The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-07-04
AGENT PUSHES SAFE FARMING;
FARMERS ARE PLEASED WITH 1T

Safe farming has developed to a
greater degree in Washington Parish,
La, than in almost any other section
of the State, and according to the ag-
ricultural agent the farmers are find
ing that it pays well. When the
agent began his work in the parish IN
1915 his first survey revealed many
farming ills that were very much in
need of remedy. Chief among these
was washing and wasting of soils on
the sandy hillsides which composed
the larger pert of the farming area.
So the agent began to terrace and to
teach the farmers how to terrace. He
induced the parish police jury and
school board to place terracing. level
in each ward, and then he proceeded to
make regular visits to the wards to
give terracing demonstrations. The
levels were left in charge of the farm
err in each community who showed the
greatest aptitude in its use and who
would agree to allow other farmers to
use it under his supervision. AS soon
as one community had finished with
the instrument it would be taken by
the agent to another part Of the ward
By this means more than 10000 acres
have been terraced in Washington
Parish and the production of the soil
has been increased, as well as protect
ed from washing.
Raising More Good Cattle
Up to four years ago hardly any
thing had been done in the way of
improving cattle breeds. During the
agents term of 3orvicc he has succeed
cd in interesting number of farmers
in better stock. Purabred sires have
been placed in 10 communities and
marked improvement in many herds |
is now noted. In 1918 nine carloads |
of cattle were shipped to market. A
calf club was organized last spring by
the agent, and with the assistance of
the banks each member was provided
with a purebred Holstein calf. This
movement is expected to stimulate
interest in the dairy industry, which
so far has been given little attention
in Washington Parish.
There were only 8 cattle dipping
watts in the parish four years ago
when farm demonstration work was
begun. During the agents second
year % additional watts were built.
There are now Y watts in the parish,
and as the result of systematic dip
ping last year the parish has been de-
clared tick-free and the Federal quar-
antine raised. Rapid development is
now expected in the raising Of good
cattle.
Fighting Hog Cholera
AS in most other parishes, hog
cholera has long stood in the way of
the swine industry in Washington
Parish and still is a very great hand
leap to its development. The agent
1t the present time is devoting espe-
cial attention to vaccinating against
cholera. He has treated $500 head
of hogs since Jan. l, 1919, and is al
most daily engaged in this work.
Farmers are awakening to the eff
cacy of anti-hog cholera serum and
sanitary measures. Conditions are |
gradually improving, an evidence Of
which was the first cooperative
shipment last spring ever sent cut of
the parish. This shipment, which was
made under the supervision of the
parish agent, was composed of hogs
from 26 different farms and melted |
$420 above the prices offered locally. |
The good prices received have acted |
as stimulus to the swine industry of
the parish, says the agent.
Through the efforts of the agent,
Washington Parish was the first in
the State to pool it's wool supply and
sell it. Last year more than $4,000 |
pounds were sold comparatively. By
this method buyers are attracted and |
top prices obtained. The interest in
sleep is increasing rapidly; 1900 |
grade ewes were brought into the
parish last year for breeding purposes
through the agents efforts.