Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1941-02-06

last year, and that these meals con-
stunned 95 million pounds of surplus
commodities. But the movement is
growing fast.
This school year the number fed
has reached three million with six
million in contemplation before the
end OF the school year. This would
mean the probable consumption of
nearly quarter billion pounds of
food stuffs. The potential number
of young people that may be enrolled
is nine millions. 1t is true this is
not all net gain, for many of these
ildren would otherwise bring
lunches from home. But the warm
lunch doubtless leads them to eat
more than they otherwise would.
The Stamp Plan.
Speaking of expanding home mark
cts we must recognize the grow
ing importance of the Stamp Plan to
reach the lower strata of our popu-
lation. Just this week the new Year
book of the Department of Agri-
culture came to our desk. The title,
Thirty Million Customers for the
Surplus, arrested my attention. The
article was prepared by Milo Perkins,
chief of the Surplus Commodities
Corporation, and described the ire
mendous possibilities of the Food
Stamp project. We learn that in 1941,
this plan will open new markets for
so million pounds of butter; 80 mil
lion dozen eggs; 275 million pounds
of pork. AT the close of 1910 the plan
was operating in 228 areas with plans
to expand into 43 more. Certainly
this disposition of the surplus does
help to sustain prices.
Pasture Improvement.
AS the days lengthen and the sun
mounts, activity quickens among our
people. Last Monday evening we at
tended the January meeting of the
Extension, Smith Hughes and Farm
Security Workers of Carlton County
at Esko. 1t was indeed significant
gathering. Above all it indicated uni
ty of effort at a time when unity is
being stressed nationally by leader
ship of all parties
Under the leadership of the chair
man, MIR. Fisher, and County Agent
Chambers, the evening was given over
to thorough study of pasture i'm
provement, much neglected field.
Out of this deliberation there came a
recommendation that several demon
stration pastures be set up in the
county by the proper University au-
thorities to teach the proper prac-
tees of expansion of pasture acre
age; rotation of cattle and finally
fertilization. Too long have our folks
accepted the false conception that
the cow feeds the pasture with her
droppings and the pasture feeds the
cow. 1t is a kind of bovine per-
petual motion that just does not
make sense. It would be a wonder
full economy if it worked. But it
does not. For cow retains one
third of what she ungests to convert
into milk, meat, or maintenance. The
balance she passes back to the land.
This means then, that if she feeds
over three acres, she fertiliZes only
two. In our country though, fer
tilization is secondary; expansion of
available acreage by removing the
idle brush and rotating the cattle to
allow rest periods are the proper
practices to emphasize. When. the
01l Of r.
once more into grass and when Illi-
nois, Corn Belt farmers put valu-
ations running into three figures on
their good pastures, it is time we
of the Arrowhead, when good grasses
are native and thrive in our humid
climate, should be doing something
constructive about it.
Speaks at Askov.
We got to bed at 2 o'clock this
morning. 1t is long drive home
from Askov, some rs miles, but the
fine evening we spent among these
good folks of Pine county was worth
the effort and more. For we not
only were able to renew acquain-
tanceships nearly a quarter century
old; but we found two numbers for
the Institute program and discovered
new type of community effort.
The Askov assembly was unit
gathering of number of neighbor-
hood study clubs, working on the
cooperative principle and e e k in g
ways and means of increasing farm
income. AS the president very aptly
stated: eve are looking for some
thing to step up income and feel we
should not overlook the produc t
(rutabagas) that thrives in our back
yard" Right now these folks are
doing some exploratory work in the
hope of working out a successful
canning process for this crop that is
grown more extensively in northern
Pine county than elsewhere in the
middle states.
One of the leaders, Louis Olsen,
told us that while the farmer got
seven dollars per ton before the pro-
duct reached the consumer it cost
many times that amount. If the
canning operation can be perfected,
it is hoped that more of the con-
sumer's dollar may reach the man
who produced the raw material. These