The Mankato free press., 1923-08-31
FARM news FROM
STATE UNIVERSITY
ghssoeiatec Press Dispstch.l

st. Paul, August G9.-Bvening
unit course schools for farmers In
Minnesota are gaining rapidly in
popularity. These schools are usual
ly conducted by teachers Of agricul-
ture who have been trained In the
agricultural education division OF
the state university and who are un-
der the direction Of the state super
visor Of the State Department OF
Education. ~.
AS explained at the University
farm here, small groups Of farmers
are organized for evening work In
communities outside Of some CEN
tral point. Lessons are assigned and
studied much In the regular way.
Subject matter books and bulletins
are used for textbooks. Every STU
dent" Is pledged to carry on some
project the following season In
which he will apply the lessons
learned in the evening school. Dairy
and poultry were the popular types
Of work last year. Any farmer Is
permitted to enroll.
The work was started two years
ago when about q dozen evening
schools were organised. In @ year
the number OF schools had >increas-
ed to 36 adjacent to Is central com
munities with an attendance Of 709
at 80 meetings. Eleven such schools
were held out OF Albert Lea last
year with an attendance Of 258, Six
schools were held at points outside
ot Grand Rapids with an attendance
of 8S. Extra teachers had to be OBJ
/ DIR. A. V. Storm. chief Of the diyl-
sion Of agricultural education at
University farm, forecasts an en-
rollment double that Of this year In
the 1923 1924 year. Animal hus-
bandry, crop production and farm
management are other phases OF
farming studied at these meetings.
Feeding Of rye as part substitute
for corn Is recommended as An econ
omical procedure by livestock and
farm management. specialists at the
University farm. During most OF
August, the early part generally,
corn was selling in Minneapolis at
q. premium of more than 70 cents a
bushel over rye. -
"The price is the big factor and
feed for hogs" says H. g.. Zsvoral,
specialist with the agricultural ex.
tension service of the university.
About 1l2 pounds Of rye have
given the same results as 100
pounds OF corn. The composition Of
rye would indicate It's superiority In
feeding qualities to those OF cora,
but in actual experimental work 1t
fails to measure up to corn.
Because rye is not as palatable as
corn, hogs will not consume as
much Rye is harder to masticate
than some other grains and should
be ground or rolled for the best re-
suits. It 10 not as good feed for
either horses or cattle as 1t is tor
fattening hogs, but by mixing II with
more palatable cereals, such as corn
and oats, It may be satisfactorily
fed, the university specialists de-
clare. Rye fed alone Is likely to
cause more digestive troubles than
other cereals.
Experiments conducted by Prof.
G. B. Sanford, plant pathologist
under DR.. e. g. Stakman, Of the
University Of Minnesota, show that
potato scab can be controlled by
keeping moisture in the soil short
time, after the tubers are set.
The discovery Is regarded as of
great Importance in that It not only
adds to the sum of knowledge con-
cerning the potato, but also for the
reason that under systems OF ind
CATION, 1t may be possible to grow
scabless potatoes by the simple ex.
pedient Of turning on the water.
when the critical period for sus-
ceptiblity to the disease Is about
reached. q.
In second experiment, Prof. San
ford demonstrated that moisture ap.
Piled while the tubers were In the
early formative stage prevented the
development Of scab.
Great Importance attaches to the
discovery because every variety OF
potato IS susceptible to common
scAb, and through the inferior
marketing quality of scabbed pota-
toes, farmers have lost tens Of thou
sands Of dollars which might not be
prevented, Prof. Sanford said.