The Delta independent., 1922-10-27
LIONS AND FARMERS TALK
THINGS OVER IN OPEN FORUM

THINGS OVER IN OPEN FORUM
DR.. E. G. Shaffer proved himself
more than pill dopster at the Lions
Club Monday evening. Doc put on
the program right. Every Lion had
been requested to bring farmer and
there were 54 present including
farmers and members.
Morgan Swe;tzer, who was formerly
county agent, gave a short talk on
permanent agriculture. He said that
IL his suggestion were followed out
by the majority of the farmers he be.
condition with which we are now
faced
He said that permanent agriculture
is divided into two classes, livestock
and general farming. He placed en-
phasis upon the fact that we have
too many one-year farmers-men who
run a place just for year; place
could not be kept in the best state of
cultivation by these methods.
Our land must be manured; our
crops rotated; the soil must be pre-
pared. Our land has practically all
the mineral elements, but is lacking
in plant humus, or in other words,
plant food.
He said it would be possible to have
a ton Of manure each month, or an
average Of 10 tons year from
horse or COW, and this is suitable to
develop our soil to higher state OF
production. He says we should be
shipping feeders in instead of out.
Speaking of the various crops rails
ed here, he emphasized the heavy
production of potatoes, onions, grains,
etc. The land which is now in alfal-
ia has been worn out to some extent
by being continually devoted to al
falfa; that in some sections three
years is a great plenty to allow land
to remain in alfalfa, while other sec
tions would permit of a slightly Ion
ger period. He believed that land on
which alfalfa has yielded we'll should
be plowed up after the third year, and
not left till it showed signs of faulty
production.
He explained how feed. when fol-
lowed in the rotation system. is a
delicate feeder, as it grows close to
surface. Oats are about the same,
slightly deeper. Corn has its advan-
tages and is valuable in farm manage
ment.
1t was his opinion that we raised
potatoes and onions because they are
quick crop. and usually cash
crop. Sugar beets are somewhat diff
ferent. they being a deep rooted and
feeding in another layer of soil and
are valuable as a rotation crop. and
has a tendency to stabilize agricul-
ture. and also to stabilize the income
Potatoes. he said should be by all
means rotated. as they have a ten
dency to rid the soil of disease, and
once in every five years is a great
plenty to put potatoes on the same
ground.
Mr.. Sweitzer is very convincing
speaker and his remarks were listen
ed to with close attention.
w. H. Garvin of the Associated
Fruit Company was the next speaker,
Mr.. Garvin is perhaps the best in.
formed man on the western slope re
garding matters OF this kind.
He said 1t is an impossibility to
market an inferior quality. He told
of some of the experiences his COM
pany has been having and recited the
difficulties facing them in finding
markets for the productions Of this
section. They have gone as far east
as Columbus. Ohio He told of some
several cars OF Delicious apples in
Denver and said there were several
hundred cars in practically every ter
minal waiting for some place to go.
The marketing problem depends
upon getting value received. and
speaking in an offhand way he said
his company had shipped around 500
cars out OF Delta, and $50 out of
Olathe this season. Ninety percent
of the shipments went to their old
customers with whom they had been
doing business for years. He said
that he did not believe in consign-
ment and discouraged the practice.
However. there are many. which could
be explained by wire and it. is some.
times necessary to consign.
He said he devoted all his time to
the business, going out in the winter
time calling on trade: some would
call it a vacation.
The car shortage in this section
this year he, said has been very harm.
ful to the shipper as we'll as the grow
err. That on some orders they would
he as far as four to six weeks behind
in making shipment or course MANY
orders were cancelled, and he added