The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1922-08-10
MONTHLY REPORT OF THE
COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AGENT

For the period, July to Aug 8, 1922
| The projects given attention dur
ing the period of this report were
crop improvement, alfalfa weevil
control, grasshopper control, potato
Improvement and marketing. Mis-
cellaneous and personal work re-
quired about one-half of the time.
CROP IMPROVEMENT. One
meeting was held at Adrian on this
project for the purpose of visiting
crop demonstrations in that COM
munity has had been done in other
communities the previous month.
Also several plots of spring wheat
were sampled" for yield and the
bundles laid away to be threshed
later.
ALFALFA WEEVIL CONTROL.
Meetings on alfalfa weevil control
were held at Grove, Harper and
Westfall. and the spread of the
weevil determined roughly in the
county as far west as Juntura.
GRASSHOPPER CONTROL. Grass
hoppers appeared in considerable
numbers at various points in the
county during the month and threat
ended clover seed fields and lettuce
patches. The poison bran mash
remedy was made familiar to the
farmers by circular letters and press
reports and assistance rendered
eight farmers in getting the mater
ials together to begin poisoning.
POTATO IMPROVEMENT. Six
days were spent on this project by
the agent and four days by E. R.
Jackman, crop specialist. Seven
field meetings were held for the
purpose Of studying potato diseases
and their control. These meetings
were held at Ontario, Cairo, Vale,
Nyssa, Adrian, Oregon Slope and
jefferson, The total attendance
was 116. In addition twenty-three
fields were examined for certifica-
ton of which IA passed first in
spection. During the course of the
potato work large number of COM
mercial fields were examined for
disease. 1t was found that the
amount of disease varied greatly ac-
cording to the quality of seed used,
some small fields showing almost
all plants diseased. Mosaic is the
most serious disease. One field
more than fifty acres was
found to contain 46 per cent Mo-
siac. The seed had been imported
from Idaho at high price and plant
ed on the best potato land and the |
crop we'll cared for. The yield will
be light and the crop will no doubt
cause a heavy financial loss to the
grower. Similar results were noted
where home grown seed was used.
there are numerous In
stances where good results have
,een secured from the use of good
iced both home grown and imported
'howing that the problem facing the
potato growers is one of planting
rood seed wherever 1t may be OBJ
aimed at a price which they can af-
ord to pay.
MARKETING. A meeting of
arm bureau marketing association
at Caldwell was at
ended for the purpose of cooper
ting in making plans for keeping
he potato growers informed on
market conditions and to acquaint
hem with. United States grades of
'otatoes. The matter of securing
federal inspection for Malheur
ounty farm products was taken up
nth the Oregon State Board OF
and the Bureau of Agri
ultural Economics of the Dept. of
.griculture. An Arrangement be-
veen the Idaho inspection service
nd the Federal bureau which will
rovide the desired service seems
bout to be made at the time of writ
lg this report.
MISCELLANEOUS AND PERSON
l. SERVICE. During the five
eeks covered, II days were spent
the field and ~ In the office; 81 II
'rsons called at the office on busi-
sss; press article: l20 personal
tiers and 10 circular letters OF
i5s copies written; 2 state ques-
onaires answered: sac miles trav-
ed by auto; SO farm visits and 81
visits were made; :
meetings were held at demonstra-
ms with total attendance OF 124
d 3 other meetings held with
tai attendance of 90 persons;
her meetings were attended by
, agent.