Full text of "The extension messenger : a series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the State Leader's Office"

See other formats

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2011 with funding from

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

http://www.archive.org/details/extensionmesseng34univ

w:i^!i!!

A scries of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS
Vol. Ill January 7, 1920, No. 1

Soliloquy Q f The iilodern Farner.

Ihen New Year's cones with all its cheer

And we be pin another year,
I think of all the things I'll do,

Of plans and courses I'll pursue.

I think I'll farm a different way;

In the business world a part I'll pl^y.
I'll have a word in making laws;

I'll stand up strong for the farmer's cause*

I'll cease to frow such bxjmper crops,
For when I do the market drops.

Nor will I try to raise more stock,
For v.'hen I do the prices balk*

I will not work from sun to sun.

For even then my work's not done,

I'll go to work on the eight hour day,
For all the world now works that way,

I will not sell for less than cost,
For v/hen I do my labor's lost»

I used to take what others ijave

And be content to toil and slave*

But now I'll set the price I ret-

Control production, let buyers fret,

And if they will not pay the price,
Why I'll not sell at a sacrifice.

Do you know what I think I'd like to do?

I'd go on a strike the whole year thrul
I've enoUfTh to live - why strive for wealth?
^ r Let the rest of the world take care of itself.

H But after all when its said and done,
03 nnd I*ve made my plans and the work's bepun,

m I s'pose I'll "carry on", as the dou-hboays say
^ And feed the world regardless of pay.

1> 5145(13

Vol. Ill Par^e 2 No. 1

KerchuE, Kerchur-! They're off J jhat? The Tractor Schools at the Uni-
versity of Illinois and Lradley Institute. Trainin ' be^sui in real earnest Mon-
day raorninr of this week. Classes were well filled in both schools*

"Be;3innin-]; January 5th, Bradley Polytechnic Institute, Peoria, Illinois, will
give short courses in the operation xnd maintenance of tractors. The work in the
courses v/ill be very intensive, making it possible for the student to sain a very
satisfactory knov;ledi;o of tractor operation and care in a limited time. Stu-
dents may take the Virork in units of two, four, ei^ht and twelve weeks. The in-
struction will consist of lectures, demonstrations and practical repiir work*
Special attention will be ?iven to marneto and battery ifmition, carburetion,
transmission and uechinical adjustments* The tractor ef^uipment consists of
twenty-five machines, including, all standard types. Students may enter the
work Jan, 5, Jan, 19, Feb* 2, or Feb. 16, The tuition is, 2 weeks l5; 4 weeks
■:25; 3 weeks "40; 12 weeks 50; This covers all fees connected with the school
work, ri. booklet describin?; the farm tractor work in detail may be obtained by
writinp; to Bradley Institute, Peoria, Illinois," - J* S. Bikle,

Tractor School at the University was riven in i-essen^^er Vol. II No, 5l»
December 17, 1919.

New Assistant Advisers - Mr. L.arc F. Koenig who has been helping, Lr. Edrer-
ton since AU-ust 20, 1919 was officially employed December 1, 1919, as assistant
adviser in Rock Island County, I.:r, Koenic is a graduate of the Rock Island
High School, has had practical farm traininfr and has experienced about two year's
hard military duties overseas. He is takin'^ over a considerable share of the
duties and responsibilities v;hich have become increasingly heavy with the new
membership of 1055 ."lock Island County farmerso

The Knox County Farm Bureau has recently employed itrj_J.:_-_R_vl ar ch_an| of Free-
d'.m Station, Ohio, as assistant farm adviser for a three year period ber.innine
February 1, 1920. Lr. Lar chant graduated in Animal Husbandry at Iowa State Col-
lege in 1914 goin^ directly to the manafrement of a 1000 acre farm at i.ans field,
Ohio. Three years later he took up the ;aana?eaent of a larp;e farm at Y/heaton,
Illinois, which he left in the fall of I918 to ro into the arr.y, kr. Lar chant
is especially well qualified to assist in handlinr, the livestock problems in
Knox County,

Lr, V. J. Banter, of Owensville, Indiana, took up his work as assistant
adviser in Edrar County on December 31, 1919- i..r» Eanter will have char^;e of
County Club Work and other special projects,

Greek vs Greek, - "The Illinois H:^jicultural .association tried to put the
Farm Bureau Aut of business this week, when Harvey J, Sconce in his Cadillac
sfidan, struk the farm adviser's car amidships Christmas morninc, much to the
daraace tf the Ford, and inconvenience to the Cadillac. Fortunately no one was
3%ri«UGly injured." -Lumbrick, Vermilion County,

"In opite of the hi:-h price of clover seed, the farmers of this County are
rtlannin- on usine rather larro quantities this year. The farm bureaus are hand-
ling about twice as much seed as last year, altho the price is about double. "-
Isaacs, Lason County,

"Our trade mark is now on our front window finished in .;-reen and :old,
4x6 feet in size, so that everybody coinc by can locate us, and think about
clever as they go al»ong." - Gernert , ^Agar County. (The trade mark is a four-
leaf '-Irvp.r bearing the words, Limestone, Phosphate, Livestock and Legumes, on
the respective leaves,)

VOi.. IXi

W^T

/*' ^ • =^

:">LE.J\iINGS hP.qiv. ,-uJNU.>L REPORTS.

IroquoiG - "Firriers have bcpun to realize the possibilities of the Farm
Bureau as an or.Tanization that can do much for them beyond the production side
of their business." - V.ise.

DeKalb - "The -rcatest agricultural need of DeKalb County is the handlinrr
of livestock diseases." - Sckhardtv

DuPafTe - "Have been able to accomplish nore by publicity thru Farm and School
Bulletin than in any other way, in chan^-^in.r; crop conditions oi the County, "-Heaton

Grundy - '^,:uch of the Lost valuable work to raembers is rxradually takin"; the
ioriz of demonstrations and special projects*" - Lonrir.ire.

Ford - "One of the acute problems in "ord County arises out 0 : a set of
conditions common to much of the Illinois Corn belt, i.e. - Hip'.h land prices,
hij^h rents, hirh percent are of tenancy, considerable absentee landlordism and
the question of decreasing soil fertility, all operatinr at a time of falling
grain and livestock markets." - Hersman.

."/oodford - "If all farmers used seed as rood as that used by a few in each
neirhborhcod the incouc per acre vrould be increased from 5* "to '10," - luosher,

Crawford - "The sloran used on our Orchard Iruprovei.ient C.j:.paiai was 'Prune
the orchards or cut them dor.-n*'."- Lo-an.

Edwards - "The farmers are findin.: out that they an ?/ork t'orcther better
than they could before they were orranized," - Pollock,

Johnson - "The office consultations hive been one of the most effective
methods used by the farm bureau to render service to its members. Usually when
one is willing to come to the office for information, he is in a state of mind
to receive it." - LcGhee

Ivlarion - "One of the greatest needs of our County is rettinr, the farmers
to work to-ether co-operatively." - Blackburn,

Loultrie - "The farm bureau is ccminr to be recognized as the real or-an-
ization that speaks for the farmers and people look to it to handle farm pro-
blems." - Higrins,

Piatt - "The market inr problem is one which is attractin" the attention
nf the farmers very strongly, i.ost of them believe this problem can be solved
only by cooperation of farmers from all sections, who are interested in the
same character of farming. V.lthout exception, they favor the abolition of
speculation in farm crops, and desire only a market established honestly upon
a supply and demand basis. They do not favor the Government fixing prices." -
Eurwash.

Rock Island.- "'.'.'hile the functions of a farm bureau are to encoura.fre
every le-itimate interest of agriculture, there seem.s to be some fev/ that are
comin:; to stand out as hithly essential and important. T'hese have to do with
creanization of the buyin,^ and sellinr service of the farmers, "^oo lonr; have
we dv/elt on increased production and neglected better systems of market in >-.
Therefore, it has been the part of the Farm Bureau this year to push such or-
ganizations as would help make better markets for the farmers' produce and
demonstrate the fact that the farmers themselves are thoroly capable of con-
ducting a gre-it many enterprises that heretofore have been left to private
initiative." - Edgerton,

The Corn Growers' ^nd Stockmen's Convention, Jan, 19-30, at the U, of I
bids fair to be well attended according to .j.11 indications at the present
time.

A crowd is expected in Peoria at the annual moetin^^ of the Illinois
cultural association. Sure, we'll meet you there, January 13 and 14,

~ri-

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. Ill

January 14, 1920.

Mo,

Get Feed Prices Daily. "advisers and others have asked me for feed prices
from time to time. They will probably be interested in knowing that the Chicacro
Daily Drover's Journal is now giving reliable daily quotations on all of the
standard feeding stuffs on its grain and produce page." - J. W. ATiisenand,

The Illinois Fercheron Breeders' ri.ssociation will hold its annual meeting
January 23 in the Livestock Pavilion, University of Illinois.

Straighten River to Prevent

[loods. - on Thursday December 11, a meetin<^ of
Stoninfrton Community was held. On Friday a meetin,^ was attended at Illiopolis
where representatives from Lacon, Lenard, Sanr'.amon, and Christian Counties
talked of a plan to straif^hten and deepen the channel of the San^^amon River,
thus affording relief to -rich bottom lands nov valueless; a}.so better outlets
to drain the upland prairie." - Hay, Christian County,

Farmers* Elevators. - "The adviser assisted in a meeting at Berdan which vvas
called for the pur.^ose of organizing a Farmers' Co-operative Elevator. The move-
ment was well started and bids fair to succeed. I f successful this will be our
third farmers' elevator organized ulthin a year. One or two other communities
also seem ripe for such organizations. The Farmers' Elevators now show consider-
able interest in cooperating with the farm bureau in the purchase of liibestone,
phosphorous and seed grain. V/e, of course, welcome such cooperation." - Phillips,
Greene County,.

Soy Beans and Red Clover Seed 'jranted by n.dviser P. S. Richey, .-.ledo, 111.

Interest in Community Cooperation^- "The Farm Bureau metnbers in the neighbor-
hood of Pleasant Hill School district, 5 miles east of T-'OSSville have held two
meetings during the past week. These members are particularly interested in
getting some cooperative work started and are planning to ship some livestock
cooperatively and are also planning to buy some twine and flour in a similar
manner. The twine will probably be purchased thru a local dealer. They plan to
go to several dealers and get them to bid on certain amount of twine to be taken
off the car on reeeipt and settled for at that time. They think that they can
get better results perhaps than to try to buy elsewhere. They are also planning
to ship in a few cars of coal. This district is a long distance from any town
of any consequence and the cooperative feature has appealed very strongly to
them. ri. president and secretary-treasurer were elected at their meetin^r last
night and prospects look good for a tbriving community organization." - Lumbrick,
Vermilion County,

^-. 1^ u>
J-. M r-t

-C
-(->

•H

•a

>,
o
m

c
u
o
u

•H

■(->

C
O

0:1

o
c

E o
o

C E-

■H

+5 •

cd n

c
o

-p

3
O
XI

d
o

s
o
u

c
o
o

xs x>

.-J -H

W k>i <D

§ ^-g
O O '1^
£» fci ^
O XI
c; .-d 3
X O.

o.x>

Its o

i cu -P
w
3

u] o

cjl -p

x: d

£- -P

Cx3

>-
o

to ,

cr.

§g

S K

S 3

O H

O X

b- S
O

c
►J

(T.

» — 1

r-4

1 c

=«

H m

r-l

:a)

•

CT"

IH V-

iX3

"^ 1

h- 0

U) 0

,Ut CJ

'4-

r-{

r-l

C-

♦

•

;j "--

C-*

<X)

*.-

-1 c

i) t-

•0

.-4

H 0

•

>H 0

<■

CT'

r-t

c~-

r*-

•^

G-.

xs "£^

r-l XI

C-J

<T>

•

r-i

H t.-.

cr>

C7>

:>• 0

r— 1

r-l

w 0

r— 1

,-A

Ifl

•

0 V-

r~.

_) 0

r-l

-H

tJ 0

r-l

r-\

r-l

CN?

-H 'J

•

>X'

• O

cr.

cr>

■H V-

>- 0

-r .-

■— i c

r-l

-rH

>H V-

r-l
r-l

•-

in 0

<n u

»o

•

-4 <-

T5 U

CT>

CNJ

r-H

r-i

r-l

"r*<

.-H 0

•

0 0

cr>

■rt

■*

■^

•^

t^ ^

^■'',

-n

T»

0 -H

x; <- -p

—1

•■

+J 0 c

—

■H

(D sa

S rH

•

t^i

•

•0

*:i-

(ii

31;

s &

I-I

•C!

■n

r-l

■n r-l

-73

•n

I-I

d 0

>-<

^-C

E E

c c

•

u 0

t. •

u 0

0 ii:

0 w

0 ^'

ill

!■■
O

X
■P

14
o
o

0)
X

-p

3
U

C <o
d +J

.g §

>. r-l
O C

(0
-P -H

E
(-
O

d
X

■p

d i)
u X
•H -P

TJ
E

u
o
;-!
3

^^■. X
■H -p

<r- O

t:
o o

CO +J
Q
X -C

H o
-p
E

'age

No.

' GLEAinNGS FROIv; AVAUiiL R^.FQRT^S.

Peoria. - "The Farm Bureau is thoroly convinced that it is a mistake for us,
as an organization, to continue spendinp: our energy tovrard increasing production
and the quality of our produce, without attempting to answer the problem of mar-
keting," - Fedgcock,

Knoxt - "The fact is strongly impressed upon me that comnunity organization
put the Farm Bureau v.'ork on a much more stable foundation than it would be with-
out them. It is exceedingly helpful and encouraging to feel that the local men
are behind the movement and to secure the response that they give when called
on," - Eracker,

Henry » - "Some of our farmers should farm very industriously with a lead
pencil this winter, "Jhile we need more lime, phosphate, and legumes, we also
need more brain work." -

"The soil is fertile, prices have been good, and Henry County farmers are
becoming a bit careless of methods of procedure. There is a tendency to con-
gratulate ourselves on the success we have had rather than to consider carefully
whether we have done the best possible under prevailing conditions." •» Iviontgomery,

Eureau.- "Our active campaign against Canada Thistle has brought decided
results. The co-operation of the Farm Eureau and thistle commissioners have
been effective and by July 1, 1920, several tovmships will be thistle free," -
C, J« kanOt

Champaign,- "The conservation of our soil is of first importance. In fact,
this is our main project and others only work toward this end," - (Bathout,

Vermilion.-' "Durin^ the year, advice has been given by the Adviser on
practically every subject that can be thour'ht of relative to farm v;ork. Per-
haps the most attention has been given to the soils and crops problems, parti-
cularly planning crop rotations, •application of limestone, rock phosphate, and
some bone meal in the growing of more- legumes," - Lumbrick.

De'.Vitt - "The most encouraginc feature of the farm bureau is that the
farmers are taking a more active part themselves and are realizing the value of
the farm bureau movement more and more. They are taking hold of the work in a
much more systematic and business-like way, because they see that thru coopera-
tion much more can be accomplished. It is upon the farmers themselves that the
improvement of agriculture primarily depends," - Johnson.

Coles, - "a comnunity plan of organization would put a premium on the
county meeting and thus aid materially in the development of the Farm Eureau. "-
Thomas.

Clark - "The biggest job of the P^arm Eureau is to develop co-operation
among all farmers in producing better paying crops and marketing them success-
fully at a reasonable profit." - S. H. Walworth,

Saline - "One farm bureau member who held his own wool for sometime and
finally sold it separately, is quoted as saying: 'that on this deal alone he
gained enough by belonging to the farm bureau to pay his dues for several years'
and 'that he lost enough by not shipping in the wool pool to pay his dues for
another period of years.'" - Price,

®l|e Jxtmsum Messenger

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. Ill January 21, 1920. No. 3

The Farmers' Two VJeeks' Short Course started off Monday morning, January 19,
with a very much interested proup of farmers. . Ey Tuesday morning the registra-
tion had exceeded the 300 mark and was still climbing rapidly, nn ercellent pro-
gram of lectures, judging and practical class work is being carried oat. '^he par-
ticular fancy of any farmer can be satisfied, so completely does the work cover
the agricultural field. "Pears like 's if they' s goin* to* learn us most every-
thin' there is t' knov.- 'bout this new agriculture," was the verdict of Farmer
Sight Cylinder when interviewed by the Editor this morning,

A Special Lecture on "Seed Cleaning machinery Operation and Cost" will be
given during the short course by l..r. Peppard of The Peppard Seed Company of Kansas
City. Lr. Peppard is recognized as one of the ablest authorities on this sub-
ject. Ke will also talk to the farm advisers of Illinois on Tuesday, January 27,
at their meeting in Urbana,

Tractor Courses at the University are nearly filled up. Only two of the one
week courses are still open to registration. According to latest information,
there was still a chance to register for the courses beginning February l6 and^
February 23, all others being filled. (These courses are not in proeress during
t^e Stockholders' Convention January 19-30). The Farm : echanics Division now
has a battery of 15 different makes of tractors and 25 different makes of gas
engines. Luch interest is being taken in this valuable and practical instruction.

Off to the Short Course. "We have about twenty- five boys signed up ready to
go to the Short Course at the University- "Taese boys are going to leave in a
groui^ and I have made arrangements for them to room as close together as possible
while there. I feel that having these younr men go to the Short Course is one
of ts good things as I could do for the farming interests of the county." -
Tate, iuonroe County,

?;eeping the Profits at Kome. January 14 was the annual stockholders* meetinr
of the Stronghurst J^rmers' Co-operative Elevator Company. This is one of the
most successful elevators of the county. They are able to pay their stockholders
this year, a cash dividenti of 14)^. The dividenli checks were all made out and
pinned to the Jnited States flag and hung in the farm bureau office window, with
the banner above as follows: 'We believe in keeping the profits at home,' St^on?--
Stronghurst Grain & a.erchandise Company Stockholders^" - i..iner, Henderson f!ounty.

"Two days were devoted to F^rm Management Schools conducted by l.r- Rauch-
enstein. One of these schools was held at La Prairie, January 8 and the other
at Liberty, January 9. "Tie attendance at each of these places was about 30,
and a great deal of interest was shown in keeping accounts. I.any questions
were asked vriith reference to the reporting of the Income Tax." - Gougler, Adams <^(.

Vol. Ill Page 2 Mo. 3

"Will the Demand for Eoars Decrease? - Last fall we had a surplus of boars.
This v/as due to the increased demand for, and the inflated price of, breedin.R
stock during the past few years, ''ith last fall's sales in mind, many see little
encouragement in saving a crop of boar pigs this year. I f it v/ere not for the
fact that many men had considerable amounts of money tied up in the game, there
might even -ibe a shortage of boars next fall. ' ith pork production returning to
a normal basis, we will undoubtedly see the older breeders saving a smaller num-
ber of boar pigs and many new ones discontinuing the practice altogether." -
John B, Rice.

"Tankage for Ho^s Following Steers. - Hogs that follow steers usually do
not get all of the corn which they can eat. For this reason their tankage
should be fed in limited amounts rather than as they may eat it from z. self-
feeder. One-third of a pound of tankage per head daily is a sufficient amount
for hogs following steers. Fogs that are not also self- fed their corn may
consume from one-half to one and one- fourth pounds of tankage per head daily
from feeders." - John B, Rice.

Illinois Activities Over-Reach into Iowa.- "A meeting was held in Drury
Township, January 8th for the purpose of organizing a Farmers' Co-operative i;ie-
vator for the people in that community. Since there is no convenient shipping
point for these people on the Illinois side, they do their shipping from i..usca-
tine, Iowa; therefore, this elevator must be located in . uscatine and organized
under the Iowa Co-operative net. A desirable site for this elevator has
been located, the temporary officers elected and they are now ready to sell stock.
They expect to erect an elevator modern in all respects, h number of i uscatine
business men are enthusiastic boosters of this elevator." - Edgerton, Rock Island
County.

"During the membership campaign we are keeping an extra stenographer. She
starts to work at noon and comes back in the evenin?: and works from 7 until 10
o'clock. In this way we keep all the records up to date, working a complete re-
cord of all those who signed up during the day, those not at home and those who
refused and these lists are checked off against the total list of farmers in
the tov/nships. Ey doing this we check up on each farmer in the township." -
Peoria County, Hedgcock.

"The plan of sendin? 2 men into each tovmship the very next day after the
membership campaign in that township, to see men v;ho were not at home or were
missed, is meeting with good results in Feoria County," says Adviser Hedgcock.

New Adviser in Jersey County. - "The Jersey County Farm Bureau has decided \ |.I
to employ L.r. R. L, Eyman as Farm Adviser in Jersey County to succeed : r. C, E, i\
V;heelock, who resigned on account of the condition of his health, kr. Eyman ex-
pects to begin work February 1- He was brought up in Adams County, Illinois, j
attended the 'Vestern Mormal School and afterwards graduated from the University [^
of Illinois, i^r. Eyman vras head of the Department of Agriculture in the Kent [^
State Normal College in Ohio for three years, and succeeded Mr. kadded' as head ^
of a similar department in the Illinois State Mormal at Iloomington. i'^

"The vlO.GOO limit on the amount that can be loaned in Farm Loan Associations ;
makes this loan unpopular with many farmers for the reason that they need larger
loans." - Richards, Kane County. (So reported by Kankakee and'other counties.) -j'

Lonroe County Cows Won't Lack for Sweets. - "We received another carload of

molasses. This makes the third carload we delivered to our members." - Tate.

TTf irn n

Vol. Ill

hage 3

^LEnTIIN'S FROL A.NNU.'vL REPORTS.

No. 3

Ihelb^ - -cur farmers reco.-nize more than ever before the need of closer co-
operatxon to look after their ov.-n interests. " - Felting.

Union__- -nve feel that the farm bureau is now on a firm basis and that its
permanency is assured. e note a distinct chon-e in the confidence of farmers
since orpanizms," - Durst.

.Randolph - "Demand for chinch-buf^ resistant corn v/as -ood, with consider-
aoie demand from other counties. Democrat corn a-ain proved itself the most
reliable corn to ,3rQw here. One man near Sparta reports a yield of nearly 50 bushel^
; /'^'"!.°^ Democrat corn, over most of the county the crop was a failure^ due
to drouth and ch inch -bugs. • - Doerschuk.

■2li2till|on - "A bi- problem facing the farmer today, is the labor situation,
r-unareds of farm lads have left the field for the factory. The farmers' sons are
_oing to tovm. i.ore farm sales have been held the past fall than for years. The
farm labor problem is a serious one. Some possible help for the situation ma^
^e the following: Greater use of machineiy and labor savincr practices such a^
.^oggin.- down corn and self feeding of farm animals; a real endeavor to make farm
life more attractive to the boy and ?irl. ^o this end, club -vork should be en-
couraged to give every boy and girl a greater interest in the farm life." -
Baumeister,

LaSalle - "A most effective form of co-operation in use here is the protect-
ive association. One or more townships organize and incorporate to protect game,
v;iid fowl and birds; to create a game preserve and to prohibit treapassin? upon
tne farm lands of members, .^nother form of co-operative enterprise carried out
in the county is that of ^ownship Farm Lutuil Insurance, whereby the farmers are
insursng against loss by fire and lightning. There are 14 companies in the county
ranging m territory covering from 1 to 7 tovmships each." - Lrooks.

^ - "All thru the four years of work it has been the policy to conduct
Dranch office meetings, especially since many of the members are not within easy
reach of the office at .-jnboy. It is usually possible to hold one branch office
meeting m a to^mship, or at least in different parts of the county within reach
of every member." - Griffith.

Kankakee - "One phase of the work that stands out to me as well worth while
is the erection of the phosphate bins over the county. T^ese bins are fin-Jiced
by members of the association thru their local organizations and the plants are
so located that 90;^ of the farmers of the county can go to one of these bins v/ith-
out traveling over four miles." - Collier.

Bond and Schuyler Or^^anize.

r-ond County held their permanent organization meetinr January 3rd. Schuyler
County organized January 8. Bond has over 3C0 members and chuyler 338, Foth
counties took membership in the Illinois Agricultural .^ssociation. This brings
the list of Illinois counties organized up to the 78 mark.

Beg Pardonl Unfortunately v;e omitted to say that Dr. Burlison prepared the
Item on "Yield of Corn and Soybeans" in last week's issue of the Messen^^er.

