River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1923-02-01

|
in touch with the department prior to
or Immediately after locating. Con-
servatively estimated, every settler is
worth $1,000 to the state. This means
that the state is better off by some
ten millions of dollars. The states
work in this connection is not only
that of helping secure settlers, but to
advise them in advance regarding
lands, procedure in developing, how
best to use their capital, what crops
to grow and how to grow them. 1t
aims to fit the settler to the right
kind of land, and to protect him
against unwise purchase.
Seed Inspection Basis of Good
Crops
Pure seeds of high termination are
essential to good crops. Seeds that
are of poor quality, low vitality and
containing noxious week seeds are
not allowed to be sold on the Wiscon-
nsi market. Out of 28,766 samples
tested during the last eight years,
1893 have been condemned. The result
| is, that dealers are taking more pre-
cautions in placing on the market on
ly those seeds which fully meet the
standards adopted by the state.
Weeds Menace to High Crop Pro-
| ducti0n
Noxious weeds are distinct men
ace to the prosperity of Wisconsin.
For years they have been neglected
until they have taken possession OF
many farms and threaten to overrun
the state unless drastic measures are
taken to prevent their spread. The
problem of the department it one of
education. Neglect on the part of
the farmers has been due to lack of
appreciation of the seriousness of the
problem, and also to the best method
of control.
In order that this problem will be
better understood the department has
| endeavored through meetings with
farmers, school boards, county boards
and school teachers to convince them
| of the nature and seriousness of the
weed problem. Publicity through the
state press has also been big factor
in this work. The result is evidenced
by better understanding of the ma
ture of this problem by every one
concerned, and farmers are determin-
ed to fight the menace.
| Inspection of Commercial Feeds and
Fertilizers Essential
farmers are saved thousands of
dollars annually through the inspec-
ton of commercial feeds and fertili-
zers by the Department of Agricui-
ture. Chemistry is the only means of
determining the value of feeds and
fertilizers. By making it necessary
/ for the manufacturer or dealer to IL
cense these products before placing
them upon the market, and by check
ing up by inspectors, the state pro-
tects the farmer against fraud and
deception. Every bag must be labeled
as to its contents and the farmer is
thereby given ar opportunity to know
what he buys.
| State Fair a Great Marketing and
Advertising Medium
Wisconsin's State Fair is second to
none in class, third in the amount OF
money paid in premiums to exhibitors
and fifth in attendance.
Since the State Fair became part
of the department of Agriculture the
attendance has more than doubled,
the premium payments increased SO
| percent; the number of exhibitors in
creased IL percent; the receipts in
creased 1876 percent and every depart
ment enlarged and greatly improved.
AS an educational medium the state
fair comes in touch with more peo
pie than any other agency with the
exception of the schools. People of
all walks of life come to see it for
what they can get out of it. To the
farmer it is both his week of recrea-
ton and education. 1t is big enough
in scope to be of interest to everybody
as it is the greatest of all displays in
manufacturing and agriculture. For
this reason exhibitors by the thous
ands seek its space for advertising
purposes. With its large attendance
there is no agency where the producer
and consumer can meet to such mu-
tual advantage.