year course at
the college will take advantage of the
special work in preparing for scienti-
flee agriculture pursuits. Increased
interest in all farming is partly re-
sponsible for the large numbers of in
quiries that are coming into the di-
rector's Office.
Nearly every phase of agriculture
Us covered in one or the other of the
short courses, which include work in
general agriculture, cow testing and
barn management, creamery manage
ment, horticulture, poultry, gardening
Bookkeeping, farm engineering, and
truck and tractor work. The courses
are open to all Michigan boys and
girls over 16 years of age.
Catalogs and full information re-
garding the work may be had by writ.
ing to the Director of Winter Courses
M. A. c., East Lansing.
DRY WEATHER A BLESSING TIC
FARMERS
Agood many farmers are beginning
to complain that they are going to be
unable to sow their wheat because the
ground is not prepared. The ex.
tremely dry weather has made pillow.
ing and fitting almost impossible or
most of the best wheat land of this
section. This condition has caused
considerable uneasiness on the part OF
the farmers who try to get their
wheat in as early as possible thinking
that the yield will be increased to the
extent that their wheat gets start in
the fall.
There is one thing, however, that is
usually left out of consideration in
early sowing of wheat and that is the
Hessian Fly which has been on the in
crease during the last three or four
years.
What should be sowed early enough
to enable it to get good growth be-
fore the winter weather sets in, but
sowing should be delayed long enough
so that danger from the fall brood of
Hessian Fly is passed. This has
been very accurately worked out over
period of good many years for diff
ferent sections of the state and if the
dry weather prevents sowing before
the 10Th to 18th Of September it will
be a blessing in disguise to the farm
ers of Shiawassee county.
The time recommended for sowing
IN the region in which Shiawassee
county is located is from September
10th to 26th.
Extremely dry weather will have a
very detrimental effect in one respect.
1t will prevent the fitting of the
ground some time previous to sowing,
a thing which most good farmers pre-
fer to do in order that the soil may
become properly mixed and firmed b :
fore sowing time. On the other hand
a good many farmers would have
plowed and sowed their fields at a
very early date had the weather con-
ditions permitted.
1t is largely question: of choosing
between two evils, one of which is the
Hessian Fly on early sown wheat and
the other is possible risk from win
ter killing on wheat sown at later
date. ~