The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-02-22
DIVERSIFICATION
FARMERS HOPE
SENTIMENT PRESSED AT
CHAMBER COMMERCE MEET
MANY INTERESTING TALKS

The discussion of matters pertain
ing to agriculture and farm problems
generally in the Moscow district, at
the chamber of commerce meeting
Wednesday noon, lasted until after 2
o'clock, and the close attention of
farmers and business men was had
throughout the meeting. The talks
contained real information for the
farmer, pointing the way to the solv-
ing of many of the problems which
have been faced for the past two or
three years, or since the slump in
the price of farm products.
Professor F. w. Atkeson, of the de-
partment of dairy husbandry at the
University of Idaho, was the first
speaker. Professor Atkeson discuss
ed dairying, pointing out the advan-
tages and the disadvantages of dairy
ing in the Palouse. He said that some
farmers believe they cannot afford
to feed $24 hay to dairy COWS, that
being the prevailing price now. This,
he said, is offset to a large extent
just now by spuds, which are not
bringing more than $40 a ton, but
from which, when fed to dairy COWS,
about $13 per ton can be realized. The
same is true of corn silage, he stat
ed, as $13 per ton can be realized
by feeding it to the dairy cow Cream
cries throughout the state are paying
vast sums of money to the farmers
for cream each month, Professor At
keson stated, and dairying is a most
profitable side line for the wheat
farmer, not only because of the cash
returns, but also because it is the
most practical way to refertilize the
soil.
The speaker said the Latah county
farmer should put up more ensilage
and grow more sweet clover He said
there are several profitable herds in
the Moscow district and should be
many more. The Theo COster herd,
he said, of ten cows, is bringing to
the owner $3.50 per month in cream
checks.
SummerfallOw Crops
F. L. Kinnard, of the Washburn e
Wilson Seed company, spoke on
summerfallow crops He said that
while no great progress has yet been
made in getting away from straight
wheat farming, the farmers are max
ing preparations for the change. He
said that permanently profitable ag-
riculture cannot be maintained on a
one-crop system. The soil is being
robbed of nitrogen, especially and
this can only be replaced by growing
legumes. Summerfallow, Mr.. Xii
nard said, adds nothing to the fertil-
ity of the soil, while sweet clover,
alfalfa, peas and potatoes are ideal
soil builders. He spoke Of the proper
rotation of crops and said that the
growing of legume crops will necessi-
tate drifting into livestock. The po-
tato, as feed for stock, is a profit
able crop, he said, five tons, which is
not a big yield, returning s65 when
fed to the dairy COW, is a satisfact-
ory income from an acre of ground.
Tells of Price Fixing Prospects
G. P. Mix, who has gained consid-
cradle prominence throughout the In
land Empire because of his activity
in behalf of stabilized wheat price,
told of the progress being made and
read extracts from the Gooding bill
and from the report of the senate
on agriculture, which re-
ported the bill favorably. Mr. Mix
told of the rapidly developing senti-
ment throughout the west in favor of