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. Ill

January 28, 1920,

No. 4

These are ^^reat .iaysl The Farm advisers' annual Conference at Urbana is
inese are nj c-^'r._ _ y_?.- tviptp -^tp manv happy -reetin'^.s,

in full swmr. Nearly every man is on the jod. .here ^'^\'^^"^ '^^[^^^^g^
many joyful smiles and a lot of joking as we come and eo, ^^ J^f^^J^^^^^'^ter.
^haps are a serious minded lot, alert to the advancement of ^^^^;^f "^f^J/^^'i!^,
ests and true to the v;ants and needs of that Farm Bureau back home. Let s ,,ive
*em an Oskee-wow-wowt

..A very enthur.astic and interest.in^me^tin£ was held on Wednesday. December

^:%:;rrih:rSLrh:s^b::J^;ccLpI.lh^urin. the month or^^e^eetin. in^

his special line. .. ■^eneral plan of work for the f/^^^^/f^^^^^^^^^'eau meetings
was mapped out for the couin. year. This ..-as one ^of the best farm
ever held in Edwardsville." - Haberkorn, liaaison ..ouuty.

Cont.oU.n. S..,^P»^, - - a.e .^^^ our ---^i^-J-.r^
swine plague is proving very effect.^o. V.e ti'^^ ^'^ irasru-h as the ve--^8-incrians
responsive to the assistance that is ^^J-.^f^^^r^'^^Sera rather than treatment
have been exclusively reccmmendm;^, vaccination fo. cnoiera
for 'flu'." - Richey, Leroer County.

..Four days each_wP.k are spent in branch offices -^/-J/trSe'rs'cIn be
results-have follow^. 1 believe at ^^-^^^^^/^^.f .fmake fam visits." -
reached thru branch offices than by makin- an effort
Snyder, Offle County.

. A -.o Trp are plannin- our demonstration meetings this
■■Tt Pays to ..dver_.: se, - .'e are plannin ,,,„,ed that the State

year on a larger scale from last. We ""ll^f^J^'l^^^^,. 3t.ould be care«iilly planned,
Leader is ri^ht in saying that a demonstration -^etin s^ ^^^^^^^^ ^_^_^^ ^^^^

well advertised, and --^ J -n^^^e?-". !hoSl be put on in a county so that

that enough of these

¥e expect

;;mething^worth while will ^^ ^^^f^tJ^l^: ^'^^^^^^^^^' ^^-

to pay out more money this year for prir :er s

we have done heretofore." - Kendall. Lorgan County.

"Our experience

ShoTt.Course.N_ot„S,^cc^^^^^^^ be discon

with short courses-i^ this county was such xhat they P

tlnued." - Lumbrick, Vermilion County.

• . ..nur efforts have been devoted chiefly to farm visits,
Livingston - "Our eiiorxb i.a work." - Allison.
Ith the people, the county, and the ..orK.

■ettins

acquainted

Vol. Ill

Fage 2

No,

"The Red Top situation wa.s discussed at a recent ii^eetinp; and it v;as decided
to orra»iize a Red Top Association at the annual meeting of the Farm Bureau. There
are a number of men mtereste'^ in practically nothin<T but Red Top growinp;, who
are influential men in the county, and we believe if v/e can organize a success-
ful association for them, v/e will <5et them to take more interest in Farm Bureau
work and in time get them to be interested in phases of farmini^, other than the
growinp of Red Top." - Blackburn, Larion Courty.

I.:onroe County Fariiiers Learning Value of 1-urebreds - "I am certainly pleased
with the interest .vhich is beinr taken in better live stock thruout the county.
In one community every member nov/ has at least one registered Holstein and most
of them have two or three. One of my members recently purchased a V/hi'o Leghorn
cockeral whose dam has an ef;^ record of 278 e^;-^s. Another member bouf^ht a barred
Plymouth Rock cockeral, whose dam has an ei^g record of 256 ef:gs. In the last two
or three weeks about fi fteen redstered ho-Ts were bou.-ht by members. One member
has just received a registered ram and two registered Shropshire ev'ss. These
are not only registered, but very hx^Jn class individuals • This makes ::.e feel
rather rood when I think that v/hen I camehere there v/ere only two or three rep'is-
tered animals in the whole county." - Tate, konroe County.

"The Cow Testings y/ork m LcHenry County has been re-oreanized. One cow test-
ing association has been organized to take care of all cow testin-: work in the
county. In addition to the President, Secy-Treas. a director was elected from
each territory doin.;: testing work. Each tester will do the testin,;^ work for t"'enty-
six farmers making detailed reports to the farmers and a general summary of work
to the Testing Association, Seventy farmers have made application for testing
association v/ork. Each memuer pays O'iS, per year. The assistant adviser '.7ill
have direct charge of the project." - Gafke, KcHenry County,

Success in Treatm&nt for Cuntarious i^bortion. "Our local veterinarian, Dr,
Harry Caldwell, located at V-hieaton, has had vory good success in treating some of
our pure bred cattle for sterility trouble and conta'^ious abortion. He has done a
rood deal of clinical work with Dr. Williams of New York and in follov^fing up Dr.
Williams' work has been very successful. I persuaded him to discuss these problems
at the Annual keeting of the Farm ridvisers at Champaign in January. This is quite
a vital question in parts of the state in the breeding of pure bred cattleand
there is yet a great deal to be worked out along this line. I feel that the .
Advisers are very fortunate in being able to find out what one veterinarian has
done and is doing along this line." - Heaton, DuPare County.

Four feeding demonstrations in dairy cattle were held in karion County with
the help of kr, E. L- Clark of the University. The attendance was very '^ood con-
sidering the exceedingly cold weather. One of our ."reatest problems here is -et-
ting enough feed or the proper kind of feed for dairy cattle, I believe a number
of our dairy farmers found out . at these meetings that they will have to devote
more attention to the Trov/ing of proper ki d of feeds. One of the greatest things
needed is the growing of legume hay and some silage crop which will insure silage.
A number of the men will try sun-flowers next year on a part of their ground.
It has been satisfactorily demonstrated that sun- flovrers can be used as a silage
crop and it is thought that they will be a more certain crop than anything else
we can grow v/hile v;e have so many chinch bugs." - Blackburn.

"Sunflower seed has more than twice as much digestible protein and more than
four tii,es as i::uch digestible fat, as has corn." -

Vol. Ill

Page 3

No. 4

GLEArJINGS FROiw H.NKUAL REPORTS

Lake - "jiltho Lake County is almost an exclusive dairy county we have plenty
of farmers that are still milking scrub cows that do not pay for their feed,
dairymen who buy more feed than they produce, and others who can think and farm
only in terms of Tiilk," -

"The development of lodal and cornty wide committees that are neces-
sary in taking care of a large ;aembership must be pushed as soon as possible," »
Watkins-

Will - "I feel safe in saying that 'A'ill County has had more favorable public-
ity over the county at larqe because of the Shorthorn Association and ?alethan
it has had in an aT.ricultural v^ay from any other source," - Hedecock.

Qgle - "At the county fair v:e took charre of the livestock department and
also had a Farm Bureau exhibit on the rrounds. We are also working vdth the Fair
Association to secure a livestock pavilion on the prounds." - Snyder.

kcHenry - "V/ith our organization closely associated with other organizations
in the county we can carry on the work both educationally and financially for the
interest of the farmer. The National Farm Loan Association will take care of the
man who needs money to improve his farm or to purchase the farm, the Cow Testing
Association will help the farmer who ?/ishes to find out whether his cows are pro-
fitable or unprofitable, and lastly, the Seed Association, which is now iinder way,
will take care of the general business needs of the members of the ors;ani2ation."-
Gafke-

McLean - "Ten Saturday afternoon meetings were held from December 1st to
February 28, 1919, v.'ith an attendance of 460." - Center.

Kane - "There is threat need for helpin;; our farmers with farm management
problems. The farm accounting work needs to be extended to the point where every
farmer is keeping a record of his farm business." - Richards.

Warren - "The keystone and strength of the v/hole Farm Bureau movement must
be a spirit of cooperation, a desire for improvement. To this must be added a re-
gard for the rights of other men and other business, coupled v/ith a vision of the
wonderful possibilities o f an agriculture honestly organized for its ovi-n develop-
ment." - Wells.

Henderson - "The executive committee has had considerable influence in pre-
venting fake stock salesmen from carrying on their business in Henderson County#
It is poor business for the farmer to borrov/ money to invest in any stock selling
scher^e. He had better use his money for improveirients on his ovm farm." - iiiner.

Mercer - "Realizing the great need o obtainin." nitrogen at the least ex-
pense, the increased use of all legumes wi;. 1 be ur'^ed and stimulated by means of
demonstrations, news letters, bulletins, and special meetings. The results of
former years of vrork shov/ an increase of l5 to 30/0 in yield of corn due to the use
of clover. Soy beans have resulted in an increase of 10 to l5/= in the yield of
_corn." -

"For the elimination of fusarium, iemonstrations have been held in
diseased fields, and winter mectincs are planned in which -^ermination boxes will
be shov-Ta 4rith diseased and disease resisting seed grown." - Richey.

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of tiic Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. Ill

February 4, 1920.

No. 5

Douglas County Orpanized. - The number of organized Farm Bureaus in Illinois
were increased to 78 when on January 26, 1920, Douglas County joined the ranks
-with 384 charter members, the permanent organization was formed, and prominent,
progressive farmers were chosen as officers and executive committeemen. It is
an interesting fact that eight of the nine men in these important positions
were former students in the University of Illinois. It is expected that an ad-
viser will be employed in the near future.

The Marshall-Putnam Farm Bureau has secured the services of Mr. F. E. Fuller
as farm adviser. Mr. Fuller lived on a farm in Henry County until about grown
and then went to Kansas where he farmed for six years, lir. Fuller graduated
from the Kansas Agricultural College and also from the Iowa State College. He
later farmed four seasons in Idaho. During the summer of 1917 he acted as
county agent in Montana. At the present time he is doing extension work in
Agronomy and also holds the title of Assistant State Leader* It is expected
that Mr. Fuller will begin work about February 20,

the Will County Farm Bureau has employed Mr. J. Franklin Hedgcock, brother
of Adviser Hedgcock of Peoria, as successor to Ur» P, R. Lisher, who expects
to devote his time to his farm in Iowa. i^r. Hedgcock was brought up on a farm
In Schuyler County, graduated from the University of Illinois, farmed for a
year after graduation, then taught agriculture in the State Hi^ School at
Albert Lea, Linnesota, and has served as county agent there for the past year.
He began work on January 16. The Will County Farm Bureau has recently been re-
organized and the prospects for th© future of the work there, are very bright,

Mr. J. W. VJhiseoand commenced his duties as Assistant 5^rm Adviser in Iro-
quois County, Febriiary 1.

The Annual Advisers' Conference held in Urbana, January 27th, 28th and 29th
seems to have been very helpful if wemay judge from the comments of the men at-
tending. The Illinois advisers were present almost to a man. A number of promi-
nent authorities addressed the conference on very timely topics and no one could
afford to miss it. This item doesn't begin to do the meeting justice nor even
mention that fine banquest - lim-Boy!

Well Represented. "DuPage County, and especially the town of Wheaton, was
well represented at the Peoria meeting. The list included D, 0. Thoir.psoQ, C. V.
Gregory, Herman Steen, A. C. Page, E. L. Bill, and myself, all from 'A'heaton;
Ed Peterson, Lombard; D. 0. Sayer, Bartlett; and John Lamson, Hinsdale. "Shen
any of the farm advisers retire I suggest that they move to Wheaton. If they
do, they can easily keep in touch with what is going on thruout Illinois, agri-
culturally." - Heaton,

Vol. Ill Page 2 No. 5

"Should sows or ^ilts which have been bred for sprin;; farrow be p:iven the
double treatmont for hop: cholera?"

"Yes, z^fthere is danger of cholera. Immune sows are an asset, and provide
a limited degree of protection against cholera to the pigs while nursing. The
danger of treating pregnant sows is sliphtt and practically no ill results should
be experienced providing the animals are healthy. A potent serum and virus, a
careful operator, together with help to handle the animals quietly, are the
essentials. Pigs from immune dams should be immunized ten to twenty days fol-
lowing weaning. The value of rotating feed lots and pastures, disinfection of
houses, together with measures for the elimination of lice and worms need be
emphasized in controlling swine diseases.

Request poster issued by Extension Division if 'cure-all* remedies are
being exploited in your county." -. Dr» Robert Graham, Professor in Animal Patholog;

Sunflower Silage. - "We have always considered sunflowers for silage to be
only a sort of make shift or substitute for corn to be used when for any reason
corn could not be grown. However, from the results reported by C. l^* Rollins,
Murjhysborc, sunflower silage deserves higher rating. Mr» Rollins secured a
much higher yield per acre from sunflower than from corn and this is not all*
He reports that his cows actually gave more milk when he changed from the corn
silage to that made from sunflowers.

At any rate it seems well for any one, especially in the chinch bug region
to prepare to plant a patch of sunflowers for silage»" - Thomas, Jackson County.

Sunflower Seed, "Yife have sold to date over 13C0 pounds of sunflower seed
and a part of my time this week has been taken in getting this divided and dis-
tributed. There are a great many farmers who are going to try growing sunflowers
for silage." - Blackburn, Marion County^

Limestone Situation. - "Everything has been done that could be done to reach
a satisfactory agreement with the limestone producers relative to output on
price for 1920. While some progress has been made there are still a good many
obstacles to overcome. The limestone committee appointed by the Illinois Agri-
cultural Association and the Farm Advisers' Association, has worked hard to
bring about a satisfactory agreement with the producers and still hopes to ac-
complish something, but it will require more time. In the meantime, we trust
the farm bureaus will 'fit tight' and lend us their moral support and coopera-
tion. If we will all work together the committees^ feel that much can be
accomplished whether or not we shall be able to get all that we had hoped to
get.

The farm bureaus will be kept advised as to the progress of the negotia-
tion." - J. E. Readhimer.

"It requires no more bushels of corn to buy a bushel of clover seed than it
did before the war. In December 1915, it took 22.8 bushels of com to buy one
bushel of Toledo Prime red clover seed. In December 1919, on the same basis of
figuring, it took exactly the same 22.8 bushels of corn to buy one bushel of
clover seed," - Iwosher, Woodford County,

Adopt Budget System.- "The treasurer of the Sangamon County Farm Bureau an-
nounced at their annual meeting on January 21st that they had decided to adopt a
budget system. This is an excellent idea and indicates that the farm bureaus are
adopting modern methods in the handling of their business," - G. N, Coffey.

^mi

Vol. Ill

Page 3

No. 5

GLEANINGS FROM ANNUAL REPORTS

Christ jam - "With the iar';'e membership, one of the first things to be done
this winter is the organization of all communities. This county is divided into
19 communities, and the membership for the county has increased from 476 to 1582,"
Hay.

Menard - "Community organizations have been developed along conservative
lines, allowing people to make known their wants rather than to urge upon them
something entirely uncalled for," ~ Wilder

Hancock - "The Board of Directors and Executive Coipiittee have been very
active in the work of the organization. The Executive Committee and the Board of
Directors had entire charge of the extensive exhibit put on at the county fair,
the management of which created auch favorable comment," - Lloyd»

Adams County in speaking of office consultations, states: "The placing
of the office, in a new and more accessible location has had a great influence
on this phase of the work," - Gougler.

Greene - "The plan for an office day once a week, with v^iich we started out
no longer seems sufficient for taking care of the demands whida are now made on
the Farm Bureau office. Farm visits we believe, however, have been the means of
rendering our best service^" - Phillips,

Morgan - "At first, the callers in the office came to get acquainted, now
the majority come for some specific service," - Kendall,

Sangamon - "Because of the increased number of members it has been necessary
for the adviser to spend a large portion of his time in the office, making only
such calls on the members as were reijuested, and spending only such time in the
field as is necessary to keep in touch with farming conditions," - Madden,

Tazewell - "Some effort has been made to induce farmers' elevators 'companies
tosell limestone in a retail way. The use of limestone on all areas except the
black clay loam and river bottom soils needs encouragement. The largest stimulus
to the increased use would be supplies of stone on hand. The farmers' elevator
is the logical handler of the limestone in less than carload lots. Same is true
of phosphate," - Starr.

Macoupin - "Ten demonstration meetings were held in #iidn we discussed the
feeding of beef cattle and dairy cattle, the use of limestone and phosphate, the
culling of farm flocks of poultry, the locating and burning of chinch bug areas
and the treatment of wheat and oats for smut<." - Miller,

Mason - "Farm Loan Association has been organized and placed on a working
basis. This association has been organized in the past but the federal appraiser
refused to make loans on sand lands, but the Federal Land Bank has reconsidered
this action and sent an appraiser who is willing to make loans on the sandy land
on west side of county." - Isaacs,

McDonough - "A tractor demonstration in v*iich l8 tractors were entered to
determine their fuel economy and quality of plowing, was conducted near Macomb
in cooperation with the Macomb Commercial Association on August 6 and 7, From
4000 to 5000 people attended this demonstration." - Doneghue.

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. Ill

February 11, 1920.

No. |6

Conference a Valuable Onfc. "After having a little time to think over the
conference v;hich v/as held at Urbana, I have come to the conclusion that it was
a highly profitable one,

Vi/hen one o f the representatives .• f the American Press Association was speak-
ing on publicity, an illustration of the value of publicity came to my mind.
Last spring a farn>.-r came into the office and asked if he could become a member
of the farm bureau. He was on the point of signing the agreement when he noticed
that the membership fee was •'JlO, He said 'This is too much,'"' and left the
office v/ithout joining. Sometime during: November he came into the office again
aind said to me, 'You have never been near my farm, and yet you did me a service
that v.'as worth around $300, in cold cash. A situation arose on my farm and
it occurred to me that you had an article in the Galesburg paper covering this
situation. I found the article and acted on the suggestion given in it, with
the result that it meant a saving of around ■'i^SOO. to me.' Needless to say, he
is now a member." - Bracker, Knox County,

"The roads have been almo at impassable this 'r/eek which made it a fortunate
time for us to be at the Urbana meet :..ng<,~ Since returning from that, v;e had one
good live account book school whi',;h requested a follow-up meeting a week later,
on pruning demonstration, and a township committee meeting which laid plans
for organizin?^ a farmers'" elevator company to take over three independent ele-
vators." - Brooks, LaSalle County.

Illinois is no Place__for G'^psm. - "A Plaster Company has offered to send
gypsum to two fariiiers for tr:.al":.':: this county. They make this offer thru a
local lumberman, who haniles their stuff. The It-^aberman asked the adviser to
recommend the farmei-s vn.o would make the best trial of the gypsum. The adviser
recommended that the l.'jiberman refuse to handle the land plaster in viewof the
fact that it is a stia-Mlait to the soil and has no part in the Illinois System
of Permanent Soil Fertj.lity. The lumberman assented to the recommendation," -
Hersman, Ford Coui-.xy.

An mini Club P^'cposed.- "Letters have been sent out to each person who
has attended at least one year at the University of Illinois to meet in the
farm bureau office Wednesday evening of next week for the purpose of organizing
an mini Club if they so desire." - Kercher, Pike County.

Held this V/eek.- "A Live Stock Shipping Association Meeting was held this
week at Tiskilwa. There v/ere 75 present and they formed an association also
elected officers and have everything ready for work." - Mann, Bureau County.

Splendid Local Leetings.- "V^e have been having good tovmship meetings,
with a good attendance and much enthusiasm." - Collier, Kankakee County,

Vol, III

Page 2

No. 16

Carroll County begins V/ork - Lr. G. R. Bliss, the new County Farm Adviser
for Carroll County took up his duties the first of February. He comes from
Scott County, Iowa, v^here he has been County Agent for seven years, lir. Bliss
was reared on an lo^m farm, is a graduate of Io?;a State College and also holds
an K. S. degree from that institution. His new headquarters will be Mt. Carroll,
Illinois.

New Assistant Advisers. - Mr-. Leonard A. Hammond o f Warsaw has been employed
as assistant adviser of La son County, He will take up his duties the middle of
February, kason County Farm Bureau will locate in new offices in the near future
in order to take care of the rapidly increasing amount of v/ork.

"Mr. W. Floyd Keepers has just been employed as assistant farm adviser for
Grundy County. Mr. Keepers has just finished his agricultural training for his
degree this semester at the University of Illinois and v/ill start work February
10. Ivlr. Keepers is a practical man, having bcc-n reared on a farm and has ex-
perienced numerous types of work that will be o f value in this position. He is a
Grundy County product. He and his trin brother enlisted in the air service during
the war and they were ready to go *Over There* when the Armistice was signed,"
Longmire, Grundy County.

Monroe County will have an assistant adviser in the near future* I1r» C. T«
Huf ford expects to take up his new duties there April 1, or possibly sooner,
Mr. Huf ford graduated in agriculture at the University of Illinois in 19l6.
Since that time and for nearly a year and a half before graduation, he assisted
in Soil Survey work in Illinois excepting the time he spent in the Service.
Monroe County is the first county in southern Illinois to employ an assistant.

LcLean County has employed t^r. Harrison F. Fahrenkopf as assistant adviser.
Mr. Fahrnkopf graduated in Agriculture at the University of Illinois in 1913 and
since that time has been assisting in the work relative to the management and
control of the Illinois Experiment Fields. He is at present Associate in Soil
Fertility, University of Illinois, He will take up his new duties in kcLean
County in the very near future.

Feeder Pigs for Sale. VJe hold a letter from Lir. 0. Rudesill of Gilkerson,
Ark., telling of a carload of feeder-hogs for sale. Some are borrows, some
sows and some pigs v/eighing from 20jf to 150;^. These are of Poland-China breed-
ing from a registered sire and are in good health. Any one interest may writ^
hr, Rudesill direct referring to letter to University of Illinois.

A New Home for the Lacon County Farm Bureau. - A new garage building has
been secured and is to be fitted up in modern fashion for offices for the
county agent and his assistants, and a corr.iortable rest and reception room will
be installed for women. The rear room will be arranged for farm bureau meet-
ings and live stock sales. The building will accommodate about 500 farmers.

"Our exchange list is beginning to show results.- The last one brought tel-
egrams and long distance calls from other counties in the state where clover
seed was needed. Though the organization is nevj the members are showing a great
deal of interest in and are making free use of these exchangelists which are
now being published once a month.

If road conditions permit, a regular schedule of branch office visits v/ill
be tried out as in this way it is thought that many more farmers will get in
touch with the work that if farm visits v/ere depended upon more at this time of
the year." - Brovm, Stark County.

Vol. Ill

Page 3

No. 6

GLEANINGS FROIi ANNUAL REPORTS.

Cass - "Sweet clover has been grovTn on several of the loess hills, and two
trials made under the direction of the farm bureau has shown that this crop is
best to reclaim this type of soil which has previously produced nothing but pover-
ty grass. A total of 1?60 tons of limestone and 360 tons of rock phosphate has
been ordered thru the farm bureau for the soils of Cass County since February 1,
1919." - Dickenson.

Eacon - "The greatest agricultural need of Lacon County is the maintenance
and increase of fertility of the soil. The agricultural council adopted a pro-
gram for working out these needs and included in their program the development
of the live stock industry in order that a larger amo'ont of grains and roughages
may be consumed on the farms thereby leaving more of the fertility on the land
than would be the case if the crops v/ere removed directly." - Smith,

Fulton - "With proper community o^gemization it should be possible to con-
trol contagious diseases among live stock in a manner never before undertaken," -
kiner.

Jackson - "Fruit Gro-.7ing. Luch of Jackson County is admirably adapted to
fruit growing. This branch of afpriculture has been greatly extended this year
and there is promise of still greater extension during 1920, This will be a
great thing for Jackson CoLinty and will transform a great expanse of lov/ valued
lemd into valuable, high income-producing property. It is the duty and expecta-
tion of the Farm Bureau to assist in this enterprise by encouraging the use of
proper varieties, correctly planted, fertilized, .pruned, sprayed, and cultivated.
Then will arise the need for cooperation in marketing." - TJiOmas,

Montgomery - "A chinch bug burning campaign was carried on in the southern
part of the county during the first part of the year. Alt ho' conditions were very
unfavorable for burning, quite a large area was burned over. The greatest num-
ber of these bugs v;ere found in rubbish along hedges, fences, ditch bsinks, and
timber. It has been found that 75 per cent of the bugs can be destroyed by burn-
ing." - Snyder,

t.;onroe - "Need of Education Greatest. Soon after starting v;ork in the county,
the adviser felt that one of the most urgent needs of the co'Jnty was education
and he believed that the quickest and best means of procedure was to try to
get the people to establish commujiity high schools in different parts of the
c§imty. The Farm Bureau started to agitate the community high school proposition
in every way possible. As a result, I think there will be at least three community
high schools established in the county, all of which will give a strong course in
both domestic science and agriculture. This 'sill mestn much toward agricultural
education," - Tate

Effingham - "The Farm Bureau has always been alert to put in a good word of
encouragement for better feeding, using of better bred sires, and better care of
live stock as well as the use of home grown feeds as much as possible." - Rucker

Clinton - "We consider that the biggest need of the county at the present
time, and during the next five years perhaps, will be the adoption of a more
evenly balanced and a better, sounder, and more diversified system of fanning,
and that the biggest job of the adviser is to plan such a system and get the
county to adopt it. In other v;ords, the greatest need is Farm Management." -
Rehling,

Vol. Ill

l^k lExteusimt ilHessiniga-

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

February l8, 1920

.vO//*.

