The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-01-10

the program OF the department. VI az
Develop Better Seed
While the unusually dry weather of
the past year negatived many of the
crop demonstrations initiated in this
county, particularly with forage crop
and grasses, some important results
are noted in the county agents al
nual report. Most sire S was placed
on certified seed fields of N. D. Re-
sistant No. 81 flax, of which 40 farm
ers grew 1922 acres yielding 11,494
bushels which mostly goes to farmers
tc be used for seed. Eighty-four 9TH |
er demonstrations were made IN test
fields of wheat, oats, emrner, rye, corn
and grasses on total Of 1,514 acres
this season. This is described as an
intelligent effort of farmers them
selves to determine what varieties Of
standard crops are best adapted to-
their localities, and to bring about the
general use of such seeds as give best
results under test.
More About Gophers
In his annual report County Agent
Anderson goes into detail in descno-
ing the work done in 1913 toward
systematic destruction Of the gopn-
ers. Financed by revolving fund Of
$4,000, the county provided poisoned
bait for state lands, while the Bio
logical survey furnished the poison
for the Indian and government lands.
1.-THE county agent looked after mixing
and distributing the poison. Such
was the economy of this cooperative
effort that the total cost for the sea-
sons work was S16,003.68, as com
pared with $50 ,313.25 which would
have been the retail cost to the farm
err for the same quantity of poison
q saving of over nine thousand dollars
to be credited to the single project.
| Passing into the field of estimates,
If one allows each poison bait distf;-
buted credit for killing gophers at .
rate of two bats to one gopher, over
four million gophers were destroyed
in the campaign of Ellsworth $780,
900 to Sheridan county at five cents
head slain.
Manages Relief Campaign
Much already has been said ans
,, written about the part the Farm Bu
reau played during the past summer
in meeting the situation presented pl
!, the unprecedented drouth IN northern
: Montana. The effort made by th'
farm bureaus, in which the Sherlda,
county agent and the local ,burea'
leaders took active part, resulted u
: relief that has taken three lines: GOV
eminent aid for fall grain, simlla
: advenue now open to aid needy farm
ers to get cash for their spring acre
age. and provision for a half-rate o.
: feed grain and hay where drouth are
permits were issued by the count
agents. AS a result of these lines c
: work. 35 loans covering 1,4Z7 acre
of fall grain were made in Sherlda
:, county. while since this is essential
a district devoted to spring cropping
- much greater call will be made o
the offer for aid to spring plantln;
= Ten carloads of feed were shipped II
" to the county at the half-rate secure
: from the railroad administration.
" The Future Citizens
:. AS a result of work done in tn
- county by the forces described
County Agent Anderson's annual r
- port, 457 boys and girls of the count
= Joined in So clubs, and secured pra
. teal education in farming and hon
:, making lines which they would n
- have secured in any other way.
- County Agent Anderson has be-
~ in Sheridan county as county age
since April, 1916. The points touch
on in his annual summary establish
- basis of comparison with the wo
- done three years ago that is lllumlna
- ing in showing the vast progfe
- made in that time. Reading the I
:. port, one cannot escape the impress'
= that this work has just commenced
iie strike it's stride in Sheridan count!
ng . y lf>0 -'N'