The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1922-10-14
The CountyAgent
Makes His Report
Vast Amount of Work Done
in Last Year in Stevens
County

The following facts are taken from
the annual report of County Agent
H. ]. Plumb. This report is submit
ted annually to the State college of
Washington where it is scanned by
the director of extension and his as
sistants and is then sent to the United
States department of agriculture. 1t
is only in this way that Uncle Sam
is able to know whether his en-
ployees are giving service or not.
The agent worked 800 days out of
the 365, 1873 of which were in the
field and 1877 at his headquarters in
Colvile. This time was distributed
among the following projects: Ag-
riculture, engineering, soils and crops,
dairying, horticulture, livestock, farm
management, poultry, boys and girls
clubs, fairs, foods and nutrition,
clothing, home management and bee
culture.
The agent took an annual leave of
eleven days. During the year 54
farmers were visited on their farms,
and 993 farmers called at the office
in Colville. Two extension auto tours
were held. A total of 884 meetings
were held throughout the year with
a grand total attendance of 1855.
The agent wrote for the county press
III newspaper articles, and 2O7O in
dividual letters were written and
mailed from the office. Seven cir
cular letters were prepared and mail
ed, totaling 1854 copies.
/ In soil improvement projects, drain
age and irrigation received major at
tention. Five drainage systems were
planned which will drain 145 acres,
and 16 irrigation systems were plan
ned which will irrigate 1898 acres.
Of these irrigation systems 38,635
feet of ditch were actually laid out, a
good deal of it with the grade stakes
set every 100 feet. 1t is estimated
that the increased value of such lands
put under irrigation represents an adj
dition to the wealth of Stevens coun-
ty of $198,OOO. The introduction of
a copper carbonate method Of seed
treatment for smut, it is estimated,
will save the farmers of this county
S24,621 in lessened seed injury Incl
dent to the old wet method of treat
ing. Twenty-eight farmers applied
for certification of their seed potatoes,
representing 148 acres, and while only
two of these farmers are getting
certification, due to the great pre-
valence of mosaic in our potatoes,
great improvement is evident.
William Klein of Addy with 8 acres
and A. E. Skidmore Of Colville with
five acres are the two farmers who
have passed second inspection, look
ing toward final certification of their
stock. 1t is estimated that when the
seed potato industry of Stevens coun-
ty is on its feet it will mean an in
crease in the annual wealth of the
county of from $4,000 to 100000.
Twenty-six farmers, representing
AL acres, have cooperated in the i'm
provement of the growing of alfalfa,
with consequent elimination OF
faulty practices, which will mean
saving to the farmers of Stevens
county on the total alfalfa acreage
Of $59,480.
four farmers produced 1000 bushels
of improved Hybrid 1913 seed wheat.
1t is estimated that the county's out
put of seed potatoes this year will
be 14,800 bushels. The rodent control
work shows that 622 ounces of
strychnine were distributed, which, at
an estimated saving of Toe per ounce,
is $466.50 saved to the farmers of the
county on the purchase of their
strychnine for 622 ounces. 99,522
acres were poisoned. 1t is estimated
that the squirrels done away with
through the poison campaign repre-
sent a saving of the crops OF the
county which runs into an enormous
sum.
225 doses of blackleg vaccine were
furnished to the farmers of the coun-
ty for vaccinating at no cost to the
farmers. Six boys and girls clubs
were organized, with total member
ship of about 80. Two pig clubs,
three sewing clubs and one garden
club; and Is stock judging demon
strations were held with 209 in at
tendance. 16 rogueing demonstra-
tions were held in potatoes, with an
attendance of ITO. In home improve
ment project, seven farmers receiv-
ed assistance and advice Of the ag-
ricultural engineering specialist rela-
tive to water supply systems for
farm homes.