(Cartoon copied courtesy- 0- J- Farmer)

No. 7.

Oh %'here did he come fron?

This little Bug Flu
And hov/ shall we kill him?

Oh what C;:in vie do?

He upsets our plans
And puts us to bed

And robs all our strength
And chokes up our head.

He brinn;s pecks of trouble
And much sorrow too

But how can we stop him
This little Bu- Flu?

Influenza prevalent over State. The follovdnr are only a few of the items
telling of the troubles occasioned in county advisory work by this disease.

"It was necessary to postpone all me'.tinrs planned for this week on account
of the influenza quarantine in the various tovms. I was ill with influenza dur-
ing the entire week." - Lloyd, Hancock County.

"On account of an epideraic of influenza in our county we have cancelled all
meetings for the next week." - pollock, Edwards County.

'Bad roads and a most serious Flu Epidemic are a rreat handicap to the
work." - deWerff, Franklin County.

"The Flu situation has been rather serious in outlying districts in Pike Coun-
ty during the past week. ^ In some cases all meetings are prohibited." - Kercher,

A short course in j.^arketin;:- for livestock shipping association managers and
county agents is to be held in chica,;o February 17th and l8th and another in East
St. Louis, National Stock Yards on March 9th and 10th. A very valuable program
is being arranged for these meetini^.s. Some of the best authorities will lead the
discussion in the methods of handling, sorting and weichin.; of cooperative ship-
ments; the grading of market classes of cattle, ho^s and sheep; prevention and
collection of railroad claims; protective pointers for cooperative livestock
shippers and other subjects relative to the problem of cooperative association
management. The Chicago meeting will convene at 9 A. K. February l7th at the Of-
fice of the U. S. Bureau of Markets, Administration Building, Union Stock Yards.

Will County is preparing for real service. At the last regular Executive
Committee meeting, definite steps were taken to employ an assistant county ad-
viser, new office equipment has been purchased and a third room added to the of-
fice space.

Vol. Ill

Paee 2.

No. 7-

"lnocul.it in r^ Legumes" as discussed by adviser vValv/orth of Clark County. "A
f.ood many people are makinfr plans to sow sweet clover and soybeans xn the springs
Remember that where these have not been 'trown before and where soil is not natural-
ly inoculated as on overflow land, inoculation must be supplied for best results.
The most satisfactory method seems to be vjh-at is called the "kuddy Water Lethod."
FIRST: Secure- soil from around the roots of the kind of plant to be inpcu-
lated. Sweet clover can be found alone roads or waste places in many parts of the
County or nlfalfa soil can be Uted for sweet clover. This soil should be dried at
room temperature to handle nicely and then screened thru about l/lO mesh screen.

SECOND: Put into a paxl or sprinkling can equal parts of water and inoculated
soil (a little more soil than water works very well) and stir to :i;ake a smooth
muddy paste,

THIRD: Pour out the seed into a wash tub or tifht box.

FOURTH : Pour the muddy paste over the seed and with sleeves rolled up work
it with the hands till each seed has a coatin? of dirt. If they are still moist,
sprinkle a little dry dirt to take up the v.'.oisture.

The principal precaution in this method is to be sure and have the ri^ht kind
of soil from a field that is inoculated,"

Another Associate Adviser for Knox County

In addition to Mr. Lloyd Har chant,

dviser in Knox County on February 1st, Adviser Bracker

who beran 'j.'ork as Associate

is to have still more help after l.iarch 1st 7/hen Mr. Ralph E. Arnett will take up

his duties as Associate adviser, Lr. .:vrnett is a farm trained man, as well as a

graduate from Purdue University (1914) where he also received his L'.aster's Degree

in Animal Husbandry. Since 1917 he has been county at^.ent in Hendricks County,

Indiana.

Brunskill succeoded by Hopkins in Livin-ston County. Lr. Carl E, Hopkins, a
brother of the late Dr. Cyril G. Hopkins, has been employed as assistant adviser
in Livingston County to fill the position left open by the resit-nation of kr. E- vV.
Brunskill. kr, Hopkins did his college work at Brookings, South Dakota; operated
"Poorland Farm" in karion County, Illinois, for ten years and for the past three
years has been Vice-President of the Federal Land Bank of St. Louis, kr. Bruns-
kill will take up the active management of a farm near waynesfield, Ohio.

Kir. J. F. Zierler has already taken up his work as Assistant County Agent for
the kacon County Farm Bureau, Mr, Ziegler sraduated in Agriculture at the Uni-
versity of Illinois in 19Q7 and has been in charge of the Y;arner farms in DeWitt
County for a number of years past. With a new Assistant Adviser, new offices,
rest rooms and Livestock Sales Room, kacon County plans to march in the front ranks
of improved agriculture,

"The third annual Drainage Conference of the University of Illinois iP to be
held at Urbana on karch I6-I8, 1920. The purpose of the conference is a study of
land in river bottoms where there is danger of overflow, and to bring together
owners of such lands, drainage engineers, agriculturists, attorneys, contractors,
and others concerned, for a discussion of specific enterprises and of ways and
means for accomplishing the reclamation of the million or more acres of overflowed
land in the river valleys of the State." - G. V/. Pickels, Chairman, Drainage Con-
ference CoEiiTiittee, Engineering Hall, Urbana, Illinois,

"The first annual meeting of the Tazewell County Sales Company was held Mon-
day , February 2d. The raport shov;ed a net income of approximately C^800.00.

Changed the Tazewell County Bro^vn Swiss Association to the Illinois Brown
Swiss Association with 40 members to date." - Starr, Tazewell County.

Vol. Ill

Page 3-

GLEaNINGS from ANNUrtL R3P0RTS

No. 7.

Williamson- "Cooperation E'^sential; A farm adviser cannot do it all- his ef-
forts must be met at least half way by the active efforts of farmers to help them-
selves. There are some things that farmers can do for themselves, v.'orkinf; alone-
and there are other things on which they must stand together if each ajid all is
to receive his just share through the development of the business side of farmin:^."
- Hart.

Logan - "One of the rreatest needs of the county is to instill into the minds
of our farmers the necessity for returning to the soil the equivalent of what they
take out in crops," - Ebersol.

Jersey - "Could not get sufficient limestone. Last year there was only one
small crusher in Jersey County. Now there are four installed and three more order-
ed. There is room for many more as we have barely bet'un the use of Limestone."
Wheelock,

Whiteside - "In our corn variety test this year where each variety was grown
side by side under the same conditions in the sane field there was a variation of
25 bushels between the lowest and the highest yield." - Craig.

_St. Clair - "In attempt ing improvements of poultry it was thought advisable
to begin by culling out the unprofitable hens, accordingly 26 so-called poultry
schools were scheduled in different communities. These were attended by 300
people. The purpose of these meetings was to demonstrate systems of culling the
hens which not only aren't laying at this time, but which by certain easily dis-
cernible characters are stamped as poor producers. Aside from these studies these
poultry meetings are used as a means of bringing information regarding methods of
feeding and breeding poultry. As a result of this work about 50 to 60 farmers
have begun to feed tankage for egg production, and 10 farmers have purchased P^^®
bred roosters out of high laying strains. One modern poultry house has been built
in accordance vdth suggestions offered." - Tillman,

Richland - "Farmers generally are changing their systems of farming _^^°°^ _^_
of growinP red-top to that of growing red clover. The change is being made r p
ly. Many fields that have been in red-top for fifteen to twenty-five years
been plowed up and limestone applied and a legume so'jm." - Piper.

Morgan - "In general, whenever a project is undertaken, we ^^''®/°''"^^^ Agr
good tbing to mention it first in daily papers, then in circular letters
in meetings and individual conferences. It does not seem advisable to star^ m y
projects in a year, but it does pay to complete those undertaken." -Kendall.

Pike - "The need of a permanent system of soil fertility providing for the
gro^rth-Tf leguminous crops and the use of phosphorous, -he ^"^"f'i'f^^J" °/^^^f.
breeding in our livestock work and better feeding and housing in l^^^stocK man
agementr v;e are also in need of livestock shipping associations and better ac
comodations and facilities from the transportation lines to carry °f . ^"^"^.^^^^ ,
market. A great deal of work needs to be done in the controlling 0^/"=®^^^^^"
fundus pests among our orchardists, also a program of fertilization for orchards
and^instructions along the lines of care and management." - Kercher.

"He that by the plough would thrive, himself must either hold or drive."- Frankl.

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of tlic Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVFRSITY OF ILLINOIS -URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. Ill

February 25, 1920,

ii\v7^®if

"The flivver is my car, I shall not want

another
It maketh me to lie down in wet places;
It soileth my clothesi
It leadeth me in the path of ridicule for

its name' s sake;
Yea, though I run through the valley, I

am towed up the hill.
Its rods and its engine

they discomfort me.
It anointeth my face with

oil;
It prepareth me for break'

downs in the presence

of mine enemies.
Yea, to goodnese, if this

thing follows me all the

days of my life,
I shall dwell in the house of

the insane foreveri "

Burning the Flea Beetle. - "S. C. Chandler m-de some burning tests for the
destruction of apple flea beetle at the Bruden orchard during the past week, ''"he
tests were not numerous to draw definite conclusions however, the data secured
indicates the destruction of 905 of the beetles. The tests were made with a kero-
sene blow torch. The beetles were found harboring in the litter under the trees.
Mr. Everett, manager of the orchard will continue the burning until the more
highly infested area has been burned." - Piper, Richland County.

New adviser in L.enard County - Lr. C. A. Hughes of Charlestown, V'est Virginia,
has been employed as County .-idviser in kenard County to succeed l."r. G. J. Wilder,
who will take up live stock farming in Ohio on Larch 1. J,;r. Hughes was bom and
reared in Douglas County, Illinois, is a graduate of the College of Agriculture,
U. of I», and has farmed since graduation. Kr. Hughes has been in county agent
work in Vifest Virginia the past year. He will take up his work in £enard County
about Larch 8.

Assistant adviser for Christian County. - Lr. F. H. Kelly, v/ho has been with
the soil fertility department of the University of Illinois for the past two years
has taken up his work as assistant to Lr. Clair E. Hay in Christian County, i..r.
Kelly is a graduate of the College of n-griculture and obtained hiS practical train-
ing as a farmer in Jasper County, Illinois.

Vol. Ill Page 2

No. 8

Botulism__in_5rla5e. -Last month iCr. L. W. Wise of Iroquois County sent a sam-
ple of silage to the University, which in certain feeding operations had proven
injurious to cattle, ^n exarainat^.on of the silage did not incriminate molds so
frequently referred to in connection with forage poisoning, but the presence of
a bacterial toxin which has been found in other feeds in serious outbreaks of
forage poisoning in horses and mules. The fatal disease in question is closely
related to botulism of the h.iman family. Recent associated press dispatches have
referred to this disease occurjing in Detroit and New York City, following con-
sumption of poisonous ripe olives.

_ Inasmuch as it appears that small amounts of this toxin may prove fatal, it

isobviously dangerous for farmers to taste samples of feeds which have proven
poisonous to animals, and such practices might advisedly be discouraged,

• ^°*"^^"'^2 antitoxin has been used experimentally in immunizing animals
against this form of poisoning occurring in the feed and field tests are being
made with this serum in natural outbreaks of the disease. If the serum has any
value It would mean that the value of poisonous feed could be realized without
serious losses in animals. The disease occurs in horses, mules and cattle —
various poisoned feeds may be responsible.

ask your local veterinarian to report outbreaks of forage poisoning to the
nnimal Pathology Division and secure limited amounts of serum for experimental
use. Other remdial agents are of little value." - Robert Graham, Professor in
Animal Pathology, U. of I,

Cattle Lice. - 'Vit this time of the year cov/s and calves are quite often bad-
ly infested with cattle lice. Every dairyman should examine his stock very care-
fully to see if lice are present. It is rather difficult to rid cattle of lice in
cold weather, but the following treatment has proven very satis factory i

Apply with a stiff brush raw linseed oil to the affected parts, Cn calves
the affected parts will usually be over the shoulders and neck and around the
tail setting, ^.fter the oil has been applied, the animal should not be exposed
to the sun for at least twelve hours to avoid scalding, n second application
should be made in twelve or thirteen days, in order to kill the newly hatched lice.
The walls and floors of the calf pens should be thoroughly disinfected with a 4>
solution coal tar disinfectant. One pint of disinfectant to three gallons of
water will make approximately a Af, solution.

In summer time the stock may be thoroughly washed v;ith a A-% coal tar disin-
fectant to rid them of lice. This, however, is a dangerous practice in \'n.nter
as it is hard to dry the animals and there is danger of them contracting pneu-
monia. The raw linseed oil treatment is much befter *e use in winter-"- E. 11.
Clark, assistant Professor of Dairy Husbandry.

Just Out: - Circular No- 240 - "Treating Qats for Smut" by V;, L. Eurlison
and R. W. Stark, University of Illinois Experiment Station, This little four
page circular gives the final recommendations of the Crops Division after a
careful five years study of this subject. Kow many copies of this circular do
you want? ^end your request to the College of agriculture, Urbana, Illinois.

Lore Legumes for Richland County.- "A member of one of our prominent seed
firms, says their red clover seed sales are three times that of this time last
year and their sweet clover seed sales are five times that n f this time last
year. This would indicate that Richland County farmers are applying limestone
for the purpose of growing clover." - Piper.

Vol. Ill

Page 3

No. 8

Is Your Farm Bureau Efficient! The follo-wing are the factors which contri-
bute to Farm Bureau Efficiency, as determxned by a committee sent out to study
the problem by the State Leader in Iowa,

1. An active membership o f at least three hundred members distributed in
proportion to the rural population,

2. an alert board of directors and executive committee taking an active in-
terest in all phases of farm bureau work and giving regular attention to
the meetings of the farm bureau for the purpose of carrying out its busi-
ness.

3« A definite program of work formulated by the board of directors, adapted
to the needs of the county, supported by the people, based on the suc-
cessful experience of the past,, distributed in proportion to the rural
population, and not too large for the help available during the year or
any proportion thereof.

4, Capable individuals of forceful personality as its employed agents.

5» A competent office girl to 'vhom the agents of the bureau can delegate
a large part of the routine work.

6- A roomy, well-lighted, easily accessible office, adequately supplied v/ith
substantial equipment.

7» Cooperation with all other agencies in the county working for the devel-
opment of agriculture.

8. Simple, but adequate, records of its work and finances so that it may
show clearly that its funds have been effectively used.

Service will Tell The Tale as S.H. Thompson, Assistant County Agent Leader
of Iowa, puts it "Let us remember that v*.en the tumult and the shouting die, fol-
lowing our membership campaigns, there is only one thing that v/ill enable the
Farm Bureau to retain new members. That one thing is Service."

Plenty of V/ork Ahead. - "The membership campaign closed Friday night with a
total of 1009 signed up for the Farm Bureau and the Illinois agricultural Asso-
ciation. The bad roads at times and the flu in this county slowed up the cam-
paign but v;e are well satisfied. The campaign left the executive committee and
the county agent with a man-sized job on their hands." - Kendall, korgan County,

Getting New Ideas.- "kost of the Executive Committee Officers and the adviser
attended the State Farmers' Institute last week. This has been, in my opinion,
one of the most important v;eeks in the history of the Johnson County Farm Bureau,
as the Executive Committee came back full of enthus-asm and new ideas about farm
bureau work," - kcGhee, Johnson County.

Most of the County Advisers in the southern part of the state, and many
farm bureau executive committeemen attended the Farmers' Institute at Carbondale
last week, and all report the experience as "days well spent".

"A very enthusiastic meeting was held at Beecher last week with an attendance
of 100. It was decided that grain farming was the chief source of income, with
dairying second. Steps will be taken immediately to organize a cow testing asso-
ciation for the dairying interests and the work on improving the soil has already
been started. About a dozen men ordered raw rock phosphate at the meeting and
part of them intend to use lime in the near future. The most of these men have
never attempted '^ing any fertilizer at all. The one problem that was not de-
cided at this meeting was how to take care of the renters who are renting for
one year. The township members felt that we should work out some plan whereby
they would receive immediate results. This is rather a difficult proposition
1^^^^^^— ^^^^^llll^yy^^^«^y^n^ve^?^^^Hedecoc^^Wi^^Cov«ity^^^^^^^^^^^^^

^t jxi

ensiott

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

LXIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URB ANA, ILLINOIS

Vol- III

March 3, 192C,

No. 9

Sig:htieth County Organize - On February 25, Lawrence County formed a perma-
nent Farm Bureau organization v;ith 335 members. Practically all of the preliminary
work \was done by local farmers. Headquarters will be established at Lawrenceville,
Illinois.

"Lr. H. J. Clinebell of Terre Haute, Indiana has been employed as assistant
farm adviser. He will take up his v;ork Larch 1st, Ivir. Clinebell has been adviser
in Vigo County for four years. Boys' and Girls' Club V.'ork v;ill be one feature
taken up by him in his new v;ork." - Madden, Sangamon County.

Get Right to the PoJ.nt. - "In handling a large number of callers at the office
I have finally blundered on to something that any person ought to have know^long
ago. When a man calls at the office give him the specific service he asks for
and suggest nothing else. This is handling callers in a professional way just as
a doctor or lav/yer handles them, I do not believe the ordinary man who asks for
service appreciates any other service except that which he asks for." - Kendall,
korgan County.

Bad Roads Handicap Limestone Project.- "Have been holding a series of lir.e-
stone meetings this po-st week in the southern end of the county, our meetings
average about 50 in attendance and a great deal of good was accomplished. As a
result of our meeting in Nebo, I ordered 150 tons of limestone and six bushels of
sweet clover. Our meeting developed into a discussion of the roads on account of
the fact that it was necessary for these people in this section of the county, in
order to get limestone, to haul it over quite a bit of bad road* It is one of the
big drawbacks in this section, hs I have said before, I feel that the problem of
roads is more vital than any other agricultural problem at the present time." •
Kercher, Pike County.

To Make Good Roads.- "We have just formed the Logan County auto and Good Roads
Association for the purpose of securing more and better dragging of our roads and
better marking of trails- Our farmers have not used the drag as much as they
should because of the license fee on tractors used upon the road. We have, how-
ever, just secured, as the result of a personal visit to the Attorney General,
State Highway Commission, Secretary of State and rtutomobile Department of Illi-
nois, the witnessed statement that farmers having tractors may use them upon the
highv/ays for the purpose of improving the highways without procuring a license
provided no compensation or pay is received." - Ebersol, Logan County.

"Our orchard pruning demonstrations and meetings -vrfiich Prof, Pickett cooper-
ated with us in the past week were not attended as well as we had hoped for, but
his addresses, which were illustrated, were the best I have ever heard on orchard
management." - Logan, Crawford County.

i^i

Vol. Ill

Page 2

No, 9

"Six orchards have been selected in the county for demonstration purposes.
Beginning Londay, i..a.rch 1, v.-e expect to hold a pruning and spraying demonstra-
tion each day until the six orchards have been pruned and sprayed. These orchards
have been selected where they can be reached by practically all farmers in the
commiinity. '.7e are indeed surprised at the interest that is being shownin orchards
this year, never before have we had so many inquiries about spraying. We are
looking forward to having a good crop of apples in Rock Island County this
season." - Edgerton, Rock Island County.

"A series of four meetings were held during the week under the Community Com-
mittee plan, rtt thrtjc of the places there v/as a short morning session held be-
ginning at 11 o'clock. A lunch was served at noon by a committee appointed from
the Home Improvement association at that point, but the wives of the farm bureau
members furnished the lunch. I 7/as assisted at these meetings by Prof. Snapp
of the University who talked on feeding beef cattle, and Sam 7/. Crabtree of
kackinaw who talked on community work. Some local talent was also used," -
Richards, Kane County,

"Have been holding Farm Lanagement Schools.- The men v;ho attended the
schools were very much interested in the work and v/ere enthusiastic over it, I
want to hold some more meetings of this nature early in liiarch," - Belting,
Shelby County,

Purebred Live Stock Exhibit.- "Plans have been completed for the greatest
exhibit of Purebred Live Stock this fall ever seen in Logan County, The Logan
County Purebred Live Stock Breeders' Association, composed of members of the
farm bureau, is back of the move," - Ebersol, Logan County.

"A Chester ".Thite Pred S07/ Sale was held Saturday, February 7» 1920, con-
ducted by the Sangamon County Swine Breeders' Association, The hogs averaged
about CTO per head." - Ladden, Sangamon County.

Good Future in Hog Business.- "The interest taken in the Hog Breeders*
Association sales this week indicate that our farmers are hopeful for the future
of the hog business. It appears that they are becoming more and more discrimina--
ting in regard to the type of hogs they desire to purchase. The long, stretchy
kind is in excellent demand, regardless of color," - Brooks, LaSalle County,

First Shipping .-association in Piatt. - "n.t a meeting held at Cisco on
Friday afternoon, February 27th, the farmers in that vicinity organized the
first shipping association to be formed in Piatt County," - Burwash, Piatt County,

"Wheat has come thru the winter fairly well, although it is small and back-
ward. The very early sown wheat is o f co'orse badly ^urt by fly and in some
cases is almost entirely gone." - Rehling, Clinton County.

"At a comrnunity meeting at Ruma, nine different farmers brought samples of
limestone for testing. The limestone problems at those points array from the
railroad is beginning to be solved by getting in these local crushers," -
Doerschuk, Randolph County.

Vol. ill

Page 3

No, 9

YaLL THERE BE IHCREaSED DEl.irtllD FDR DRhFT HORSES IN THE FUTURE?

"If there was ever a time when the county adviser should come out stron<T for
the breeding of good draft horses, it is now. That feeling of doubt, v/hich has
been existing in the minds of many of our agricultural thinkers, is now being
swept away slowly but surely. There is no longer any question about whether or
not a farmer should be raising a few good draft colts each year. The draft horse
business is coming back, and much faster than most people had any idea it would.

Farm sales every where this spring indicate that there is an ina-.?asing
scarcity of big v;ork horses and that this condition is becoming very acute in many
communities, v^hen farmers will readily pay 3500 - $600 for a draft team of mares
or geldings, as has been done this spring, and when 1000 - 1200 pound horses will
sell in the same auction for ^75, to $100., there is no doubt about what farmers
are thinking over in their minds. There is every reason to believe that another
twelve months will see a great change in horse breeding, and that long before farm-
ers will be able to raise a crop of draft colts and grow them until they are ^
ready to v;ork, there will be the biggest demand for weighty drafters the business
has ever seen.

First class draft horses are very scarce, A Chicago commission man has an
order for 250 draft horses for the Consumers Coal Company, This man has been
able to secure only 35 head in four weeks because this firm wants horses weighing
1600 to 1700 pounds, sound and of good ages. This buyer is paying an average of
*275. a head for these horses but even at such prices, it is impossible to find
enough horses with such requirements to supply thedemand.

Every county adviser should lose no time in telling his people that they
should breed their mares this spring to a good draft stallion. However, every
possible emphasis should be laid on the fact that it always pays best to patron-
ize a first class sire, regardless of service fee. It is time well spent to take
even a grade mare ten miles farther to breed her to a real sire; and in the case
of a purebred mare, distance should not even be considered if the mare is a good
one. Breed her to the sire to which she should be mated, no matter how far it may
be necessary to go, I f it is too great a distance to go by wagon road, ship her
by train. It is always an unprofitable practice to breed a good mare, whether
grade or purebred, to a common sire," - Ellis kcFarland, Assistant Secretary,
Percheron Society of America,

(The above is a portion of a recent article written by Mr. i.:cFarland, which
has been submitted to us by Professor Edmonds, who says: "I will subscribe to the
facts contained in this article and trust you can use a portion 0 f it in The Les-
senger.")

Poisoned Silage has been found in Clark County, This silage was fed to cattle
and was followed by transitory illness and death in some animals. It is thought
the trouble was caused by Botulism. It is most fatal with young animals between
1/2 and tv;o years of age.

To build Sales Pavilion.- "A meeting was held in Lanhattan Toufnship where a
great deal of enthusiasm was stirred, regarding the building of a sale's pavilion.
Plans were laid and contracts were made out to start raising money to build a
salee pavilion at L.anhattan, Also preliminary steps were taken towards organizing
shipping association at this point." - Hedgcock, V/ill County.

To organize Bull association. - "a good deal of interest has been aroused in
the Dairy Industry by the two meetings held by E. k. Clark last week, a number of
dairymen are considering the organization of Cooperative Bull Associations." -
deV/erffj Franklin County.

BSP^

rrgri

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. Ill

March 10, 1920.

