Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1920-02-13
VOLUME 27
SlLETZ

The Potato School held at Siletz
February 7th, was decided success
some 70 farmers being present, com.
ing from the Upper and Lower Farms
and from the Lower Siletz. 1t was q
splendid instructive meeting. Prot
>. X. Hyslop and H. p. Barss, of the
y. A. G. were to have been present,
but these gentlemen could not come
SO their places were filled by Prof.
5. Carpenter and Prof. Mckay, of the
y. A. G. In the forenoon Prof Carpen-
ter made talk, using illustrated pic
lures, on sorting, cutting and treating
diseased potatoes. This was demon
strated by the professor. Much en-
phasis was placed on this process,
especially in the matter of sorting
for the markets to get the best prices
and the careful selection to get the
best seed. The soil must be good and
the cultivation of the potato must be
attended to early. A great many
questions were asked by the farmers
and was successfully answered by the
Professor. The afternoon was taken
up by Prof. Mckay, How to treat
diseased potatoes" demonstrating the
process before the class. This was
also very instructive. No potatoes
should be planted without being treat
ed as the Professor recommended.
Seed potatoes should be immersed
for two hours in a solution containing
four ounces of corrosive sublimate to
thirty gallons of water. These pota-
toes may be cut up and planted at
once, or still a better way is to put
them In the open air and sun for about
two weeks before planting. This is
done to start the young sprouts to
growing SO they will come up much
earlier after planting. Prof. j. E.
Cooter, County Agent, chaperoned the
Professors and did much to make the
meeting a success. 1t is stated since
the county has had an agent its pro-
ductions and prosperity have nearly
doubled. This shows the effect the
o. A. c. has on the upbuilding and
prosperity of the farmers of Lincoln
County. Now we have scientific farm
ing and stock raising, whereas farmers
before learned by experience how to
farm and raise stock. 1t was slow
and unsatisfactory process. In the
olden time when the farming was
done by hand it was a drudgery and
the young men and women left the
farm, went to the city and sought more
congenial employment. The farmers
life now, under the new conditions,
can be made one of dignity and plea
sure. When asked how many acres
each farmer put to potatoes the ans
wer was about one acre. This seems
small. One man said he put in five
acres. 1t seems farmers could do
better to put more acres as potatoes
bring such a good price, from three
to four cents per pound, and seed po-
tatoes are selling for six and one
fourth cents per pound. This is the
highest ever known in this part Of
the county. The reason given for not
raising more potatoes is that it is a
hard crop to harvest and dispose Of
The roads are still bad and it is hard
to get them to market. But this diff
ficulty will be overcome when the
roads are made better. Mr. Warren
Hall addressed the school upon the
Importance of asserting and grading
the potatoes for the market. H . show
ed also how the farmers lost money
by not attending to this matter. Mr..
Hall learned this lesson by experience.
Then by all means | would say, assort
and grade your potatoes to get the
top prices. Then another and very
important matter is for farmers to
stand together and build up the home
industries and business and this will
show the wisdom and good judgement
of the farmer by having better crops,
more money, better farms and nicer
homes. Make farming pleasure and
a joy forever and the children will
stay at home.