Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-04-29
HOW THE EXTENSION SERVICE
HAS HELPED DANIELS COUNTY

distributed among the various enterprises
In the following proportions; wheat, 10
per cent. fax. 5 per cent. cattle. 10 per
cent; hogs. 8 per cent; poultry, 3 per
cent and dairy cattle. 4 per cen Since
cash grains are the most important
source of income the extension program
as decided upon by the county committee
has placed much emphasis upon grain
production. In addition the program has
Included work with livestock, dairying,
| poultry, boys and girls clubs, rodent
control, community fair and rural home
and community improvement.
One OF the outstanding accomplish
ments In the county has been the rapid
increase in use OF pure seed to plant COM
|mercial wheat fields as a result OF the
county crop Standardization program. In
1922 there was n grower of registered
seed with a field of approximately 10
acres: In 1926 there were nearly 200 pure
seed growers planting approximately TO-
900 acres. The added returns, due to the
increased use OF pure seed in the county
last year was approximately 100000.
The crop work is not limited entirely
to crop Standardization. as a number OF
farmers throughout the county have been
enlisted In the organized effort to find
new strains and varieties which are SUI
| perior to those now on the recommended
list. Marquis wheat is the standard
| wheat variety in the county at the pres
ent time and last year IA growers grew
test plots in which four promising new
grains we're compared with Marquis. The
results showed Marquis to be superior
but Renfrew. a Canadian variety, gave
such promising results that 1t will be in
cluded in future tests. In addition to
the comparative tests, there were several
nursery test plots in the county last year
In which a great number of strains and
varieties Of grains were included.
On the theory that the safest founda-
ton for successful livestock production
is a dependable n economical feed sup
| ply. much OF the livestock extension work
in Daniels county has been directed to-
ward forage and feed crop production
The sweet clover and forage crop cam
paign started two years & has been par
ttcularly successful. Last spring more
than 40 farmers joined a cooperative
sweet clover seed purchasing pool fos-
tered by the extension office. and Is
farmers conducted innoculation tests tc
determine whether soils in the different
areas OF the county needed treatment fol
the successful production Of legumt
crops.
Last fall turkey growers of the county
had their first opportunity to market
their birds comparatively as a result Of
h organization Of the Daniels County
Poultry Growers association through the
efforts of the extension office. Because
OF the establishment OF this selling or
ganization growers received their none,
at the time Of delivery to the central as
sembling, grading and packing point IL
the county: higher prices were received
because Of the systematic N careful
grading n packing. n even greate
beneft Is expected in the future through
the general improvement Of quality o
birds through better breeding and feed
ing.
A work which is more difficult to meas
ure In dollars and cents has been the en-
couragement and assistance given to thu
Identification Of the farms, farm home
and rural communities. There are nov
as free shelterbelts in different parts o
the county, secured through the extern
sion office for demonstrational purposes
These s~helterbelts. Of 1000 trees each
have added greatly to the value anc
beauty of farms where they are growing
and have greatly influenced the planting
OF trees and shrubs on other farms.
There are six home demonstration
clubs in as many different farm com
munities OF the county through which
most OF the work with the farm womel
is carried on. These clubs are engaged Il
organized work in sewing and nutrition
under the direction of specialists of tn
CAbClciOl Al WILL
munities in which clubs are establishe
are Four Buttes, Silver Star. Pleasan
Valley. Butte Creek. Whitehall and Flax
Vile.
An interesting and much appreciate
effort of the extension service has bee
the development of community fair
Last year local fairs were held at Butt
Greek, Silver Star, Pleasant Valley an
West Fork. These fairs are ~receivin
l Ihoorfu c1Jynprf from forpno = orH h,tcfpa.
men n are OF real educational and re
creational value.
Boys and girls club work is carried o
In nine communities of the county an
has become one OF the major extensio
projects. Last year clubs were organize
In Flaxville, Whitehall, Scobey ~, Butt
Creek. Silver Star. Johnson, West For
and Darchuk.
In addition to the major a~ctiviti'
which have received particular attentio
in the program Of work. the extensio