HOV; iv^UCH LIV2 STOCK CaM BE PASTURED ON S'A'EET CLQVSR?

No. 10

"Sweet clover has proven to be -j. successful crop for pasturing beef breeding
cows on the University Farm. In I916 nine head of pur bred, two-year-old heifers
were pastured on 8.1 acres of sweet clover from the middle of June until the
second week of October, This wj.s the first year's gro\»rth of the clover. It was
planted early in the spring on good, rich soil. The same summer where 1^ acres
of mixed pasture was provided for each cow and calf, it was necessary to supple-
ment the pasture with additional feed before the end of the pasture season.

During the summer of 1919 first year's sweet clover had a carrying capacity
of 102 pasture days for a cow and her calf. The second year's growth of sweet
clover had a carrying capacity of I36 pasture days for a cow and calf. The cows
were turned in on the clover the first week of Iv.ay» The same season mixed pas-
tures had a carrying capacity of 25 to 30 days less than that of the sweet clover."
W. H. Smith.

"Giving the New Pig a Real Ch:mce» - About one-third of the pig crop is lost
before weaning time* The cost of a litter up to weaning time varies but little
with the nimber of pigs. It is difficult to make pigs pay when the litters are
small; in fact, small litters cause greater loss than most of us think, n man
may be able to feed a weaned pig profitably but lose out because his sows raise so
few pigs. Further than this, a pig well started and well weaned is fairly well
grown. The following may be kept in mind in preventing this loss and in giving
the pig the chance which he deserves:

1. Disinfect and whitewash the floor and walls of the farrowing pen

previous to birth.

2. Give a little extra care and attention during the first two weeks.

3. Increase the sov/' s ration gradually during the first ten days. Over-

feeding the young pig will cause scours,

4. Feed the sow a ration which is properly supplemented and of sufficient

bulk.

5. Keep the beds dry and free from drafts,

6. l/iake the young pig exercise every day to help in preventing thumps*

7. Treat sore mouth infection upon first appearance rather thsm after it

has taken its course.

8. Teach the pig to eat before weaning,

9. Give the pig good feed and care at weaning time when he is learning to

make his own way." - J. B. Rice.

"THERE IS STILL. TII;IS TO BURN THE CHINCH BUG! "

Vol. Ill

Page 2

No. 10

ABORTION IN BROOD SOVJS

abortion in sov/s is frequently attributed to traumatism, inferior feed or
rations deficient in mineral elements. It may occur as a sequel following
cholera, or other diseases accompanied by a hi^. fever. Other outbreaks have
been associated with the development of goiter. Reports of abortion in brood
sows during the last six v/eeks from different localities of the middle west sug-
gest the possible existence of a contagious form of the disease in some herds.
Until the cause of the disease can be definitely determined, all aborting
sows should be isolated and the feti and the vaginal discharges burned. The
hog houses and sheds should be thoroughly dowied and disinfected. Valuable
sov/6 that abort should not be sold pendining further observations since it is
believed that future farrows may be strong and healthy even if the type of the
disease in question proves to be a specific infection of the uterous and fetarl
membranes.

Several samples of undeveloped pigs have been submitted to the University
Laboratory for bacteriological examination, and it is highly important to elimin-
ate or confirm the existence of a contagious abortion in swine. Blood samples
from valuable sows are also being subjected to the agglutinsition test for diag-
nostic purposes. This test may be employed on all suspicious animals for diag-
nostic purposes, and it is believed that the extent or presence of the contagious
type of the disease may thus be determined.

There is no diarge for the laboratory tests. Veterinarians should be em-
ployed for drawing blood samples for shipment to the laboratory." - Robert Graham
Laboratory of animal Pathology, University of Illinois.

Hessian Fly lives thru T'inter.- "Recent examination of Hessian-Fly puparia .
taken this spring from infested v/heat fields show that less than 5?^ o f the fly
have been killed by the weather conditions during the winter. As parasites are
very scarce, having been taken in only three or four localities in central and
southern Illinois, it is highly probably that the spring brood of the ay will
be very abundant. For this reason it is not advisable to sow spring wheat in
the vicinity of infested fields of winter wheat, as such #ieat would be almost
sure to suffer heavy damage from the spring brood of the fly. Oats may be safe-
ly sown in or adjoining infested wheat fields, as the Hessian- fly never attacks
this plant." - W. P. Flint,

Hessian Fly causes .absolute V.heat Failure. - "I found the v/orst infestation
of Hessian Fly this week that I have ever seen. This field was about three miles
northeast of Red Bud. I do not think the wheat on this field will produce enough
to make the seed which it took to plant it," - Tate, fconroe County.

The United States Department of Agriculture has just issued a Bulletin #850
entitled: "Rent Contracts in Typical Counties of the Vi/heat Belt". We understand
that this bulletin is o f a technical nature and is being issued in limited edi-
tion. We are asking that a copy be sent to each farm adviser, and we would sug-
gest that the Farm Advisers do not write for this bulletin themselves, in order
to avoid duplication," - G. N. Coffey, State Leader.

Branch office maintained one day each week. - "Thursday of each week will
hereafter be spent in the branch office at Bradford. It is rather difficult to
maintain this definite schedule but v/e believe it is worth while to make the ef-
fort." - Brov^, Stark County,

Gougler says here is a point in a collection letter that gets results: "V/e
are running this Farm Bureau on the basis of your signature." - Vaniman.

Vol. Ill

Page 3

No- 10

Bred Sow Sale pleases Con3i?,nere.- "Friday, February 27, the Bred Sow Sale
of Big Type Poland Chmii, conducted by the Swme Breeders of the Farm Bureau
was held in Vifatseka, The average on 35 head was v88.33, with less than $5 per
head for selling, including advertising and all expenses. Consigners v/ere
pleased v/ith sale." - Wise, Iroquois County.

Lee County Organizes Shipping; Association. - "At the meeting of the Shippers'
Association held at Dixon, Friday, the association was permanently organized by
40 or 50 farmers who were in attendance. The plan is to take memberships at •'^l.OO
per year, allowing men to ship stock cooperatively thru the Shippers' Association*
The local charge is 8^ per hundred v;eight for hogs, 2(^ for the expense fund, and
50 for the insurance fund. For cattle the charge is 6^ per hundred weight, 1^
for the expense fund, and 20 for insurance fund- I.,ixed carloads of stock are
the same rate as for hogs. 'vVhere a shipper has a carload of his own he may
ship at half the rate, or 40 for hogs, 30 for cattle, the expense fiind and in-
surance fund being the same, A shipper v;ith a whole carload, however, can waive
the insurance charge i f he so wishes. In this case, of course, he runs his owti
chance of sustaining loss." - Griffith, Lee County,

Securing needed gyitch tracks and yard accommodations has been a difficult
problem in North Aurora, but results have been secured by the organization of a
Livestock Shipping Association. Railroad officials have listened to organiza-
tion requests and promised to grant desired accommodations." - Kane County,

New Interest in Horticulture. "I find that there is considerable interest

developing in horticulture this winter and spring. We took up the community
spraying proposition at our community meeting at Columbia last Tuesday evening.
All seemed very much interested and I think v/e shall start this work in the near
future. I find that the orchards in this county have been very badly neglected
and I believe community spraying will bring results faster than anything I know
of." - Tate, i^onroe County.

"Three of our orchard Pruning and spraying Demonstrations were held this
past week, but on account of the severe v/eather, it was necessary to postpone the
others. We had a good attendance and an unusual amount of interest in these
demonstrations. Orders have been taken for twenty spraying outfits and something
like 3000 pounds of spray material. V/e hope to be able to continue these demon-
strations this week." - Edgerton, Rock Island County,

AN OLD SONG

"In the shade of the old apple tree,
Where the snov/ and the rain blov; so free.
It's no place tr store
The binder and mower
And implements there that we see;

For the rust and the rot, you'll agree.
Are worse than hard usage would be,
And the paint that they wore
Is a shade, nothingmore —
Just the shade of the old apple tree." -

Fall and winter weather is detrimental to exposed machinery but hot sun
and spring rains are much worse. Let's run the old binder and wagon inside, we
v/ill be time -md money ahead.

A scries of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farrff

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol.. Ill March 17, 1920. No. 11

TllJSLY TOPICS FOR CIRCULAR LETTERS.

Your kessenger File for I918 and 1919 will furnish some

mighty good items that are timely now
BUT, here are othtr suggestion for leads

1. Treat your seed oats for smut every year. It pays.

2. HarroT.7 the v.heat field — don't let all that valuable moisture, escape.
3» Don't burn the corn stalks — you are burning money.

4. Apply the torch to ^r. Chinch Bug, Every one you destroy now means l50

less in your wheat and 11,000 less in your corn.
So Test every ear of seed corn every year. Thirteen dead ears means an

acre lost,

6. , Save every pig possible. This very largely determines the profit or

loss.

7. Dock and castrate the lambs at two weeks of age,

8. Prime and spray that old orchard. Let's get some sound fruit this year,

9. Grow some soybeans for seed. There will be great demand next year

and prices high.
10. Put the machinery in orderl On the day you v.'ill need a machine, your
time is too valuablel

Bad roads? No. Impassable rivers of mud, seems to come nearer the real
description of the average Illinois highways just now. Heavy rains and overflow-
ing streams have done considerable damage in many parts of the state.

Saving the Orchards.- "The demands for assistance in pruning and spraying
the orchards of farm bureau members has become so great and the roads are in
such condition that it has become necessary for the farm bureau to purchase a
horse in order to comply with the requests. Several communities are organizing
a community spraying club and have purchased or are ready to purchase hand power
barrel sprays in order to save the apple orchards of the county. It is stated
by old residents of the county that the interest that is being demonstrated is
such as was never before seen." - Richey, liercer County,

"Even though adverse weather conditions prevailed most of the time our pruning
and spraying demonstrations last week were very successful from the standpoint of
interest shown by those present. Mp. Brock made the demonstrations very inter-
esting aswell as instructive. So much good came from the demonstrations held a
yeaip ago and we believe these will be equally beneficial." - Thomas, Coles County,

"A cooperative limestone company was organized for one community last kon-
<ja.y. We expect to be grinding limestone by May 1st, and are figuring on getting
out about 1200 tons this summer if possible." - Rehling, Clinton County.

Vol. Ill

Page 2

No. 11

"Considerable interest h,is been aroused among the farmers in farm account-
ing. The nearer the time for reporting the inccine tax approached, the more a
great many of the farmers realize the importance of keeping farm accounts. The
younger men especially are becoming interested in this matter," - Burwash, Piatt
County.

"For Dairymenl A splendid little dairy record book has been worked out by
Lir, C. S« Rhode, Department of Dairy Husbandry, University of Illinois. It con-
tains 24 pages which include Inventories, Receipts, and Expenses vd.th entries
for feed purchased, feed raised, labor records, milk and cream sold and all other
items v/hich are necessary to make a thorough study of the dairy business. This
is an excellent little account book for the dairyman and any one wishing a copy
may obtain it for 2C0 by communicating with Ivx. Rhode," - Atwood,

"At the State Hoi stein Sale beld in Chicago Thursday and f^iday, DuPage
County had 1/3 of the consignments and l/5 of the breeders taking part in the
sale. The majority of the animal selling for the most money came from DuPage
County. DuPage County farmers are especially proud of this showing," - Heatoq
DuPage County,

Prospects in Dairying. - "Organizations of three bull associations was
started during the week. These associations are planning to work together as a
block, each purchase a high-grade pure bred Holstein bull, and after tv/o years
exchange with another block. Our dairymen are much encouraged with the dairy
business, but like mostothers are also concerned with the market outloik for
whole milk. A good market seems assured for the present, however, with the
Waterloo Condensed L.ilk Comp-Lny as they have establisheda shipping station at
Sparta, also at four other points in the county along the I., & 0*, with fair
prospects of starting a branch condensery at Sparta within a year." - Doerschuk,
Randolph County,

Sunflov-'er test in L.arion Covinty, - "vVe have sold about 4000 lbs. of Sunflower
seed to be sown for a silage crop. I am not pushing that very hard any more as
we are not positive that it rail be a success every year, and I have sold enough
that we will be able to give it a thoro trial this time. Men have purchased
all the Y.ay from 8 pounds up to 120 pounds." - Blackburn, K.arion County.

"The iv^orris Livestock Shippers* Association, organized a short time ago,
recently made their first shipment and all of the consignors are exceptionally
well pleased." - Longmire, Grundy County.

, "A shipping association was organized at Bradford by farmers of surround-

ing tov;Tiships of both Bureau and Stark counties. Directors were elected, of-
ficers and manager selected, smd the organization is already doing business." -
Brown, Stark County.

quick Work. - "We organized another Farmers* Cooperative Elevator at 'Vorijfti
Illinois, last v;eek. This was one of the best farmers' elevator meetings ever
held. V«e started at 10:30 h. .... and by 3 P« i^-, the same day we had the organi-
zation perfected, elected directors and officers, bonded the Treasu--er, bought
an elevator and hired a manager. This makes the sixth elevator since last year
and two more communities are talking of organizing." - Haberkorn, Ladison County,

"Income tax returns are taking up most of the time. Lore and more people are
becoming interested in the farm account books to help them in making our future
jg+TirrT^^^^Rrook^^LaiT^^^C^J^^^I2ii^h^^bee^thestory^bi

Vol. Ill

Page 3

No. 11

f our association. Kr. Peterson.

u Federation in Chicago on Wednes-
me that it was the best meeting
more of our farmers could get

Farm Bureau Federation will mean

is going to be the biggest thing
would have paid every farm bureau

ing»" - Heat on, DuPage County,

For the Amerit^Tn irarmer - "TVip. +^^.
attended the meeting n f f W""' treasurer o

dnv ^r,A ■ "^^^^"g of the ^eracan Farm Burea
that hf ^"/^"^'■^^^^tion with him since, he told

to them f h.r.r^^'' '° J"'' ^^^* ^^-^ American
to them that they would feel satisfied that it

that ever happened for the American farmer. It

in Illinois to have had a delegate at this meet

^-s bit— i:'y:f to" fiirtlH^' " ';'• 'r^'^ '* """* '' 2P-^-^. Illi-is,
the University'of Illinois in i?i6 and";. I' """.* S^^^ted in Agriculture at '
time. He will ta.e up h^rs ^L'^L^^'mf ti^e^^be L^^^r "rLtr^'^"' ''^'' ''^'

in. Every new member has rer!,to^ circular letters as fast as their names came
received a cent o7hL Lnlv Tn "^""''^^' ^'^^''' ^^'°^^ ^^^ ^™ P^'"^^" ^-^«

been for the good - - K^^d'f; ""^ '^'"'°^ '^' "°^^^ ^"^^^ °f *his move has

•-"u gooa, - Kendall, i,.organ County.

bold TyyonTfourTf;" ?'r''- Limestone. Livestock. Phosphate, printed in
as I arrived at EdLr ^ount /'' T ''' ''^" ^'^ trademark that confronted me
greatly Why can'! a rnZfl "^"^ ^''?^'' °"''^"- ^^^* trademark impressed me
are used more iLl^. H f ■ ^'"T ^""^ P'^^P^'' ^^ "°^« limestone and phosphate

Edgar Co^^trLdoiTg "1^1^' ^"'"^' '^^°"' ^ ^°"^^ ^^ <=-' ^^'^'^ ->^-t
Simply because of thp'.t+r . \TJ '"'^^ ^'^" ^""" ^^^« ^"* ^ ^^-^^t time.

a chat or some fricndlv !dv . .\' '^'"'" "^ *'^>' "'^^ ^*° *^^ °""- f^''

reign supre^amt^rall^ tT I^IL ^^^.r^^Tr.^l ^o^ry!^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^^

near 'ir^~~^$ 'jj f'' ' T ''' ^^' °^ '^^ ^"-^ P^^^^ed -across

the Plate gLsJ fr:nt%'f\nT /^ur'brl^^h' Tfff ' 'T'l' ^"^ °^'^^ "^■^"-' -

our Dranch offices." - Brown. Stark County.

be aEL^'y^forfa^mgrtnle'r" t^he' '""VT ^'^ '^ ^^' ^^^ ^^^^ --^ ^°
work Of the farm bureau We got file neZ V° '^u' ""'"' ''"°^"^^^ "^P^" *^^
about thirty m the last four vlks I'l. \?' '^'* "^'^ ^'^'^ ^^^^ g°**^«

having solicited them at alj./tt^e.'- onro^Co^n'tyr'""'^^' ^'^^^^' "° ^"^

beforrllrSfftrf^^ Z^^-'oT^V^r'-T '^^^''^ °^ -^'^^"B .heat

ber shows no infestation a^d'tha plants whil'f '^^ f ^"""^ '^" °^^^^^^ °^ O^-^o-
the road is another field seeded ab^t Ml 0^^^^.^°°*^ thrifty, just across
festation and most of the plants ar.df* f* ^""^^ field shows 100?i in-
field belongs tu one of our farm hn \ ^^' needless to say that the first

non-member.^ - de.er^?,' ^^LkUn Co:.^'^ ''"''' ''^ °''^^ '^^°"^^ ^° "

tons ^?n^tT:M~^:^ ^z^i^-'' r «^^ ^-^^ -^-^ ^- .900

.ere received and sent to^^^'l^iuSSrQulrr^'Smp:::' ^rf^^^ ^^ V ^^^^^^^^
as much limestone this year as the quarries iiliTet:. T """^"^ ^° "^^ ^'"^■t
several carloads of rock phosphate Jor spring deliJ^rv have"; '"'''! '''
Doerschuk, Randolph County. ^ aeiivcry have been sent in also."-

f i|C Jxt

msum

A scries of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Fam^ ■
Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the
State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. Ill

■1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

8.
9.

March 24, I92O.

No. 12

How to inocuLe^^Lrunes Sr:^;! ^''' ^' ""''^''^ '^^ ^^^ ^^--.
see: Zr"^^ ^^^^^ P^-t shallow.

Start a sweet clover patch"''!! ITv '1/'' °' '"^ "^^^^ ^-^t.
Let .3 build those litneatone' ^11, tt *^" greatest pasture ever,
waxit it. ^^^stone sheds, then we will have the lime «^en we

''with': liftf "^^^ ^"^ '^'^ ^^^--

Report all h ^"^^*^"t effort.

^^ A pure bred bulf ^n'everrfarr""?^''- '°"'* ^^* ^^ ^P^-d.
10- Try out that tar>dem hitch in s;. ■ f "^'^ ""'^ ^^ ^ parasite.

Of four horses while two'^thL^'-ft^rrdX^; in't^e l^V' ^^^^ °"^

can eliminate swine diseases

Boone County perfected i+o
one to^nshxp in Boone County .ecureri4?°V^' followxng day wxth 818 members
county Will have 1000 members IJ'ay 10^ "'"'^^^ ^"'^ ^^^ ^^^i— Predict thT
,^^^^W.neba. County . now the only e^.ty . „...„ ,,,,.,^^ _^^^ ^ ^^^^

'yeeping Books fnr

?:;!r^^^"^~^^'^^^^^'"^^^^^^^ ^^grxcultural Association

customers cannot be altogether sZl!;+ ^^^^'"^ accounts with 2000 i^dxvxdual
binder that should be as sxmpL i^'^i L, ''/""'^ aslogical to demand a graL
Illinois Agricultural As.ocSaon + .! ''''''^''* ^'''' ^°^. Treasurero f t^e
out as rapidly as possible a 3et'of°^ 'I "''"^ '^" Extension Office L ^orkin.

„.,.., ^'''» ^» ^'andschin,

A limited number of the t-^ - j.

Vol. Ill

Page 2

No. 12

"Qwin^ to a shortage of boats and aeroplanes, I had to stay in the office
all of this past week. The roads are so bad that it is almost impossible for
one to travel on them, even on horseback. We have ordered three cars of corn
this week and have received three carloads of nitrate of soda during the last
two weeks. We have received orders up to date for 39 cars of limestone and two
cars of rock phosphate. Judging from the calls for sweet clover seed, the
acreage of sweet clover in the county this year will be large." - kcGhee,
Johnson County.

"Bad roads prevented making many farm visits. There is a great deal of in-
terest in soil improvement and in limestone. Orders for 200 tons were taken at
the office Saturday. Arrangements for the distribution of 500 pounds of Montana
Registered Grimm alfalfa seed in comparison with common alfalfa has been made
for demon st rational purposes," - Fuller, Larshall-Putnam.

"Farmers are getting discouraged. Most of the wheat is gone, chinch bugs
are awaiting the corn, clover and alfalfa is frozen out and it is now getting
late for oat sowing. We continue to buy corn for feeding. Ten cars were received
during the past two weeks." - Thomas, Jackson County.

Seeds.- "Since October first, the seed department of the farm bureau has pur~
chased and sold to farm bureau members approximately ■520,000 worth of farm seeds,
Most of this has been clover, including medium, mammoth, alsike and sweet and
alfalfa. The main purpose of the farm bureau in handling these seeds is to enable
the farmer to get good seeds free from noxious weeds at nominal prices. It is a
very conservative estimate to say that the farm bureau has saved its members
over $3000 on this lot of seed. Although many will look upon this saving as a
reason for belonging to the farm bureau we consider this one of theminor reasons
because there are so many more important advantages," - Isaacs, Liason County,

"Group L'^eetxngs, we find, offer the best chance of seeing more members
personally with the limited tine at the disposal of the adviser than do farm
visits. Besides community meetings held here and there about the county, we have
found it fairly good practice to attend public sales where farmers are assembled
in large nvanbers." - Phillips, Greene County.

"The second annual Tuberculosis Testing starts next week. There are more
than 30 herds, which we expect to put on the accredited herd list after this
test, kany application blanks are being signed up by owners of grade herds.
We have the assurance that if enough applications are signed, that a veterinarian
will be placed here for tuberculosis testing, exclusively." - kiner, Henderson
County.

"Kanred wheat was tried out last year on 12 fields in a small way. In a
general way it was found to be about equal to common Turkey, but no better. Iowa
103 oats apparently yielded superiorly to any other variety. Texas Rust Proof
was second and Great American third. These are now the three important oats in
the county and they are largely grown by the members." - Starr, Tazewell Ccunty.

A Neat Emblem or a Design featuring a farm bureau name or some of its chief
aims is not only attractive and significant, but it may teach a lesson at the
sime time. Have you seen the designs adopted by Edgar, Cass, Clinton, and other
counties? The idea is good if it is carefully worked out. Be careful;

Vol. JIl

Page 3

No. 12

"An all day horticultural meeting; was held at Alma Tuesday with about 15
men present, a very good meeting resulted and several interesting and instructive
talks were followed by some demonstration work in pruning. The meeting v/as held
by the Alma Community Center Organization. Lr- Perrine and kr. Brock were the
principal speakers. One of the things brought out at this meeting was the lack
of information or experiments relating to the growing of Kiefer Pears in the
county and surrounding counties. Alma is approximately the center of the pear
growing district. The commission men and buyers will pay a higher price for
Alma pears than for any other variety. In a good year they ship out ordinarily
300 carloads of pears from one station. A great number of young pear orchards
are soon coming into bearing. It seems to me the Horticultural Department at the
University should undertake some experiments -with pears to ascertain the best
methods of taking care of the orchards and controlling diseases and insect injury.
Vi'e can ^^st several acres of orchard to be given over to such experiments, if the
Extension Department at the University will cooperate and carry on this work. In
fact, they are very anxious that we do some of this work in the pear growing dis-
tricts. Nearly every farmer who has pears has a good crop much more often and a
more profitable crop than apples on the same kind of land, and the expense is
much less both for taking care of the orchard and taking care of the fruit." -
Blackburn, liarion County.

Orchards.- "A number of members are taking interest in their farm orchards.
Several visits 'Chf past v;eek, revealed the presence of a heavy infestation of
some of the injui'ious scales. Oyster Shell, San Jose and Scurfy Scale have been
found in one orchard. We are assisting these men in getting equipment andmaterial
for the necessary dormant spray; also for summer sprays. Demonstrations in
pruning have also been given." - Longpiire, Grundy County.

"The DeKalb County National Farm Loan Association has been in operation
one year, and the first of Larch this year weclosed loans for :;135, 800,00,
This is one of the greatest services we have been able to render our people".*
Eckhardt, DeKalb County.

The Greene County Farm Loan Association has negotiated loans of about
^70,000 with applications for 30,000 or 40,000 dollars more pending. Sentiment
is this county is strong for having maximvm loan limit raised from $10,000 to
$25,000." - Phillips.

"The record Farmers' Cooperative Grain Elevator was organized for St. rlair
County. It will be located at oummer field. The company incorporated for -'30,000.
This movement has made more friends for the farm bureau than any project we
have put on to date, v/e have at least 100 nev; members vra.iting to come into the
bureau but on account of our I. a. h. membership campaign in June, we are ad-
vising these new members to wait until then before coming into the bureau." -
Tillman, St. Clair County.

"The Gibson City Farmers' Shipping; Association is well on itsvifay toward
raising from |1,'-,000 to $20,000 for the erection of a modern elevator for handling
phosphate and coal." - Hersman, Ford County.

Bull Associations.- "We have organized two more Purebred Hoi stein Eull As-
sociations in the county, one at Red Bud and one at Waterloo. This makes three
such associations now at work in Lonroe County." - Tate,

A series of brief notes from tiie weekly reports of tiie Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UM\1:,RSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. Ill

1.
2.
3.

4..

5.
6.
7.
8.

10.

March 31, 1920.
TWELY TOPICS RPR CIRC'JLAR LETT^.RS. iff3)

No. 13

Sunlight puts vim, vigor und vitality into little pigs and lambs.

Breed - feed - weed - read, is the creed of the successful livestock man*

A mixture of charcoal (1 bushel), wood ashes (l bushel) salt (8#), air
slacked lime (8#)» sulphur (4^), pulverized copperas ( 2#) is as good
a mineral mixture for hogs as you can buy, w.ake it yourself.

A good sire pays and is inexpensive in the long run.

Get rid o f the boarder cows.

Now is the time to plan a silo for next fall.

If you intend to sow spring wheat, be sure your seed will grow.

Of course you have treated your oats. Now give those seed potatoes a
formaldehyde bath before planting, Wny grow rough, scabby tubers?

Have you ordered that Limestone and Phosphateyet?

The successful farmer is the business farmer.

Clipping Small Grains.- "Last year, clipping oats v;hen the plants were 8 inches
high reduced the yield one bushel per acre. The clipping was done before any
possible injury to the head could have occurred. In 1906, the Ohio Station clipped
oats Iway 25 and May 31. The early clipping did not effect the yield but the latter
clipping reduced the yield about three bushels* In 1907, clipping oats reduced
the yield considerably more than in 1906, At the Ohio Station, #ieat was clipped
May 11, #ien the plants were 16 inches high, a stubble 14 inches hi^ was left.
The embryo head seemed to be below this point by an inch or more» The yield of
grain and straw was reduced about 44 per cent, " - W, L. Burlison,

"The largest contribution to a.gri culture in DeKalb County during the last
thirty days is the information brought out by many tests of seed wheat. We have
tested seed wheat obtained from many farmers. Genninations made under ideal condi-
tions show the tremendously poor quality of thie seed due to scab. We expect hun-
dreds of fields will be planted with wheat this spring that will have to be re-
seeded or replanted to other crops, Mierever clover is seeded with poor wheat
there is also the chance of the loss of the clover seed, I count this informa-
tion worth more to our county than the cost of this institution this year.

I would recommend as one of the most useful equipments of every county agent's
office, no matter v/here located, a germinator as good as the incubator made by
the Chicago Surgical & Electrical Company, Type #33, a specimen of which Dr. Burli-
son has in his office. Dr. Burlison called my attention to this splendid seed
tester, and altho it cost us about ^il80, its value this year is immeasurable.
The temperature is maintained by the electric current and is automatically regu»
lated, I would recommend that the state office give this matter a careful study." ^
W. G. Eckhardt, DeKalb County*

Wi" •

,1V

Vol. Ill

Page 2

No. 13

Little Need for Nicotine Spray. "Examinations of twigs in apple orchards
in southern and central Illinois have shown very few aphis eggs present. Apparent*
ly it will not be necessary to apply a nicotine spray for controlling these
pests this spring. There may be some orchards, where eggs are present, and it
would be well for the owners to make an examination of the twigs and make sure
of the conditions in their orchards." - W« P. Flint, (March 26, 1920,)

Save the Orchards^ - "The interest that is being demonstrated in saving the
apple orchards through the county is being checked only by the fact that we cannot
obtain the proper kind of spray apparatus. Community spraying clubs have been
unable to obtain barrel sprays for lime sulphur," - Richey, Lercer County.

"The orchard men are exceedingly busy spraying and getting ready to apply ni-
trate on their orchards. The coming week will probably be the proper time for
spraading nitrate on orchards in this part of the state." - iicGhee, Johnson Countyc

"We were favored on Llonday with a visit from Ivlr. Brock of the Horticultural
Department of the University, who assisted us in putting in two demonstrations of
pruning and spraying orchard trees. The men who attended showed lots of interest
in the work and we believe it was highly worth while." - Phillips, Greene County.

"Fruit has not been killed by cold weather so far, and we havechances of
having a big fruit crop this year. I find that many people are spraying this year
that never did before. Our farmers are beginning to realize that if they want
to produce fruit they will have to go about it in a business-like way. Heretofore
fruit trees have been very badly neglected," - Tate, Monroe County,

"Corn Rot and Stalk Rot.- At our community meetings we have been discussing
the corn root and stalk rot diseases of corn. A germinator showing the diseased
seedlings was exhibited at each meeting. At almost every meeting farmers stated
that they had noticed this disease in their fields, but had not knovnwhat the
trouble was. There seemed to be no question on the part of most of the farmers
that this disease really existed and they were anxious to learn what steps could
be taken to control it." - Eracker, Knox County,

Oat Smut Circular Popular,- "Far more farmers are going to treat oats for
smut this year than ever before. We are not holding any oat smut demonstrations
this year but we are campaigning against oat smut. We sent out over 1200 copies
of Dr, Burlison's circular," - Kendall, Morgan County,

"Farmers are showing more interest than ever for treating bats for smut.
The new 1-10-80 formula seems to appeal to them because of less work and less
chance of ^ruining' the oats by soakxng them too much. The roads of the past
month have shown clearly that more efficient -mrk is needed in fixing up the
bad places which resemble the week links in the chain. The Executive Committee
plans to call in all road coiimissioners for a general discussion some time in
the near future. It is hoped that some plan can be worked out for more community
cooperation in the interest of good roads." - Dickenson, Cass County,

Vfeeat conditions.- "In a trip over the county, made the first of the week,
I found that very little wheat was winter killed, but about 30 to 40 percent
will be put in some other crop because of injury done last fall by the Hessian
Fly, In every case the later sown wheat was looking fine." - Burwash, Piatt Co,

Worth ReadAns— "If you want a clear, concise and readable presentation of
Europe's economic, financial, and industrial condition after the war, read Frank
A. Vanderlip's book, 'What Happened to Europe'".- J. D. Bitfeborrow.

Vol. Ill

Page 3

No. 13

New Advisers.- The Brown County Farm Bureau has employed kr. Aubrey A.
Davidson as Farm Adviser for that county. Lr. Davidson was born in Kansas and
is a graduate of the Kansas State Agricultural College. Since graduation he
has been teaching, and was in charge of the Department of Agriculture at the
State Normal School, Warrensburg, Llissouri, when selected for the position.
He expects to begin work in Brown County about April 1,

t^r. J» R« Shinn has been employed by the Fulton County Farm Bureau as suc-
cessor to i..r. A. VJ. :^iner, v;ho returned to his farm on Larch 1. hs» Shinn is
a graduate of the University of Illinois and has been for several years. County
Agent in Spokane Cou:ity, Washington, i..r. Shinn took up his work in Fulton County
on March 24.

"The East St. Louis conference meant more than usual to me, I believe, be-
cause first there was a good deal of informal discussion, due to the nature of
the committee meeting, and the second day because the Departmental Advisers gave
definite suggestions, and also encouraged more open discussion," - Walworth,
Clark County.

"I feel that the two days spent at the Advisers' Conference at East St, Louis
this week was the best two days that I have had since the sectional conference
there last year," - Piper, Richland County.

Crov/ds \7itness Dairy Pictures. - "In spite of the down pour of rain both
Wednesday and Thursday, the people flocked to see the 'Foster Lother of the Vtorld'
pictures. Quite a few farmers attended. I am sure that our attendance would
have been over 3000 if weather conditions had been favorable. The representa-
tives of the Dairy Division pronounced the VJest Frankfort meeting with 2000
attendance the record breaker. Considerable interest has been arous«il«, Some
farmers have purchased silos since that meeting. Others are looking for better
sires." - deY/erff, Franklin County.

To clean Up Swine Diseases. - "In company with Dr. Branigan, the Federal
Swine Specialist for this district, we visited two farms that hadherds of. infected
hogs. One large herd was badly infected with Necrobacillosis and the second
with worms. The owners were eager to cooperate with Dr. Branigan and the farm
bureau in an effort to control the disease, hence we propose to put on a clean-
up demonstration campaign 6n these diseased herds," - Bunn, Edgar County.

Clover Killed.- "Lany of the farmers in this county are reporting that their
clover has been killed^, iinticipating the call for red clover seed at the last
minute, we have taken an option on 200 bushels of clover seed, which can be
sold very reasonably and is good state inspected seed. Never before has there
been so much interest shown in sowing Grjjiim Alfalfa, we have taken orders and
have had shipped something like 50 bushels of this seed, besidd* what has been
ordered by the indiviiuals themselves. This in turn arouses interest in the
limestone proposition for no one wants to buy this high price seed without ap-
plying limestone." - Edgerton, Rock Island Coimty.

Central Illinois Sale Circuit Sets Dates.- "March 26th the hog sale committee
Of the Central Illinois Sale Circuit met here and arranged da.tes for October
sales in Macon, Piatt, Champaign, DeWitt, and McLean Counties." •» Smith, Macon
County.

That farming, the biggest business in the world, and advertising, the
greatest selling force, need to got together, was one of the points brought out
at a community newspaper conference held in connection with farmers' week at

Cri rnialT TTyriiygT'g-l-f.

tti

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Aiivisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS -URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol- III April 7, 1920. No. 14

Blizzard April 4! More Snow April 6i What next?

TILELY TOPICS FDR CIRCULAR LETTERS. (#4),

1. Clean the Hog House and Disinfect - 1 pound of lye to 40 gallons of

water is a cheap but powerful disinfectant,
2* Clean the Poultry House - Use lye solution (1 pound to 40 gallons

water) to kill mites and cleanse the house. Use Sodium Fluoride to

get the lice.

3. Clean up the Bam, the Yard, the Lots and the Fence-rows - Keep the

whole Farm Sanitary,

4. Plan now to Pool your Wool - The extra 10 or 20 cents per pound makes

the real profit.

5. Ship Livestock Cooperatively - Then Farmers receive every dollar in itj

6. Breed the best Farm Lares - Good drafters will be in good demand,

7. Don't plant Soybeans too deep » They will break their necks getting out,

8. Calibrate your corn planter and grade your seed.

9. Be sure the Tractor is in good shape, A few hours repairing and over-

hauling now will save much time and troublelater on,
10. Bring your Farm Records up to date. It will be easier to keep them
thruout the busy season-

"Agricultural students are beginning to apply for summer work on farms.
Some have had experience. If you know o f good places for such men, please noti-
fy Mr. k, W. Jamison, College of Agriculture, Urbana,

"Be Styuare with Her. - A man will pay ^225 for a binder, use it two days
in the year; $65 for a planter, use i-, two days in the year; $130 for a v*eat
drill, use it a few days; and let his wife rub, rub, rub, on a washhjitfi all
day long, fifty-two to seventy- five days in the year. A power washer will do its
work ae well ae a binder or jjiy other machine."- Exchange.

■ BE A BOOSTER

"Boost and the world boosts with you,

Knock and you're on the shelf.
For the booster gets sick of the man who kicks

And wishes he*d kick himself.
Boost when the sun is shining,

Boost when it starts to rain.
If you happen to fall, don't lie there and bawl.

But get up and boost again,"

i^ol. III

Page 2

No, 14

"|uore_joats is being sown this spring than usual due to the fact that
farmers are afraid to risk corn on account of chinch bugs. We have imported
a lot of Iowa 103 seed oats this spring. Our farmers never used it before.
I have been recommending that they sow nothing but early oats, I find that
.last -winter was very severe in its heaving effect* I find that the alfalfa
in many places has been pulled entirely out of the ground and wheat is also
badly heaved. The wheat, especially on poor ground, does not look well this
spring. In many places there is a very poor stand. I believe in many in-r
stances this is due to the Hessian Fly, which has killed the wheat or so weak-
ened it that it could not ttand the winter," - Tate, konroe County,

"Heavy rains and snow have delayed seeding so that very little oats was
sown before the 1st nf April, This delay will materially lessen the chances
for a good crop of cats except where an early variety like Iowa 103 is used,-
E. k, Phillips, Greene Count yv

"The majority pf the wheat io this county is in very, very poor condition.
Several of the farmers are sowing oats in their wheat, using an early oat in
order that they may ripen about the same time as the wheat. It is thought the
ice last winter caused lauch of the failure of the wheat. The Hessian Fly is
very bad in the early sovm wheat; in some aections of the county it has destroy-
ed almost the entire crop, while in other sections the wheat does not seem to
have any fly in it no matter how early it vras sown," - Blackburn, Larion County,

"The Red Rock wheat, brought in from kichigan two years ago, did not stand
the winter nearly so well as the T.Urkey Red, In many cases this wheat has been
totally winter killed. The farm visits the past week have been made mostly to
inspect fields of wheat. Vie find that wheat seeded before September 15, is
badly infested with fly, and much of that is damaged sufficiently that the
chances are very poor fiT a good crop. Owners have been advised to destroy
several pf these fields of uheat." - Longmire, Grundy County.

"Local mills have been paying $2,10 for wheat and usually taking it at a
deck at that. Two track buyers were induced to come into the community and
pay $2.45. I am told that local mills have boosted their price to 02-30 al-
ready." - Piper, Richland County.

"The orchard men in the county claim that there has been more spraying
done in the county this year than ever before, also that there has been a
greater demand for spray rigs than ever befrre," - McGhee, Johnson County,

Local men learn to stand before an audience. - "Held a community meeting
on horticulture v;ith several local men on the program, (^ne of the things we
are developing in our community organizations, I think, is getting the local
men to stand before an audience and give their experience and methods they
have used in working out their problems. The old officers were reelected at
this meeting." - Blackburn, karion County.

"kost of the calls of late have been on pruning and spraying of orchards
and to examine conditions of wheat. We estimate the wheat conditions to be
about 60 to f>5 percent of normal. A few fields will be plowed and seeded to
oats or com. kuch depends on the weather and fly conditions the rest of the
season." - Thomas, Coles County.

\fol. III

Page 3

No, 14

Big. Elevator in Dairy District,. - On Monday, the Roselle Farmers* Elevator
Company had their stockholiiers' taeeting and elected their Board of Directors.
On \"ednesday the incorporators met and received stock and filled oUtthe incor-
poration papers for a $40,000 company. There are about 112 stockholders at the
present time, v;ith prospects for quite a nvimber more. This is probatly the
biggest farmers' cooperative elevator compiuiy in a dairy district. The dairy
farmers are going t» protect themselves against low prices in milk by having a
place to sell market grain if they decide to raise such instead of milk, and a
place where they can store home gro'jm grains for use of the members. In this
way the elevator can act as a clearing house for farm grains as well as what
little mill feed they may need. They also intend to handle lumber, coal, etc«
The farmer stockholders are very enthusiastic over this new company and its
success." - Keaton, DuPage County.

"At a noonday luncheon this week with the LaSalle Commercial Board of Com-
merce the cooperation of the organization with farmers' organizations, generally
was enlisted. When tradesmen understand the conservative nature of farmers and
the help to such an organization that such men can be in these timss of general
unrest, they are ready and willing to lend their inauence to such a supplying
force." - Brooks, LaSalle County,

"There is a demand in every community in our county for additional farm helpr
An extra effort will be made on the part of the farmers to do their work themselve
vrith the aid of their families. At the present time there is no indication of
reduction in acreage of crops.

A considerable acreage of the clover which was expected to be left for hay
and pasture this year has been winter-killed. For the most part the area which
was killed out was pastured last fall. Clover which v.-as not pastured in the fall
and which made a good fall growth has lived thru very well. Some of the wheat
failed to live thru the v;inter and will be plowed up and corn planted instead," -
Allison, Livingston County.

Dynamiting Hard Pan Soil. - "One of our farmers contemplated dynamiting the
subsoil of a 10 acre area but was advised to cut down the area to an acre or so,
inasmuch, as the experimental work on this subject did not show conclusive re-
sults. Accordingly, a demonstration meeting was arranged and the subsoil of
about one acre area was broken Up by means of dynamite. The charges were placed
12 feet apart. Unusual interest was shown in the work. The plat will be given
careful study to observe the benefits of this method of breaking up soi|Called
"hardpan" subsoils," - Tillman, St, Clair County-

Needy Tenants uike no Efforts. - "At the meeting of the Illinois Fkrn Com-
mission which was appointed by Governor Lowden to study tenancy questions,
about 50 landowners and tenants were in attendance here. Unfortunately the
men who should have appeared v/ere not before the committee, . Those who appeared^
represented more nearly the better class of both tenants and landlords. The evi-
dence of both the poor landlords and poor tenants was not available." - Lumbrick,
Vermilion County,

Better Roads. - "The member of the Executive Committee having charge of the
road improvement work of the farm bureau this year has issued an appeal to^
every farm bureau member to look after the road near his farm. The past udnter
has offered such a terrible example -oi what road neglect may do that a great ^
deal is being heard now from the farmers themselves with regard to the building
of better roads," - Price, Saline County,

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol* III

April 14, 1920.

TIIvELY TOPICS FOR CIRCULAR LETTERS (#5).

No, 15

2.
3.

5.
6.
7.

Keep the Farm Orchard sprayed. Even if the cold weather killed half

the crop, the remainder will be ioubly valuable.
Three Fence Posts that v^on't wear out - Treated Vi'ood, Steel, Concrete,
It costs no more to raise a 1200 lb. steer than a 600 lb. scrub.
Pure bred Stock Pays. Viihich v/ay is your stock going, up or iovml
The tractor does not add fert5.1ity to the soil.
Kill the weeds while they are small. They die easy then.
"Soybeans are the Life Savers of the land. Planting them in com, and
alone, and when clover fails, enables you to have a Legume every year
on every ucre of ^avr farm. "

8. Vllhy buy high priced legume inoculations when you can get them from a

field near home?

9. Poor crops are no longer justified on $400 land. Plow deep - Plant

good seed - Till thoroly - Harvest well,
10. "He who owns the soil ov;ns up to the sky,"

Good Farm Lares Shoidd be Ered. - "Present conditions in the horse market
certainly indicate that all good, sound draft mares should be gotten into good
physical condition and be bred this spring to the best stallion available. There
is no chance of the inferior kind being profitable. Good ones are bound to be
scarce and high priced." - J. L. Edmonds.

Cold snap at Easter Injured Fruit Buds, - "A temperature of 10 degrees Fahren-
heit in western Illinois on April 5 caught many fruit buds unprepared. This vias
especially noticeable in the apple orchards of Adams, Pike, Calhoun, and Greene
Counties -vvhere the destruction amounted to probably three-fourths of the prospectiveH
crop. Since the indications had pointed to a very uniformly heavy apple crop in
that section of the state, it is quite likely that a fair yield cay yet be had." -
V/. S. Brock, University of Illinois.

Seed Protecto* - "Experiments with Seod Protecto under
show that seeds treated according to the directions put out
germinate somewhat slower than the same kind of seeds untre
in early growth is partially overcome later, but at the end
from untreated seeds are a little over two centimeters tall
treated ones. Further tests are planned this spring to try
under field conditions. Trials h-ive revealed the fact that
wheat treated with Seed Protecto, even when untreated seed
located." - George H. Dungan, Crop Production, University o

greenhouse conditions
with this material

rtted. This retardation
of forty days the plants

er than those from
out Seed Protecto
mice will feed upon

is just as conveniently

f Illinois.

Sid claims he has recently moved into the "best Farm Bureau Building in the

No. 15

Small Pig Crop. -"Indications are for a very short pig crop this year*
Litters are generally small, many abortions, and the percentage of loss is high."-'
Baumeister, Stephenson County,

"The livestock breeders' associations of the county are behind an intensive
program for boys' and girls' club work during the 1920 season, we believe the
support of these breed organizations to be a more legitimate method of pushing
this work than when backed up by a private institution." - Richey, Liercer County,

"The Cooperative Livestock Shipping Associations are playing an important
part in the agricultural vi^ork of the county. Five shipping associations are now
in operation in LcHenry County. Farmers are realizing that they are now in a po-
sition to get all the stock is worth and that they can well afford to hire a good
livestock man to take charge of the shipping work. The price paid by dealers
has been increased from 50(i to *1.50 per cwt, on the same market basis," - Gafke,
kcHenry County.

Cow Testing Association. - "Considerable time during the week was devoted to
organizing a third cov; testing association in the county. All the dairymen who
wish to become members of an association cannot be accomriodated in the two we
have at the present time. The two we have arc having a very desirableef feet not
only on the members, but on the dairymen v;ho come in contact with the members of
these associations. There are certain practices that have been followed by the
dairymen of the district, such as buying their cows, flooding the market with
milk in the winter, etc. 7;hich need correcting. The cow testing associations are
the best agencies I know of to correct these practices." - Richards, Kane County.

"The Edwards County Firm Eureau purchased the first carload of rock phosphate

This phosphate v/as

The phosphate

shipped out through the Illinois Agricultural Association,
bought on the cooperative plan and was divided among ten farmers
tested 13.4^."— Pollock, Edwards County.

"The only wheat that seems to have any proopect is that sown on strong ground
and sown after the fly- free date. In fact, a great deal of wheat sown on the 8th
of October which was the fly-free date set for last fall is in bad condition.
Nearly all of the fields sovai before that time are about as bare as a floor as
far as any wheat is concerned. The per cent of abandoned acreage this spring
will be very high, probably 25 to 35 percent." - Doerschuk, Randolph County.

Results. - "We have just been having a good demonstration of the fact that
our people are becoming interested in the organization E^oveii.ent , more so than
they have been in previous years. Early in karch we selected one farm bureau
member for each four sections in the county and sent to him blank reports on
which we had made a map of the four sections, asking him to mark it with the lo-
cations of the farm houses, and fill in the names of the men living in the houses,
stating whether or not the men were cvners or renters, and if renters, to fill
in the names and addresses of the owners. 131 such report blanks were sent out
to as many men. Only six have not been returned to the office mth the names
filled in. This is a far better percentage than we ever got on similar work even
in war times," - Losher, vToodford County.

A Good Idea. - "Several of the farmers in Knox County have recently gotten
out new letter heads. Among other things which the letter heads carry is a state-
ment that the farmer is a member of the Knox County Farm Eureau. This strikes
us as a good idea," - Bracker, Knox County.

WtM

Vol. Ill Page 3 No. 15

HORSE POl^BR HOLDS ITS OWN.

"Horses and mules are still the chief source of motive power in agriculture
and in draying. They have been read out of existence a good many times in the
world's history.- Nevertheless, the United States Census for I9IO revealed
19.833,000 horses and 4^210,000 mules on farms; and the estimates of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture for January 1, 1920, show 21,109,000 horses and 4,995,000
mules on farms - an increase of 1,276,000 horses and 785,000 mules in the last
decade. In addition to this, we exported, in the 9 year period ending June 30,
1919, 1,149,763 horses and 376,836 mules.

A national survey of the economic status of the horse vs tractor was made
in 1919. The survey reported 200,000 tractors and 143,444 motor trucks on farms.
The tractors displaced from 1 4/5 to 2^ horses per farm where the tractors were
owned. In no case did they displace enough horses to pay for the cost of the
tractor; but on some of the larger farms, where there was much belt work to be
done, they proved valuable for that class of service, and as a supplemental source
of power in the fall when heavy plowing was to be done. The survey further points
out that as horses must be kept to do the many phases of farm work which cannot
be satisfactorily or economically done by a tractor, they are available to meet
the farm needs for transportation of a.^ricultural products.

Good draft horses and mules are returnin;:; to public esteem in cities. Lon
have found they furnish motive power that is reliable, regardless of wind and
weather. During the blizzard in the East this winter, horse and mule teams fur-
nished the only motive power that could get thru the drifts. Of this situation,
a prominent business man in the East, writes: 'Business in New York City wsis al-
most paralyzed for tv7o or three weeks, Lilli6ns of dollers were lost, almost
wholly due to the fact that it was impossible to secure enough teams to cart the
snow. Enough money w^as lost in New York City alone this year to pay for and keep
all the horses the city would need for years to come. In our own city, if it had
not been for the coal v/agons drawn by horses, thousands of people would have ab-
solutely frozen to death.'

Besides being reliable, horses and mules are long lived and low in cost of
maintenance. Leading cartage and teaming companies report that draft animals of
good type, sound and mature when put into heavy city work, will last eight years
and then sell for one- fifth their original cost, for use in lighter v/ork, where
they often continue to give good service for several years.

The rise in prices for good d'r'ift horses and mules, in spite of the existence
J5^more than twenty-one million horses and almost five million mules on farms, in-
dicates how agricultural and transportation needs are grov/ing. Good authorities
predict a gradual rise in prices of horses and mules for the next three years." -
Wayne Din smo re.

All Shippers Join County Shipping Associ:-tion. - "Leetings have been held in
every community in Lee Co'Xity during the past few weeks with ^an average attend-
ance of 25, for the purpose of discussing the County Shipper's Association. Practi
cally every farmer in attendance who has livestock to sell joined the Lee Coxanty
Shippers' Association. Local Lanagers were appointed at each place. From the in-
terest displayed in the association most of the stock at these points v^rill be
shipped thru the Shippers' Association in a very short time. Cars that have been
shipped out thus far have cost a total of between 50 and 60 cents per hundred in-
cluding the Shipping Association charge, freight charge, yardage and commission
fee at Chicigo. This also includes 5<^ per hundred weight for insurance v/hich
pays for losses of hogs from the time they are delivered to the local stock yards
until sold in Chicago, and allovis for fill market price for such loss. The in-
surance in the case of cattle is only 20 per hundred," - Griffith, Lee County.

% Jxl

msum

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILUNOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. Ill

April 21, 1920.

No. 16

QUESTIONS ON LhND PROBLELS.

"How much is farm land worth? On what basis is farm land valued? How should
it be valued? Should farm land be valued solely on its productive net earnings,
or should the anticipated increase in value due to the development of the country
and the consequent increased demand for land be considered in valuing land? How
much has land increased in value during the past 30 to 50 years in different regions?
Are such increases in land values to be considered as earnings, and if so, how much
do such past earnings amount to in terms of annual interest?

Is tenancy undesirable? If so, would it be desirable to abolish it entirely
if this were possible? If tenancy actually serves as a transition step or ladder
for the prospective owner, how much tenancy is necessary to provide enough oppor-
tunity for young men while they are accumulating capital to enable them to buy
land? "Jhen credit conditions are made easier for men who wish to purchase land,
should such improvements be mainly in the direction of a lower rate of interest,
or mainly thru making the condition of time and terms of payment easier and safer?
If leases and plans for operation between landlord and tenant could be improved
so as to insure more profitable farming, would the tenant tend to purchase a farm
earlier because of such increased earnings, or would he remain a tenant longer
and accunulate more capital before purchasing a farm because his status as a tenant
would then be less objectionable?

These and many other questions of equal importance are interesting the student
of land problems these days. These questions must be answered much more complete-
ly, if we are to have even a fairly good basis for working out the solution of the
many and difficult problems involved in this field of study," - v;. F. Handschin,
Professor of Farm Organization and Management,

Farm Bureaus for Scott and Fulaski Counties, - The farmers o f Scott County
decided that being surrounded by farm bureaus without having an organization of
their own was not conducive to their best interests, so a campaign was carried out
by local men and 54^8 members were secured for the farm bureau and I. A. A. The
org.ani2ation meeting was held April 8. The office will be located at V/inchester,

Permanent farm bureau orgaization meeting v.as held at i-ounds in Fulaski
County on Friday, April 9th. This is the eighty- fifth county in Illinois to com-
plete a farm bureau organization,

"Held meeting of the soybean growers Saturday, April 10, and discussed plans
for growing seed for other sections not so favorably situated for this purpose.
The men organized the champaign County Soybean Club* They propose to have several
meetings and trips during the summer and hope with the help of the College of
Agriculture to be able to sell certified seed. kr. Hackleman of the University of
Illinois attended the meeting." - Oathout, Champaign County,

Vol. Ill Page 2 No. iC

Winter '''heat, - "It is estimated for the State that the condition of the grow-
ing crop on April 1st was 6? per cent of *he normal as compared with 101 per cent
on April 1, 1919, and 82 per cent the ten year average. This indicates a crop of
about 33,000,000 bushels as compared with an estimated production of 57,800,000
bushels last year.

For the United States the condition is estimated at 75.6 per cent of the
normal as compared with 99.fi per cent on April 1, 1919 and 84,1 per cent, the ten
year average. This condition forecasts a production of about 483,617,000 bushels
upon the assumption of average abandonment of acreage and average change of con-
dition during the growing season. This compares with an estimated production of
731,636,000 bushels last year," - S. D. Fessenden, Illinois Crop Reporting Service,

"With the coming; of spring the early sowed fields of wheat are showing up
very badly. Fields that looked fine last fall are practically bare this spring.
Probably fifty per cent of the acreage that v;as seeded last fall will not be left
for wheat crop this year. v;ith only about half as much wheat sov.ti in 1919 -s
was seeded the preceding year, and with half of this destroyed already, the wheat
crop in Vermilion County will be very short this year." - Lumbrick, Vermilion Co.

"The acreage of oats this year will be cut dovm because of the continued v,-et
weather. In some fields the oats have rotted, especially where covered with water.
I do not think that late oats v;\ll be sown as much in the future. Next year
several carloads of Iowa 103 seed 7;ill be shipped in, \7e expect to pool orders
next spring, our farn:.er3 are seeing the benefits from poolings orders of many
kinds." - Belting, Shelby County.

"Rains have again interfered with farm ?;ork. Very few oats have been seeded
except in sandy soil or well dr -inod" fields- Some men are determined to sow as
late as the last of this month if it is impossible to do so before. Others have
given up sowing oats," - Logan, Crawford County.

"Old alfalfa fields are badly heaved and practically killed out where ordinary
soil treatment has been used. One five year old field near v;. Frankfort uhere 8
tons of limestone had been used, stood the winter fine. On the same farm where
three or four tons of limestone had been used the alfalfa heaved out and died.
These two adjacent fields are located on rolling yellow gray silt loam, and have
adequate natural surface drainage. It looks like the amount of limestone used means
the difference between success andfailure in bringing alfalfa thru a hejd winter, "-
deWerff, Franklin County,

"A number of alfalfa fields were exacined this week. All of it is heaved by
frost more or less. What was sot-ti last fall is almost entirely killed out* The
spring sowing has come thru the winter in fairly good shape. One member has a
good demonstration of the value of northern grown seed. One part of the field was
seeded in the fall of I918 with the northern grown seed, and the other part was
sown with seed gotten from a local store, source unknovm. The Northern seed came
thru the winter in good shape and that part of the field looks very v;ell. The
other part is almost entirely killed out," - Rehling, Clinton County.

"Last summer's seeding of alfalfa is in bad condition. A great deal of sweet
clover is being seeded.

Farmers are planning to sow considerable acreage to cow peas this year. They pre-
fer a chance on peas rather than corn *ith the bugs showing up as they are this
spring," - Eyman, Jersey County.

Vol. III. -sK

Page 3

No. 16

"This is the tendency of the paper narket at the present time, while the
chief concern seems to be whether paper can be had at all, Lills are flooded
with orders, deliveries slov;, warehouse stocks of many br Jids exhausted. Buyers
of paper are contracting for their 1920 requirements, some for 1921 as well»
If youf atock is lev; take care of your paper and printing needs nov/ - bond,
mimeograph and bulletin papers, cards, letterheads, envelopes. The paper market
is advancing." - R. D. Briem,

Meed of Labor Serious. - "One of the most noticeable things one finds in
talking with farmers aside from the condition of r;heat and oats seeding is the
lack of farm help. The situation in Coles County this year is far more serious
than it was at any time during the v;ar." - Thomas, Coles County,

"A great many fields of clover have been reported winter killed. This makes
an additional problec to provide hay and pasture, A limited survey recently in-
dicates that there will be one-fourth more acres of corn planted this year than
last, a somewhat increased acreage of oats and a decreased acreage of spring
and winter wheat." - Longmire, Grundy County.

"The young clover is in good shape over most of the country. Quite a number
of our farmers have scv.!! sweet clover in the v,-heat and a fairly good stand is
promised as it now :.ppears. This l.:jid has all been limed. V/e have succeeded in
getting quite a number of our farmers to order limestone for early delivery, A
great deal of interest is being taken in the sowing of sv.-eet clover and alfalfa
on the thin rolling land. The cool weather and much rain is very favorable to
the late sown wheat in our country. A few oats have been so^m. We have a few
fields of fine clover from last year's seeding. In some localities the chinch
bugs are beginning to fly. If we have much more rain it will hardly be advisable
to sow oats. Cow peas will be so-m in all probability to take the place of the
oats now som.ti. " - Eyman, Jersey County.

Sv/eet Clover Solves the Problem. - "Owing to the backward season, grass is
slow to start and farmers scanty stock of feed is rapidly disappearing. One of
our members says "That does not trouble me". He has 12 acres Sweet Clover^now
about 10 inches high upon which he is pasturing a large amount of stock. Further-
more, he says he never saw stock do better." - Thomas, Jackson County.

"Sodium nitrate to be of maximum value in orchards, both apple and peach,
must be applie-ljearly. If not yet applied any where south of Urbana latitude,
it would be just as well to wait till 1921. Apple trees may yet be sprayed\:
with dormant strength lime sn] -fur in Vne no-thern horticultural section with the
exception of the kississipp^ river Mu<^fs where the season is more advanced.

The United States Department of Hgrxcviture , has just issued Farmers'
Bulletin No. 108? on "Beautifying the Fa-mstead". The fundamental principles ot
ornamental planting are well set forth and illustrated. Farmers' Bulletin Mo.
908 is the best practical hand book of sprays ^and spraying yet publishc ^.. The
schedule of applications is not applicable to Illinois conditions but as a general
treatise on the subject, it is fine, A description of the more important in-
sects and fungi is also given. The U. S. Department would be glad to send several
copies of the above bulletins to each farm bureau office to supply any members
who might request information." - \V. S. Brock.

saam

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

Vol. Ill

UNI\KRSny OFA^tLlNggS^^a^ANA, ILLINOIS

No. 17

LAI'JD PROBLEM'S.

"Earning: capacity is undoubtedly the most important single factor in deter-
mining the selling price of farm land. In spite of other factors the differences
m price between lands located in the same general region and having about equal
a^rketing facilities are due to a very large extent to differences in capacity
for producing crops. In Illinois, e.g., somewhat common variations in the price
of farm land ranged from ^50 to .:'60 per acre to $250 or ;;J300 per acre before the
war. At the present time, prices range from C70 to OSO per acre to $400 or S500
and even higher in exceptional cases. All available studies show that these dif-
ferences in the price of land correspond quite closely to the differences in earn-
ing capacity of such lands in various parts of the state. In spite of occasional
exceptions these differences in the price of farm lands of different quality
seem to follow auite closely the differences in earning capacity.

So far as we have spoken of the relative prices of farm land, that is, of
the variation in quality or productive capacity. But on what basis is the price
fixed for a given farm or for land of the same quality in a given region? That
IS, ^rAiy does a certain grade of land in a given locality sell for $100, v300, or
v500 per acre?

Practically all studies of farm earnings show that the average farm business
in ordinctry times does not earn more than from 3,% to ^% on the investment based
on the current sailing price of land, another way of saying the same thing is
that the price of farm land is determined by capitalizing the net earnings at
the rate of 3,% or ^%, That is, the farmer is willing to bid the price of land up
to the point where the net earning per acre will represent only 3/o or A% interest
on the price paid per acre. To illustrate, if the net earnings of a certain
grade of land are .;i2 per acre, and these earnings are capitalized at the rate
°f ^t' *^® ■'■^^ ""^^^^ ^^^^ atc^OO per acre. If the net earnings are capitalized
at A./,, the land will sell at :3C0 per acre. The amount which the prospective
purchaser can pay for land depends upon how low a rate of interest he is willing
or can afford to take on his investment. In the illustration just cited, if the
prospective buyer could afford to and were willing to take 2% on his investment,

^'+ L^^^'^ ^^^ *^°° P'^^ ^^^^ ^°^ '^^'^ land. If he were borrowing all of the money
at 6/, and had to pay the interest out of the net earnings he could pay only ^200
per acre for the land." - (To be continued in our next issue) - W. p. Handschin.

""Snsiderable effort has been made to relieve the shipping situation.. Be-
cause of the strike on the Santa Fe Railroad at the stock yards, we have been '
unable to ship any livestock. It seems that other roads are putting stock into
the yards and we have succeeded in getting permission from the Public Utilities
Commission to grant us a special rate by way of Galesburg and Burlington route, ••-
Ix-iner, Henderson County,

Vol. Ill Page 2 No. 17.

Planning New Sale Pavilion.. "The Executive Committee of the County Breed-
ers' Association met Friday and made arrangements for a committee to take up
the matter of building an exhibition and sale pavilion at Carthage. The Com-
mittee also authorized the secretary of the Association to publish a directory
of the purebred livestock of the county," - Lloyd, Hancock County.

Cow Testing Association Pays, "On Tuesday I attended a sale of grade Holstein
cattiel All of the milk co7;s which were old enough had a two year re cor din the
Cow Testing Association. These cows all had extra good records and were of the
dairy iype» The high cow sold for ^325. and the average price : for the 22 cows
giving milk was $191. The man who made the salethinks that these records in-
creased the average price per cow from $50 to ^15- Thiswas certainly a paying
proposition and shows the advantage of the cow testing work." - Miller, I/,acoupin Co

"Cooperative marketing of fruits and vegetables was made the chief subject
for discussion at the annual meeting in early Larch, Since that time we have
held meetings at the 5 different shipping points in the county. At each neet-
ing there was a good attendance and after a discussion a committee of 5 was
appointed at each place. It will be the duty of this committee to ascertain
the spirit in its community and determine whether or not it is advisable to go
further at this time. There is hardly a question as to what the spirit will be
and there seems to be a very strong sentiment in favor of an improved system
of marketing.

The farm bureau has also appointed a committee of 5 to take the leadership
in this matter. My feeling is, that we can put across a cooperative^narketing
association that will embrace the entire county. We also hope to organize it
with the view of having it embrace all of southern Illinois sometime in the near
future." - Durst, Union County,

Number of Breeding Sov/s Cut Down. - "The reports received from the corre-
spondents of the Illinois Crop Reporting Service show a substantial reduction in
the number of breeding sows on April 1 from the number in the State on the same
date last year. The number now present is estimated at 86 per cent of last year*
The country as a vjhole also shows a reduction in number according to the report
of the U. S, Bureau of Crop Estimates, T)*ich reports that there are now in the
United States but 90,1 per cent of the number on April .1, 1919«

Falling and unsatisfactory prices for hogs, high cost of feed, scarcity and
high price of farm labor have done much to produce this result." - S. D, Fessenden,
Illinois Crop Reporting Service.

To Get Livestock Survey. - "V/e plan to make a livestock survey of the county
•while getting the mailing list for our membership campaign. One man has been
selected in each quarter of a township to get the correct name and address of
each farmer or landov;ner in his respective territory and he will be provided with
blanks for making the livestock survey at the same time. One of the men in each
township 7;ill be responsible for the work of the other three. In our small county,
8 tovmships, we hope this method will prove satisfactory." - Brown, Stark County,

"Four shearing, docking and castrating demonstrations were held this week,
0. Y/. Crawford of the University of Illinois did the demonstrating, and gave man]
valuable suggestions. At three of these meetings, there was an attendance of 25
to B5 each. A chance was given to sheep rnen to express their views about a wool
pool again this yearj it was almost unanimous opinion that 7/e should po«l this
year. We Have decided to load two cars, one at the east side and one at the
west side of the Co\jnty. " - Wise, Iroquois County.

voT^TT Page 3 No. 17.

Peach Tree Borer. "Probably the greatest single enemy of the peach in Illi-
nois is the peLich trer borer. Many experiments with sprays, washes, and dry pro-
tectors in this an 1 other states have failed to develop any efficient practical
means of controlling this insect. The only reliable method of preventing injury
by this borer is to go over the trees twice each season and remove the young
worms with a sharp knife and a piece of flexible wire. This worming should be
done luring October an 1 again bet'«/een the 20th of Lay and the 10th of June -
the worming in the fall to get the early hatched borers, and that in the spring
to take out any which have been overlooked in the fall, and kill them before
they begin to seriously injure the tree.

Scrape the earth away from the trunk to a depth of two or hrce inches
before starting to remove the borers. Care shoiild be taken in cutting out the
borers. Use a sharp, pointed knife; cut with the grain of the bark or wood;
have the cuts pointed at the upper and lower ends to facilitate healing; use
the fine wire for killing the borers in deep burrows. If possible, spray the
trunk of the tree thoroly with strong lime sulphur solution after cutting out
the worms.

This borer is mighty important not only in the commercial but in the family
peach orchar '3 of the bt.;tb, and is not given as much attention as it should be."
^J. P. Flint.

"Komu Vegetable Ge.r-.fcn and Orchard. Early cabbage should be transplanted
as soon as the ground jjai vreather will permit, h word of caution to those who
are too eager to transpl-yit tomatoes is in ordur; Lay 10 is a good date for
central sections- String beans and sweet corn may be safely planted now.

The most important liingle spray for peaches is applied when the shucks are
being pushed off. The materials are lead arsenate 1 pound, and freshly slaked
lime 2 pounds, in each 50 gallons. This is to control the curculio v/hich
causes the wormy peaches.

where cherries escaped the frosts, spray when the petals fall with lime
sulphur, l-i gallons, ani lead arsenate 1 pound, in each 50 gallons. This is
princip ally to control curculio but is to control leaf-spot as well.

Early apples-, are ready for the calyx spray in the southern section. Fill
the calyx cup with poison. Generally speaking, this spray will pay the largest
dividends. Use 1^ gallons lime sulphur and 1 pound of lead arsenate in each 50
gallons. The lime sulphur is also to control scab.

If you do not alrealy have a supply of Circular 212 - Spraying Schedules
for all Fruits - may we send you some?" - 'J. S. Brock-

Adviser for Eon i County. - Ch-.rles Tarble, University of Illinois 1913,
who has been manager of an 832 acre farm at kartinsville , Illinois, has been
employed as county adviser for Bond County. He began v;ork April 17, with heal-
quarters at Greenville, Illinois.

Altho the JoDavies County Farm Bureau was organized last September it
has just recently been able to secure Lr. Clifford C. Burns to act as Farm
Adviser in that county. Lr. Burns was brought up on a farm in the south-
western part of Wisconsin and is a graduate of the Plattsville Normal School,
V.isconsin, and the University of Illinois. He also attended the University
of \7isconsin. He was Principal of the Harlem Consolidated School near Rock-
ford in 'j/innebago County for four years, and v/as County Adviser in Aitkin
County, kinnesota, during the season of 19l8. He resigned his position there
to enter the oirmy. Since last September i..r. Burns has been assisting in the
organization work of the Illinois Agricultural Association. He expects to be-
gin work in JoDavies County on Lay 1, with headquarters at Elizabeth.

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. Ill Lay 5, 1920, No. l8. |

The formal openint^ of the i ticon County Farm Bureau buildini^ Saturday was an
impressive event, A reception committee of farm bureau members ani their wives
met visitors and conducted them thru the buildinr^. A regular jazz orchestra fur-
nished the music, for the occasion. Professor Handschin addressed the afternoon
meeting and Dean Davenport the evening, meetinr;.

"The business operations of our f-^rm bureau are now entirely handled by the
farm bureau's 'foster child', The Edr:ar County Seed Association. The Seed asso-
ciation has hired its ov/n manarer and stenographer and now stands firmly on its
own feet. Thru this ' foster child' wo have been able to supply our own members
with reliable, clean seed and have saved ther. hundreds of dollars. A concrete
example of this is the savin?; of Cl500. on a car of seed potatoes last v^eek«"-
Bunn, Edgar County.

"At the Farm Bureau Executive Committee meetint'" it was decided to devote
a part of our surplus into buildin.r. limestone ani phosphate sheds, president
Kinr announced the farm bureau would subscribe $300. to any farmers' elevator
which would put up a like amount for bins." - Hui-^hos, iv.enard County,

Flour I^^ill.- "No line of work that our or?,anization has fostered has cre-
ated so much interest as the community flour mill. Y.-e are all anxious to see
whether it is possible for us to produce flour that will pive satisfaction and
that will meet people's requirements,"- Eckhardt, DeKalt County,

Stock Goinc to iviexico. - "A number of men from kexico have been buyinf: cat-
tle and hO;-s in this county and now have six carloads already at the stock yards
in Shipman which they have not been able to ship out on account of the railroad
strike. All together these men bourht about 750 head of cattle and several hun-
dred head of ho-s. These animals are all to be shipped to a larfj.e ranch near
Mexico City." - Phillips, Lacoupin County,

County Granre offers Prizes. -"Ket with the County Gran;:',e Fair board this
afternoon and was assured of 150 for prizes for the Boys' and Girls' Pi<T and
Calf Clubs for this year." - Lopan, Crawford County,

Turning on Pasture.- "The time to turn on pasture will depend to some ex-
tent on the growth and condition of the pasture. It is usually desirable to
give the grass a good start. In order to do this, turninr on pasture may be de-
layed until kay 1 or later. It is desirable to make the change from dry feed to
grass gradually and slowly. One practice is to give the cows their usual feed and
then allow them to be on the pasture for only a few hours during the first days,
A sudden change from dry feed to pasture may affect the taste of the milk." -
C, S- Rhode.

XXI

mm^

Burnt Offerings.- Nearly every evening now one cun see the horizon lit up
in many places v/ith the glow of burnin:: corn stalks. While this practice is

still all too common yet it is becoming mori

anc

more unusual as farirers are

learning the costliness of the practice. There has already been so much said
and printed about the folly of burning cornstalks that there is actually a sen-
timent anainst it and the neighbors are apt to remonstrate nowadays.

Can you as either tenant or owner afforl to burn off the stalks before plow-
inC? Let us see what it means. There is only one excuse for it under the sun
and that is to make plowini' and cultivation a little easier. There are tv/o ."ood
reasons for not burning. The nitroren alone contained in the avera,3:e acre of
cornstalks is about 30 pounds. At the present market price of fertilizer it
would cost at least -^10 per acre to replace the burned nitro.Ten alone. Then ■
there is also some loss in the potassium and phosphate contained. The second
reason is the loss of humus or organic matter that the stalks v/ould furnish.
The decaying stalks plowed under improve the physical condition of the soil mak-
ing it looser, easier to work and more retentive of moisture. Every owner who
burns stalks could le.-itimately claim a deduction of --10 per acre from his Federal
Income tax return for loss and depletion of fertility. I had the experience
last year of bein- asked by a farmer sitting on his stalk rake, why the soil I
was standing on worked so hard and was so run together. It was not hard to find
one big reason at least. Figure it all out and then ask - does it pay?-

, "kost of the calls for farm visits are in cases of sick hogs and poor stands

of wheat. Also the farmers are beginning to inquire about the effect of the con-
tinued cold wet weather upon the oats w.'hich were sown several vreeks ago and are
only just beginning to sprout. Our clover went thru the winter in good shape
except v/here it v/as mov.'ed or pastured close and some of those fields have already
been plowed for corn." - Lloyd, Hancock County,

H. C. SSfheeler has been employed as Farm Adviser by the Lawrence County Farm
Bureau, and begem work Lay 1. Lr, V.heeler was brought up on a farm in North-
eastern Ohio, graduated from the Ontario Agricultural College, farmed for nearly
two years after graduation, and for a number of years had charge of the soil sur-
vey work in southern Illinois, The headquarters of the Farm Bureau will be at
Lawrenceville,

Eckhardt Resi-ms. Succeeded by Roberts. -"The resi.tnation of L.r. Vvta, B,
Eckhardt who has been farm adviser in DeKalb County since June 1, 1912, was
accepted by the directors of the DeKalb County Soil Improvement Association on
April 30, and i^r. Thomas Roberts, assistant adviser, was elected to succeed him,
Jir. Eckhardt was made business manager of the DeKalb County Association, and will
give two days per week to that work. I.;r, Eckhardt has been chosen to head the
grain marketing committee of the Illinois Agricultural nssociation. We rerret
very much to lose 'Bill" fron^ our number, but congratulate him upon bein'^ called
to this wider field of usefullnes, - G. N. Coffey-

Land Problems.- "Because of the lack of exact accounting- information, very
few farmers can tell accurately what are the net earnings of any -"iven piece of
land. The most successful javiL^rs. no doubt, have a fairly good general idea of
the gross earnings of land in their ovn recrion, or any other region mth v/hich
they are fairly familiar. It is evident, however, that v.'ithout more accurate ac-
counts upon which to c::lculate the value of land as based on its net earnin's,
that the basis for valuinr- such land in the case of the large majority of pur-
chasers must be after all little more than a somewhat rough estimate.

In spite of these facts it is apparent that the prices v/hich farmers have
been willin- to pay for land have been arrived at in the main as a result of acre

Vol. Ill

Pare 3

No. 18

^^+W^^^^Bi^H^^5W!ffiff?o^oi^trei^par^^^Evi?ein^^u^maki^^suc^c^R?ffi^^^^^
tions they fi-ured by one method or another to arrive at the value of the land by
capitalizin,: some portion of the gross earnin s.

Since the eross earnings of a lar^e proportion of farms are derived from a few
sources of income, a very lar,re proportion of which come from a small number of ma-
jor transactions, it is much easier for the farmer who does not keep accounts to
make a fairly accurate estimate of his ^ross than of his net income. In attempting
to arrive at the net income of land farmers no doubt make certain deductions from
the ^?"timated t^ross earnings for such items of farm expense as are plainly reco?;-
nized and which can be somewhat readily estimated with some decree of accuracy. The
most common of these items v.'ould most likely be the larv^er ones, especially those
paid in cash . This would probably include hired labor, taxes, threshing, new build-
ings and machinery, important repairs and renewals, and the larf'.er purchases of feed,
seed, and live stock. Other items more likely to be overlooked in estiaating the
farm expenses, ars: the labor of the farmer and that of the members of his family
not paid for in cash; deprcci-tion of buildin's, fences, machinery, horses, and
breedinr stock; and the miscellaneous items of expense of a minor nature v;hich
often amount in the aggregate to a considerable sum durin-- the course of the year.

In making such calculations it is no ioubt true that in the main the farmer
usually overlooked certain items of faru earnings which were contributed by the farm
to the personal use of the farmer and his family. Lost import-ant amon', these are
the rent of the farra house, the use of farm produce such as meat, milk, e^?s, fruit,
rarden vegetables, and the use of the farm horses for personal service. In the :'
main, however, these items appear to be of much less importance than the items of
farm expense usually omitted in the calculation.

As a result of the methods of calculation apparently employed by farmers in at-
tempting to arrive at the value of land, there seems to have been a general ten-
dency to capitalize too lar-^e a portion of the ctoss income. This assumption is
based not only on "cncral observation, but upon a considerable amount of experience
in carrying on both detailed cost accounting and reneral accountinj studies with
several hundred farmers in various sections of Illinois durinp; the past 7 years.

It appears, therefore, that farmers in estimatinr, the value of farm land have
tended to capitalize not the actual net earnings, but an amount somewhat larrer
than the actual net earnin.^s, i.e. somewhat over-estimated or inflated net earnings.

In so far as this has been true it has no doubt resulted in the farmers pay ins-
more for land than was justified by its actual realized net earnings. For example,
if a farmer estimated that the net earnintrs of a eiven piece of land were ^15 F«r
acre, and he expected to make a return of 5% on his investment, he Vi'ould fi=^ure
that the land was worth .'300 per acre. That is, a net return of '"15 per acre wouli
pay 5f„ interest on a valuation of "^300. If, however, the actual net returns were
only vlO per acre, instead of 015 as estimated by the prospective purchaser, then
by the same method of fi'urinc: the land would be worth only '200 per acre instead
of g300. If the actual net return had been ';'12-50 per acre, the value cf the land
would have been '^250. instead of C300,

It is apparent, therefore, that in just so far as farmers tend to overestimate
the net earnings of land, they will tenc to pay more for it than is justified by
its actual realized net earnin-s. In so far as this tendency to overestimate the
net earnings of farm land has been a factor in advancing" the price beyond the point
justified by its earninrrs,- and consequently reducin- the rate of interest earned-,
v/e may hope that this factor will tend to disappear as farmers generally "et more ac
curate accountinr information regariin.; their business. The more accurate informati
farmers have regardinr the net earnings of farm land, the more accurately will they^
aljust the price they are willin- to pay for such land, to its actual earnin- capaci

A more important factor in advancinr the price of farm land beyond the point'
justified by its net earnings, is no doubt, the anticipated increase in the price of
land due to the increase in population an-; the resultinrr increase in the demand ;for
food and the other products of Ian:, ^J-is qu^^^i<^« i-dll be discussed in the next
issue of the Lessenger." - 17. F- I'jnipc>- jja.

A scries of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Statien Workers and the

State Leader's- Office

l-XIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. Ill

May 12, 192C,

No. 19

Winnebago in the Ring.- For the past three years the attention of every or-
ganized fare bureau in Illinois has been centered__pn Winnebago County. Last Sat-
urday afternoon, during the busiest season of the year, 40 fanners left their
plows and tractors to lend their aid and support in organizing a farm bureau.

After a thoro discussion and earnest consideration as to the advisability
of organizing, every Ean present voted to form a temporary orgfinization and put
on a membership campaign. Twenty men wrote checks for their first year's dues
to finance the caapaign. 7,'innebago County intends to profit by the experience
of the organized counties and develop one of the strongest farm bureaus in the
state, - v;, F. Handschin.

Robbins Employed by DeV.itt County. - We ^-elcome back to our ranks, I-.r- S. ~.
Robbins, 7;1io was for several years farm adviser in Taze7;ell County, but for the
last two years has been manager of a large farm in Adams County. I.;r. Robbins takes
the place of Lr. Floyd L. Johnson. His headquarters are at Clinton* - G. N, Coffey

"A meeting of the farm bureau officers and directors, the pure bred livestock
officers and directors, and our seed ccupany directors was called T.'ednesday after-
noon, rtpril 28. At this meetLng it vfas the unanimous decision that the stock-
holders of the '.Voodford County /agricultural Association be called to a special
meeting and provision made to increase the authorized capital stock to 05C,COO in
order that a building may be erected and the seed business financed so as to take
care of the probable increase during the next few years." - Losher, "oodford County

"Lr, R. F. Shaffer, who has been assistant adviser in Toodford Co'-inty for
two years past, has accepted a position as farm adviser in Knox County, r.issouri.
Ke will take up his work there l..ay 15." - Ivlosher, V/oodford County.

Durst :;oes to Cook '"ounty. - LIr. C S. Durst has decided to accept a posi-
tion as Farm .^idviser in Cook County, and will take up the work there as soon as .
arrangements can be made for his successor in Union County,

Faro -rtdviser for Douglas County. - The Douglas County Farm Bureau has decided
to employ Lr. Frank '.V, Garrett as Farm Adviser for that county. Llr, Garrett
was brought up on a farm in Kankakee County, graduated from the University of
Illinois, and has for several years been connected with the field experiments in
soil fertility. He expects to begin work about June 1.

"The DeV.-itt Coxinty Farmers' Elevator Company completed arrangonents this
week by buying both elevators in Clinton, and hiring a manager. They arranged
to take over the operations of the Clinton Shipping Association and will begin
the operations on the elevator about Jime 1," " Robbins, DeV.'itt County.

Vol. Ill

Page 2

No. 19

Psinn Bureau Efficiency Factors. > The following results of a study of some
factors having to do with the efficiency of farm bureau work was presented by Mr.
S. K. Thompson, Farm Ivlanagement Demonstrator in Iowa at the State Conference of
Extension V.'ork, which I had the pleasure of attending. It should prove of interest
to the farm advisers in Illinois.

Mr. Thompson says: "In presenting briefly the results of this efficiency study
we shall confine ourselves to the part played in farm bureau efficiency by the fol-
lowing factors: (l) kembership, (2) Board of Directors, (3) Program of ^tork, and
(4) Records. No attempt will be made to discuss the agent or the stenographer as
factors nor will any allusion be made to the office itself nor to cooperation with
other agencies, Altho the importance of these fictors is well recognized it is
believed that they will be automatically taken care of provided the bureau has a
large and interested membership and alert and active directors, koreover, it is
hardly to be expected that an able agent provided with a suitable office and a com-
petent stenographer could accomplish much unless he has a strong orpwization sup-
porting him". - G. M. Coffey

AVERAGE FERCRIJT OF:

! Nine Leas*'.
j Efficient

I Nine i.ioart
{Efficient

Fifty-eight

Bureaus i

l^kBERSKIP INDEX

Farmers who are members - 1918

Farmers who are members - 1919

Anember s who are farm oper-jtors 1919

ADLINI STRATI CE INDEX

Attendance at Board Leetings
Attendance at Executive Coirimittee Meetings

15
12
78

19
19

31
63

1 71

! 58

1 64

PROGRAM INDEX

Rural population reoched by meetings I918

Tovmships reached - 1918 j

Townships reached - 1919 1

Members visited - I918 j

L. embers served - I918 !

11
73

39
67

19
78

FARIi BUREaU MDEX (Average of all Factors)

' fel

i 40

TS"

47
69

78
83
54
72

"A joint meeting of the farm bureau members of the i«.cDonough ajid Fulton County
Farm Bureaus was held at Vermont Londay evening, May 3, to consider the organiza-
tion of a Farmers' Elevator Company. It was decided that an organization capital-
ized at C50,000 be formed." - Doneghue, t.cDonough County.

"A Farmers* Elevator Company was organized by the farmers in the vicinity of
Voorhies this week. The company is backed with a subscription of '"lO^QOO, This
is the thirteenth farmers' elevator company to be organized in this county%" -
Burwash, Piatt County.

"The first livestock shipping association in Livingston County was organized
Saturday evening, i^ay 1, at Forrest. Forty-four farmers signed as members to
the 'Forrest Shipping Association'. It is expected that the Forrest Shipping as-
sociation will ship not only from Forrest but also from Vking and it is probable
that the membership will be greatly increased." - Allison, Livingston County.

Vol. Ill Page 3 No. 19.

LrtND PROBLELS

Land values in the United States have increased almost without interruption
for more than two generations. For the United States as a whole the average per
acre value of land and buildings as reported by the census was CH-l'^ in I85O;
C16.32 in i860; -18.26 in I87O; ;;19.02 in 1880; v21.31 in I89O; 019.81 in I9OG;
^d ^^39.60 in 1910. Every census period, with the exception of the one from I89O
to 1900 has shovm an increase in the value of l-md and buildings.

For the entire 60 year period from I850 to I9IO the average per acre value
of land and buildings increased more than 3^ times. The census of 1920 will, no
doubt, show a further substantial increase in the value of farm lands in the
United States as a whole.

For the East North Central section including the states of Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, the average per acre value of land and build-
ings increased from $13.38 in I850 to 075.25 in 1910, i.e. more than 5i times
during the 60 year period.

For the '^.'est North Central section including the states of Iv.innesota, North
and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, and Lissouri, the increase was from
S6.40 per acre in 1850 to v49,92 in I91O, i.e. an increase of nearly 700 percent.

For the state of Illinois the increase was from -.7.99 in I850 to ^'■108.32
m 1910. That is, the average per acre value of land and buildings for Illinois
farms increased more than 13-|- times during the 60 year period from I85O to 1910.

It is obviously true that the average per acre values of the farmer's land
and buildings for the various dates given do not represent altogether accurately
his increases in wealth. During this period, the average size of farm for the
United States as a whole decreased from 202.6 acres in 1850 to 138,1 acres in
1910. In the East North Central section the average sized farm decreased from
136,3 acres to 105/ acres during the same period. In Illinois the decrease was
from 158. acres in 1850 to 129.1 acres in 191O. nltho the West North Central
section reported an increase in the average size of farm, from I80 acres in
I850 to 209,6 acres in I9IO, the general tendency during this period was toward
smaller farms both for the United States as a v.'hole as v.'ell as for most individ-
ual sta.tes. This reduction in the size of farms was upon the whole relatively
unimportant, however, when compared with the increases in their value per acre.
That is, the decrease in the acreage size of the farmer's holdings was much more
than offset by the increases in the value of his land per acre.

These increases in the average value of land per acre continued durinf^iearly
ai:^ of the period from I850 to 1910 in spite of the fact that a great expansion
in the farm area was taking place^ That is, a great number of acres of nev^ land
having only a nominal or small value were being added to the farm area during
each ten year period. Under these conditions the increase in value per acre for
any given farm was likely to be more rapid than for groups of farms to which new
areas of cheap or free land were constantly being added. We need only to note
in this connection that the number of acres of farm land in the United States in-
creased from 293,560,614 in 1850 to 878,798,325 acres in I9IO. It is also im-
portant to note that while the numbers of farms increased from 1,449,073 in l850
to 6,361,502 in 1910 that the total valuation of all farm land and buildings
increased from 53,271,575,426 in 1^50 to 334,801,125,697 in 1910. That is, while
the number of farms was increasing 33 j%, the total value of the land and build-
ings increased by 943f^. The more detailed discussion of how these increases in
land values have affected representative local areas as well as individual farms
will appear in the next issue of the Lessenger. - ViJ. F. Handschin.

.-1

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

^°^- ^^^ May 19, 1920. No, 20

The Schuyler County Farm Bureau has employed Mr, G. E. Gentle as Farm Ad-
viser for that county. Mr. Gentle was brought up on a farm in Knox County, After
graduating from high school, he managed, with his brother, a farm of 280 acres
for two years. Since graduation he has been connected with the soil survey in
Illinois. He expects to begin work June 1st, His headquarters v/ill be at Rush-
ville.

Mr. Frank N. Barrett has been employed as assistant adviser in Pike County,
Mr. Barrett graduated from the College of Agriculture, University of Illinois, in
1917. He is at present with the University of Kentucky, but will take up his
new work in Pike County on June 1.

Do you want Agriculttiral College men who are born and bred farmers to come
and work on the farm this summer? V/e are informed that a number of men who have
been reared on a farm and knov/ how to do farm work, are desirous of going to work
on good farms this summer. They can begin about June 10. Some men desire po-
sitions on farms which handle considerable livestock. Address, Dept. of Animal
Husbandry, College of Agriculture, Urbana, Illinois.

Wild Onion Flavor in Cream. - "Farm Bureaus should warn their members that
are producing cream that there is great danger, especially at this time of the
year, of cream becoming contaminated with the flavor of wild onions. This con-
tamination is due to the cows eating :the succulent tops of wild onions that in-
fest pastures.

There is no method for eliminating this flavor from cream and it will be
transmitted to the butter. There is difficulty in marketing onion flavored but-
ter, and it must be sold considerably below the market price for good butter.
If the cream producer can not keep his cows from eating wild onions by temporarily
fencing off the onion infested areas of his pastures, he must be content with
selling his cream as a second grade product at a lower market price than is paid
for first quality cream." - H. A- Ruehe, Dept- of Dairy Husbandry, University of
Illinois.

"Spring Conditions Affecting the Cream Producer", is the title of a four-
I page circular (#195) reprinted by the Illinois Experiment Station which treats
i in detail the chief troubles affecting quality of cream at this time of the year,

"The first Hivpstock Survey conducted by the Illinois Agricultural Association
in cooperation vidth the local FSirm Bureau has been under way in Knox County for
about a week. To date, it seems evident that the farmers are going to respond
in a splendid way, to the request for the information asked of them." - Bracker,
Knox County.

iiiap

LiiND PROBLa.S.

"This farm has been in the family just 62 years, almost exactly two genera-
tions, hy father bought it in 1858 for ^12. 50 per acre. In 1889, after farming
It for 31 years he sold it to me for just s^x times what he paid for it, or '75 per
acre. I have now farmed it another 31 year's. In order to sell it for six times
what I paid for it I should have to get|450 per acre. I have recently been offered
$400. "

The above remark was made by l..r. s. S. Chapman of Carthage, Illinois, to the
students of the Farm Management classes on their recent field trip to visit the
farms of some of the cost accounting cooperators in Hancock County,

Mr, J, H. Lloyd, the county farm adviser who stood near by, contributed the
significant comment, -And if he doesn't want to sell he better not offer his land
for C450."

All who are somewhat familiar with the history of land prices in the corn
belt v/ill appreciate at once that kr. Chapman's case is not an unusual one- ^s
far as the increases in land values are concerned it is in fact somewhat typical.

We pointed out in last week's Lessenger that the per acre value of land an
buildings in Illinois had increased more than 13-|- times during the 60 year period
from 1850 to 1910, If we study the increases in the value of land and buildings
for some representative Illinois counties during the 50 year period from i860 to
1910, we find that such increases range all the way from 200°{- to more than B50%^
These increases are based on the average per acre value of land and buildings for
all of the farms in the counties under consideration. In Champaign County, e.g.,
the increase during the 50 year period amounted to 737>; in McLean County 752;:.;
in Iroquois 856^c; and in Kane and BeKalb, two somewhat typical northern Illinois
counties, 276/, and 475/., respectively.

If we analyze these increases from the standpoint of the rate of interest
earned as a result of such increases in the value of land and buildings, we get
some further illuminating results. In Champaign County, e.g., the average per
acre value of land and buildings was a7.99 in"'l860 and '190,52 m 1910. This in-
crease amounts to ^-^% compounded interest compounded annually for each of the 50
years from i860 to I9IC* In It^cLean County the increase amounted to 4.-i^>, compound
interest for the same 50 year period. In Iroquois County the increase was from
^^^••53 to C129-37 during the same per' id. This increase amounted to 5% compound
interest for the 50 year period under consideration, being the highest for any
county in the state. For Kane and DeKalb Counties the rate of compound interest
amounted to 3 and A% respectively, for the 50 year period.. In Hancock County
the increase amounted to almost 3% compound interest during the same years*

The figures just given do not take into consideration the further increase
m value which have taken place since I9IO, vhen the 1920 census figures become
available they v/ill no doubt shov/ a very considerable increase in land value as
compared with those reported for I9IO.

We pointed out in an earlier article that "Practically all studies of farm
earnings show that the average farm business in ordinary times does not earn more
than 3 or ^% on the investment based on the current selling price of land," In
view of the increases in land values amounting to from 3 to 5/- compound interest
over a considerable period of years, we can readily understand why farmers in the
sections where land has been steadily advancing have been willing to accept a low
rate of interest in so far as the direct earnings has been concerned. It is evi-
dent that farmers in general have been willing to accept as a part of their re-
turn the anticipated increase in the value of their Land, Another way of saying

Vol' III Page 3 No, 20

the same thing is that farmers have been v/illing to pay more for land than v;as
justified by its net earnings, because they expected it to increase both in net
earning and in selling value. Up to date this expectation has been realized in
most sections of the United States, particularly for the more productive lands.
The question of how much further land will increase in the United States the writer
must leave to the "ouiji artists".

Cost accounting studies carried on during the past 7 years do, however,
throw significant light upon the question as to how far the present prices being
paid for land are justified by their net earnings during the period covered by
these studies. This question will be discussed in the next issue of the Messenger,

-Yiu F% Hands chin*

"Farm visits made this week at the farms of members near Clinton revealed a
large amount of first class deconst ration material upon their farms that v^'ill be
useful later in the season, which will convince the most conosrvative farmers
that new methods of handling land, crops, and livestock are great improvements
over the old time ways," - Robbins, DeV/itt County.

"Lost of the farm visits have been to look at fields of wheat. So far the
condition has not materially charged. The fields sown after the fly free date
are looking pretty good and the fields sown before that in most instances are not
good enough to leave. I secured a photograph of a field where the man had sovm
part of the field September 27 and then finished on the 29th, which shows a dis-
tinction between the wheat sown on the 27th and that sovm on the 29th." - Higgms,
koultrie County,

"Lore Rain. Lore i.ud. In spite o f mid and rain, managed first sale of the
Illinois Erovm Swiss Association. Sold 31 head for ^8295. temales averaged
v383. bulls ?144. One heifer sold to Brazil." - Starr, Tazewell County. (Re-
port of April 29»1920. )

"Very little oats were so^m in this county as the ground continued too wet
for seeding until it was too late- Some report that in some sections where oats
had been seeded the seed was rotting in the ground, while others, m other sec-
tions, report the oats as looking fine." - Gougler, Adams County.

"Some corn ms planted before this heavy rain and the men are worrying as to
whether they are gome to have to plant it over or not. It is probable that _ some
will have to as the rain was heavy enough so that water stood for some time in a
great many fields. In fact in some fields water is still standing today, .nis
is not surprising considering the amount of the rainfall, which was four and a
half inches according to the standard gauge." - Higgins, iv.oultrie County,

"Owing to scarcity of feed many cattle are going on grass too early and as a
result there is an unusually large number of very thin cattle m the country-
Heavy losses among spring pigs partly caused by bad weather conditions. Less tnan
half the usual nvanber will be gro^AH. " - Snyder, Ogle County.

"Millet. Sudan Grass and Rape seed are in big demand this year. A mixture
highly recommended by men in a community where it has been extensively used is -
Mllet - 2 pks. or slightly less, and about 1 peck stock peas. It ^^f^°^y'^^
to give a large amoung of valuable feed, say the men who have tried it.' - Thomas,
Jackson County.

A scries of bi-ief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Expciimcnt Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF IL.LINOIS-URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. Ill

iv:ay 26, 1920.

No. 21

Wool Poxes Mot Pest for Tyin^ Floecr.s, - "In various parts of the state our
sheep men are using wool boxes for tying their fleeces- U^ile a beautiful package
is made by this method of tying, the results are not entirely satisfactory. In
the first place, this kind of tying requires more twine than is necessary and in
the second place the wool is pressed together go tightly that it does notshow the
life or "loftiness" that the buyers for the mills like to see. VJhen graded into
large piles in the warehous3, wool appeals most to the buyer v/hen the bright side
of the fleece, that is, that part lying next to the skin, is exposed and either
is very loosely tied or not tj^ed at all. Seven and one-half feet of twine is enough
for tying the ordinary fleec^', and in such tying the string v.ill be wapped about
the fleece but t-wice." - w. C- Coffey,

Getting the V.'olves> - "A farmer brought five or six wolves to town the other
day and I know of ten or fifteen other young wolves that have been captured recent-
ly. I also have on my desk at the present time, letters from four farmers who
have had sheep losses from dogs to the extent of 0500 or more and have not been
reimbursed for them." - Kercher, Pike County,

"Our shearing pool has been operating for a week- We first learned from the
assessor's books the names of something over 500 farmers in the county who owTied
sheep, then wrote them a letter about the shearing pool- '»Ve also sent a list
of the sheep o-wners in the township to the director of that township and asked him
to appoint a chairman of the shearing pool. This chairman learns who was interest-
ed in having his sheep sheared by this plan. We engaged the best shearer we
could find in the country, and as soon as weather and roads permitted, started
him on his route. We keep a nunber of sheep owners ahead notified by telephone
as nearly as possible when the shearer will arrive. In this way the sheep are
alv;ays ready and no tirce is lost. We also carry wool twine, sacks and a sacking
stand. So far the plan is working out entirely satisfactory to all parties con-
cerned. It is not a particularly scientific piece of work, but a service which
saves time for all the sheep owners and makes it possible for the shearer to cover
much more territory because of his losing no time," - Brooks, LaSalle County,

Fair Grounds for Experiment Plots. - "We have laid off fourteen tenth-acre
plots on the land enclosed by the track at the Henry County F^ir Grounds. These
plots will be ploughed soon and all but two ^A^iich will be check plots, will be given
a treatment of two tons of limestone and one ton of rock phosphate per acre. The
treatment and plots are so arranged that it will give us a means of compariig any
crops grown with regard to no treatment, limestone alone, phosphate alone, or with
a treatment of both limestone and phosphate. It is planned to grow nine varieties
of alfalfa on 12 of these plots. The other tv/o plots v/ili be sown with twenty
different varieties of soy-beans and the new annual sweet clover from To\'7a placed
in rows twenty-eight inches apart." - I.ontgomery , Henry County.

Vol, III

Page 2

No, 21

LAND PROBLEMS.

"If the price of farm land were based solely on its net earnings, how much
would It sell for? Sxnce wo lack exact accounting information regarding the net
earnings of most land, we must answer the question in so far as it can be answer-
ed, on the basis of the farms for which such information is available. The de-
tailed accounting studies conducted on the Hancock County farms during the past
seven years furnish a basis for determining how much the land in these farms is
worth Tjrfien measured by its net earnings-
While the earnings of these farms are not to be regarded as typical of all
farms, they may be considered as somewhat representative of the most efficiently
operated farms in the general region in which they are located.

If we study the Chapman farm, discussed somewhat in our last article, we
find that the average net earnings aft'er deducting all operating expenses includ-
ing the labor wages of the proprietor, have been G24,02 per acre for the seven
year period, I913 to I919 inclusive. If we capitalize these earnings at 5/* the
value of this farm would be !j480.40 per acre. The earnings for the last three
years of the period under consideration have been still higher. During this three
year period the net earnings per acre averaged 035.12 per acre. Capitalized at
5% these earnings would make the land worth 0702.40.

If we study another of these farms consisting of 320 acres, practically all
tillable, we find that the average net returns has been 021-16 per acre for the
seven year period. For the last three years the average net return has been
*37,80. On the basis of these earnings the value of the land would be C4 23,20
per acre if we capitalize at 5%f the average earnings of the entire seven year
period, and C;756. if we capitalize the earning of the last three years,

A third farm, consisting of 320 acres, I60 in permanent pasture, had net
earnings of ^16.07 per acre as an average of the seven year period, and „.
^25*56 per acre for the last three years. Capitalized at 3% this land would have
been worth $321.40 based on the earnings of the seven year period, or O5ll»20 on
the basis of the earnings of the last three years,

\lihile the returns for other farms included ranged both above and below those
just cited these three farms were quite typical of the entire group from the
standpoint of their net earnings over the seven year period. Other less detailed
accounting studies which have been carried on with a considerable number of farms
thruout central Illinois dxiring the past five years, indicate that while farm
earnings generally have ranged considerably below those made by these Hancock
farms, they have been considerably higher during the past two or three years
that they were prior to this period.

Evidently the high prices paid for land during the summer and fall of 1919
have been based upon its earnings during the past two or three years ratherthan
upon the earnings of a longer period. Such prices would seem to be justified
only on the assumption that the farm earnings of the past two or three years,
which appear to have been considerably above the normal, will continue for some
time in the future. Inasmuch, as v/e have no assurance that such will be the
case, the extreme prices paid for land during recent months are to be regarded
as somewhat speculative investments.

While it is true that the Hancock County farms studied have made a fair re-
turn on valuations ranging from • $400 to 05OO per acre for land which is all
r'^llable as em '^-^'"'^'^'^ '■''^~-mi^aitltMiM^uBMJ'^'^ "'° """'"t ^1^" bear in mind that

Vol. Ill Page 3 No. 21

these eaniings were made possible only thru the application of somewhat unusual
management skill on the part of the operator. I f we should ass'ome that the opera-
tors of these farms are entitled to more than the usual labor wages because of
the somewhat unusual management skill we should have to deduct as a part of the
operating expense something for the wages of management. Under these conditions
the net returns credited to the investment in land and buildings would be smaller
and the capitalized value of the land correspondingly Less. This question will
be discussed in the next issue of the kessenger." - W. F. Handschin.

Ogle County Bureau Votes to Investigate all Selling Schemes. - "Ogle County
in common with many counties in Illinois has been infested with salesmen selling
everything from oil stock to enlarged photographs. In one community alone from
50,000 to ^^75^000 worth of questionable stock was sold*

Farmers of the county decided at the farm bureau meeting last Saturday that
it was time to take some action to curtail this annual loss. Three general ideas
■were brought out. First, there are plenty of opportunities for safe investments
at home. Second, any legitimate proposition can be financed thru the usual chan-
nels used by business concerns. Third, if farmers will investigate before instead
of after signing on the 'dotted line', and thereby head off one half the question-
able investments they make, the farm bureau could lock their doors, send their ad-
viser on a vacation and still aave thousands of dollars to the county.

As a result of the discussion an investigating committee of three members was
appointed to investigate every proposition offered to farmers in the county.
Every farm bureau member will be advised and urged not to invest in any proposition
offered by agents until the investment has been thoroly investigated by the com-
mittee, A confidential report will be made to farm bureau members, thereby giving
them a basis in determining the action they wish to take. The Secretary reported
that a similar plan was used in the city of Oregon, Ogle County, and had not only
saved merchants hundreds of dollars, but also had decreased the number of un-
scrupulous salesmen calling on merchants," - J. D. Eilsborrow,

"Chinch bugs are getting out into the wheat. Have not seen much damage, but
as the wheat is so thin, am afraid they will seriously injure the poor stand we
have on most of the fields. They have been flying every day the sun comes out
bright and warm." -Blackburn, I.'iafion County.

Similar reports are coming from all counties in the infested section.

Rain, wet fields, delayed crops - those few words sum up the story of anguish
in the mind of the Illinois farmer this spring. Vi*iere? .Ohl everywhere, any-
where in Illinois, North, South, East, or West. An abnormal amount ofrain, con-
tinued over v/eeks of time when crops should have been planted, has brought about
decreased acreage of oats, spring wheat and corn. Luch com 'Jirill be planted too
late — especially in southern Illinois, where drought and chinch bugs enter in to
limit yields.

Adviser for Boone County.- The Boone County Farm Bureau has decided to employ
lyir. James C. Kline as Farm Adviser, i^r, Kline was brought up on a farm in Indiana,
graduated from Purdue University, taught agriculture for two years after gradua-
tion, then took up county agent work and has spent three years in this work in
Indiana and kissouri. He is at present County Agent in Stoddard County, Missouri,
He expects to take up the work in Eoone County on- June 15« The office will pro-
bably be located at Belvidere.

A scries of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm
_ Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the
State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS
Vul, 111

lent
lamage

June 2, 1920. No. 22

Ariny>Worm. "Adults of the aray-Y-orin were abundant this spring during the
fxrst week in April, and again from about the 22nd to 25th, the period of scarci-
ty between these two dates being due to cold weather. Eggs were laid during both
the periods of abundance and have been hatching for the past two weeks in the
south and south central counties; worms are nov generally abundant and causing
some damage xn these counties. They may be looked for in considerable numbers in
xne central part of the state during the present week, and in the north central
part during the week following, in many localities moths of the army-worm were
more abundant this season than in 1919. During the next two weeks close observa-
xion Should be kept on blue grass pastures, timothy meadows, rye and wheat fields,
ana 1 J young worms are found, prompt control measures should be taken. From prese
Sn nni °r ""^"^^ "^"-^^ ^^ ^""^^y ^2 abundant as last season and serious damag

thPv^^f, t prevent by poisoning or preventing the migration of the worms before
xney have become full grov;n. m Natural History Survey Circular 7, which has
J oeen sent to all advisers, measures for control that have been found most

effective m this state are given." - W. P, Flint.

".Army worms are very bad here now. We have been spending a good deal of time
e last week helping farmers to combat them. I find that where farmers do as we
airect them to do, they are able to keep them out of their com, but it is hard to
get them to do just as you tell them. As a rule I do not think army T=,orms do much
o^age to wheat, but the #ieat is not so far advanced this year as it usually is
^en army worms make their appearance* I cannot help but think that they v.lll do
wheat considerable damage this year," - Tate, konroe County,

"The grasshopper, the army worm and the chinch bug are waiting for our corn
crop to come up. A large amount of this crop will be in the ground by June 5." -
Pollock, Edwards County,

•Everything Against Corn Crop,- "In many respects this is one of the most dis-
astrous corn seasons the county has ever experienced. Excessive rains, abnormally
low temperature, chinch bugs and army worms, although of conflicting interests,
seem to work in harmony to defeat the corn crop. We are recommending 90 day corn
on fields that have to be planted over," - Tillman, St, Clair County,

Ninety Day Corn.- "The farm b-jreau is advising the farmers of the county to
plant Reid's Yellow Dent or similar varieties of corn up to June 5, but after that
date, a 90 day variety. A quantity of early maturing corn which we are sure ^dll
produce well in the coynty has been purchased, Jijany farmers are leaving orders
for this corn." - kiadden, Sangamon County,

"Interest in the county wool pool is increasing daily, ken opposed to the pool
last year are coming in this season without solicitation," - Center, kcLean County^

Vol- III

Mr».

V.Tn it church succeeds Price in Sal J ne County > - Th6 Saline County Farm Bureau

has secured kr. J. E. Vi'hitchuich as adviserj to take the place of lulr. Price, who
has accepted a similar position in Kendall County, Lr. Whitchurch was brought up
on a farm near Centralia, Illinois, and since graduation from the University of
Illinois in I910 has been Superintendent of a group of experiment fields in south-
eastern Illinois. He expects to tai:e up the v;ork there just as soon as satisfac-
tory arrangements can be made to take care of the work of which he nov>f has charge.
Lr. Price will begin work in Kendall County on June l5th with heainuarters at
Yorkville. Kendall was organized last December by local farmers, who secured 9^1
members in two days, - a record for a membership drive up to that time.

John E. Watt has been employed as assistant adviser in Fulton County. Kr.
Jatt was born in Illinois, reared in Kansas and graduated from Kansas Agricultural
College. He received his 1... S. from the Oregon Agricultural College, and since
that time has been in Farm Ivianagement , County Agent and Agricultural Extension
work in the states of Oregon, YiJyoming, and New iVexico. iv.r. Watt was to take up
his work at Canton, Illinois, on June 1.

W. S» Brock appointed Departmental Adviser ?n Horticulture. While il'r, '\h 3.
Brock has been serving in the capacixy of Departmental Adviser in Horticulture and
has been doing some splendid work in the field, we were unable to announce his
formal appointment to this position until this tjjne. Lr. Brock is giving definite
aid to the farm advisers in spraying, pruning and other horticultural projects
and he hopes to visit every adviser in Illinois during the year. If you have need
of any definite service, write i„r. Brock personally in care of the College of Ag-
riculture.

"The Effect of Latitude on Horticultural Problems.

In giving advice relative
to sprays, plant ing~dates,~vari~ties~of"iruits, vegetables, etc., it should be ^
remembered that the state is approximately 400 failes long which gives a variation
in the advance of the season between Cairo and Rock ford of about 30 days, 'e may,
therefore, allrw about one day for each 13 miles of latitude in calculating the
difference between given points. Because of these facts the horticulturist has
somewhat arbitrarily divided the state into three divisions known as the northern,
central and southern diviriJons, divided as follows: An east andwest line dra'jm
between kercer and Rock Island on the west and Kankakee and Iroquois on the east
separates the northern trrm the central, while th2 north line of the southern di-
vision is between Pike and Calhoun, Edgar and Clark. This statement will assist
the different divisions in preparing information on the development of fruit in-
sects and their control." - W. S- Brock, and \7. P- Flint.

Feeding Farm Horses. - "Regularity in kind and amount of feed, frequent
watering, access to salt, regular exercise, and kindness, make for horse health.
Work horses which are stabled at night appreciate a drink about 9 o'clock, ^he
practice of watering everything in the stable when the last round for the night is
made, is a good ^ne. The horse is not a suitable animal through which to market
damaged, musty, dusty hays or grains. Horse feed should be sound and clean.
Where there are a number of teamsters, it is usually a mistake to allow each one
to feed his n\m team, and in all stables, it is advisable to hold one nan respon-
sible for all rf the feeding. It is always a good rule to feed hay to an empty
manger, i.e., to insist that everything which is edible be cleaned up. Vork
horses do better when approximately one-half of the hay is fed at night and the
balance divided betv;een the morning and noon feeds. Idle horses require very
little grain when good roughage is fed in abundance. Bulky rations are the be?-
for the idle horse- Feed only enough grain to maintain proper condition. Hard-
v/orked horses, when idle, should have their grain ration cut in half, and strid
adherence to this practice would save m\ichjaoney__{or_team_ow^^

Vol, III

Page 3

No. 22

LAND PROBLEMS.

All investigations on the subject of farm earnings before the Great War, seem
to show that farmers were, on the average, making reti'rns rangijig from about 3 to
A% on the current selling va:'A'<i of the land. Practically all such studies also
showed that while a considn. f^xxe n\jnber of farm operators were earning less than
3/i, that in every area studied there was always a certain proportion of farmers
who were making from 6 to lOj'. and zn exceptional cases even more. In fact all
studies of farm earnings, both before 1917 and since that date, seem to shov/ rather
wide fluctuations in the earnings for individual farms. Whether the average earn-
^g be 3, 5, or 8/^, ^ihere is always a considerable proportion of farmers in every
fairly large group, whose earnings range from 50 to 200^o higher than the average.
Such increases in earnings above the average seem to be nearly always due to some-
what unusual management skill.

Because of the fact that special management skill seems to be, in the main,
necessary to make returns much above the average, and because of the size of the
farm business in the corn belt section, it seems only reasonable to assume that
farmers who can handle these relatively large business units and makea fair re-
turn on them, are entitled to some wages for the management skill applied, as well
as for the actual labor performed* l..en who can successfully manage business units
with investments ranging from :!40,000 to i;100,000 cannot be secured in any other
line of business without adequate compensation. It v;ould seem only reasonable,
therefore, to assume that men who can do this in agricultural production should be
rewarded somewhat in proportion to what equal ability would command in other
lines of indv-etry.

We have already pointed out how, thru a lack of accounting facts, farmers have
tended to overestimate the net earnings of land and therefore tended to overcap-
italize it^ Before farm land can be accurately valued and prices fixed in accord-
ance v;ith principles of sovnd business procedure, farmers must know more accurate-
ly what the actual net return of their bus3-ness really is. In order to do this,
all important items of expense, including the labor of the farmer or that of any
member of his family must be deducted from the gross income. Depreciation on
land, buildings, machinery, breeding stock, and other similar items of expense
frequently overlooked entirely, must also be taken into consideration. In cases
where more than a fair current rate of interest is earned on the investment after
taking into consideration all items of operating expense, the question of deduct-
ing a reasonable management wage before proceeding to capitalize the net returns,
must be considered. All of this necessarily involves a number of complex and dif-
ficult problems, which we are as yet not prepared to answer even fairly satis-
factorily. The really important considerations seem to be that we recognze these
elements in the situation and proceed to work out the problems involved with
these important factors in mind. What is apparently needed most is, (l) that we
make as good a» analysis of the problem as we can make at the present time, and
(2) that we undertake on the largest practicable scale, investigations which will
give us the facts necessary to somewhat scientific procedure in placing a value
on our farm lands," - Vi/. F. Handschin.

The summer meeting of the farm advisers will be held at Urbana, June 17 and
l8. The regular sessions will be held in lilorrow Hall and a trip to the Experi*-
ment Field will be arranged, "fhe definite program will be out next week.

Larger results may be obtained by winding the clock than by moving the hands,

A scries of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBAN A, ILLINOIS

Vol, III

June 9, 1920.

No. 23

Visiting Excursxons to the University. County Advisers are beginning to lay
plans for excursion trips to visxt the University Experiment plots and fields. A
few facts concerning the arrangements will no doubt be appreciated. All those
planning such trips should correspond directly with I.ir- W, H. Young of the College
of Agriculture, It is planned to hold only one excursion on any day* ™e trip
should begin in the morning as early as possible. There mil be no schedules ar-
ranged on Commenceaent Day or on any Saturday as it is difficult for Heads ol De-
partments and other men in charge of the experimental work to be present on baxur-
days to explain the experimental results. Lr. Young wishes to know what any group
will be interested in so he may carefully arrange details of the trip ^'^^J S^iaes
and Heads of the Departments. A nufiiber of dates are already reserved. Otner res-
ervations should be made at once»

"Sov Beans for Seed. Many farmers are preparing to grow soybeans for seed this
year for the first time. Care must be taken to keep down the weeds, otherwise
the soybean seed crop is going to be disappointing. Seed produced in a mass o:
weeds and weed grasses is nearly always small and frequently ''"'^^/^''I'^/^'^^lll'
The time to prevent this injury is before these weeds get a start. The best metnoQ
of handling the crop when seeded solid is to cultivate with a rotary hoe. t,'__x
this is not available a light spike tooth harrow is perhaps the next ^^f /^f ^^^^
available. At times a weeder or a spring tooth alfalfa cultivator is used to ad

""^^loybeans seeded in rows are, of co^«-se. easier to keep clean, the work of
•cultivation being done with common corn tools- The first ^"^\^;;[^^^°",f v'^n to
beans get above the ground can be made with a harrow and ^-hen the ^^^d^^^^^'" J°
make their appearance again a good thorough plowing with the corn ^^^V^^^^^^J^;'
usually discourage them so thoroughly that they v^ll not require more than about
one additional cultivation during the season," " J* C. Kackleman.

Adviser for Wabash County. "Mr. F, A. Fisher has ^^^ en employed J^ ^J^^f ^ ^^
viser in Wabash County and will take up his work on June l6th. Mr, *J^^-^^ .^^^
in Cumberland County, 111., graduated in agriculture at ^^^ ", o f ^'^ ^7
has been connected with the soils work at the University and ;:j^'^^f^ ^tate .oii
survey of Illinois since 1910- His new headquarters will be kt. Camei.

New assistant advisers. - Mr. Wilfred Shaw has been ^*f ^^f ^^i^/^^J^f .'f^^f*
and Mr. L. S, Foote in Hancock County. Both are farm ^^-'"f ^f ^^^^.'^"jJ'JdvLer
University of Illinois and both will take up their new work as assistant adviser

about June 21st.

■'More Limestone. The number of limestone orders that we ^^^^. ^';'; "'^^'jXsc
shows that the farmers are still hopeful. 35 cars booked this week- LcGhee,Johnsc

Vol, III

Page 2

No. 23

Army Worms damap,e corn. "There has been a serious outbreak of army woms thru-
out the county. We are fighting them with ditches and the poison bran mash. Lany
pastures and meadows have been seriously damaged or ruxned. A few farmers have had
their corn seriously damaged by these worms before they knew of their presence, "-
Eyman, Jersey County.

"Army worms have destroyed a few corn fields and have been especially active
on heavy growing patches of wheat, and particularly winter barley. One field of
winter barley was noted where army worms had done a great deal of damage and were
marching out into the clover and corn. In another case, one of our members had
plowed a furrow with straight sides and post holes in the bottom thus catching
thousands of the worms and preventing any damage whatever to his com field." -
Doers chuk, Randolph County.

Wire Worms. "Corn on land second crop from clover sod is being replanted on
account of wire v;orm damage. Worms seem to be active nowhere but in fields of
this sort. Examination of two fields the past week showed as high as five wire
worms to the hill. Some corn root rot is present in every field of corn yet examinee
Center, McLean County.

Corn Planting not Done. "We still have a lot of corn to plant and the ground is
so saturated that most fields are still unfit to work. June will be far spent be-
fore all the planting xs finished. The demand for ninety-day com is on the in-
crease, V/^fTiave already placed orders for a number of bushels of early maturing
varieties. Substitute crops are also being planted." " Phillips, Greene County.

Comm\inities and Elevators Handle Twine. "Three farm bureau community organ-
izations are unloading a carload of binder twine totaling 35,955 lbs. The forming
of this pool and the fact that several farmers' elevators in the county are handling
twine, has standardized the price in the county," - Doneghue, kcDonough Co*

Will pool v;ool rather than take 35g« Not much interest fes manifested by our
farmers a while ago when Professor Coffey was in the county to discuss sheep and
wool problems. However, when they were ready to market wool and found the price so
low, 350 to 380 they rose up in arms and expressed a desire to pool the wool and
ship cooperatively to the National Wool Warehouse and Storage Company* One of our
biggest sheep men kindly offered us the use of awarehouse and v/e have made arrange-
ments to receive wool at this place on the three following Tuesdays. Something
like 1000 or 1200 fleeces have been tentatively promised for the pool," - Logan,
Crawford County.

"Prices offered for wool by local buyers run from 35 to 40 cents per pound,
mostly one quarter blood Shropshire wool. Judged by some markets this would seem
to be about as much as would be justified but quite a number of our farmers de-
sire to pool their wool by the plan worked out by the I. A- A, and farm bureaus.
Just how much will be pooled remains to be seen but plans are pretty well made
for pooling." - Logan, Crawford County.

Shipping Association working v/ell. "We arehighly pleased with the way our
shipping association has started off. It has only been organized about three weeks
and 15 cars have been shipped hp to date. We find that it is much easier to get
the shipping association into working shape in a short time by having no membership
fee and by giving the privileges of the association to all farm bureau members free
of charge. We have a sink^-ng fund which takes care of our general expenses and
15 yearly dues is charged to non members of the farm bureau." - Isaacs, Jason County,

Vol. Ill

Page 3

No. 23

"The_con]_crop is going in very late this year. We should profit by previous

^^.Lr^^ .! ""^ '^ ^'''■^^ ^''°'* *^^^ f^^i* ^« ^ill ^02* certainly have a large
amount of soft corn. Under those conditions we may expect a great deal of trouble

^ ww"^ ^°'" *^® ^P''^^ °^ ^921. kany farmers have excellent seed corn

wnicn they can put away now and hold over as a reserve seed supply. This would be
good business in the light of past experience." - J. c. Hackleman,

Clipping sweet clover with a grain binder is the new plan in progress at the
Dr. Hopkins Farm. Adviser Blackburn says, "A mower could not be raised high enough
xo clip It, Even with the binder it may be killed in some places*" The sweet
clover was elevated in the regular way through the binder but no twine was used.
The bundles were kicked oUt continuously and had it not rained the manager planned
to turn over these bunches allowing them to cure sufficiently for storage in the
barn, Xie would be glad to kno;g of any counties who have experimented with clip-
ping sweet clover in various ways and the result obtained,

"A mixed pasture seeding consisting of sweet clover, alfalfa, red clover, and
timothy has resulted in a predominate growth of sweet clover which was between
three and four feet high when visited last week. Due to a shortage of hay on this
.farm it was decided to cut this pasture mixture for hay even though there was a
risk of injuring the sweet clover," - Hedgcock, Peoria County,-

Since the sweet clover was clipped at least a week later than it should have
been, we will be glad to know of the outcome, as the clipping proposition is one
about v*ich we need considerable more information. - Ye Ed,

"The feed situation in Randolph County is being helped a great deal by first
cutting of alfalfa. The cool wet spring has made a heavy crop of red clover and
alfalfa as well as a good growth of pasture. Livestock in the county was certain-
ly in need of feed as it has been very difficult to get corn on account of the
railroad strike. Farmers are going to sow a larger alfalfa acreage this year thsm
ever before."- Doerschuk.

"Raw rock phosphate is showing its worth on the yield of alfalfa hay here this
year, Phosphated fields, in some instances, greY/ more alfalfa per acre than I ever
saw grown in the corn belt, unless it was^ perhaps, on the phosphate plots at the
Urbana Station, Four cars phosphate ordered to date and more orders in sight.
Some has been spread in sweet clover and plov/ed down*" - Thomas, Jackson Co»

Soy Bean Hay grows good Pereherons, "On the farm of one Percheron breeder
I saw Percheron horses which had never had any other hay but soy bean hay. The
yearlings and two year olds, and also the mature horses raised in this way, bear
every evidence of having been abundantly and suitably nourisheij. This man has
raised soy beans as part of his rotation for many years," - Bobbins, DeWitt Co.

Paid te Fall Plow. - "Despite the fact that we had an exceedingly late season
for small grain this year, it is doing splendidly. There was more corn up this
year on the first of June than I have seen for several years taking the county as
a whole. The reason for this is the fact that practically all of the fanners in
DuPage County plowed the corn land in the fall of the year. I have heard a good
many farmers this spring say that this was their only salvation this season, and
that hereafter they would always have their land plovi/ed in the fall. I believe
that the farmers of the state would be better off if they would plan their rota-
tions so as to do their plowing in the fall," - Heaton, DuPage County,

■

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol, III

June 16, 1920,

No, 24

"Don't 1

Don't \'ifhat! Don't bring; a party of your best farmers to

the University v/ithout making arrangements v/ith the Agricultural College in ad-
vancel Disappointment may follow if you do. Farm Advisers are making dates for
trips to the University and some are not conferring in advance. If you do so, you
may disappoint your farmers and yourself. Because of liiaited forces at the Uni-
versity, it is practi'-mlly impossible to properly take care of more than one
party a day» If you will v/rite to Mr. V^'. H, Young, College of Agriculture, and
make arrangements for dat^i and other details, you will be provided the very best
care and attention possible." - YeEd.

"Winnebago County came back \7ith 98O members in their farm bureau and I. A. A«
as the result of a tv/o day uembership drive, June 10 and 11. Vice-Director
Handschin and President Kovard Leonard presented messages of inspiration and vis-
ions of the future at the organization meeting June 12. The goal aspired to by
the bureau is:

1» Efficient production

2» Intelligent management

3» Economical marketing

4, Equitable legislation

5« The development of an attractive, permanent and more satisfactory
rural life." - J, D. Bilsborrow.

Club Booklet Out - Junior Extension Club members are to have demonstrations
and exhibits at the Illinois State Fair August 20 - 28, 1920. A very attractive
16-Fage booklet has been published listing club demonstrations, club exhibits,
judging school contests, rules and prizes offered in each. Copies of booklet may
be obtained from B. I.i. Davidson, Secretary State Fair, Springfield, Illinois.

Clipped Sweet Clover Successfully. "I notice in the last Extension Lessenger
Mr* Kedgcock's report on clipping of sweet clover in Peoria County, More of our
Sweet clover fields were clipped this year than usual and the sv/eet clover was not
hurt but is coming on again, making a fine start. This clipping was done about
two weeks ago, or rather late for this part Qf the state. It was carefully done
and the fact that it did not kill the pweet clover was probably partly because it
had not made as tall a growth as usual this spring, thus leaving three or four
branches on the bubble. Our sweet clover men believe that if carefully handled,
they can get a fine crop of hay and also a crop of seed or pasture later from the
Sweet clover crop. V/eather conditions for curing this hay happened to be just
right this season, however." - Doerschuk, Randolph County,

r -

Vol, III

Page 2

"Interest in the V/ool pool is continuing strong elthough there has never been
a pool in this county before and there are not a great many sheep in the county.
We have enough -roool listed for a carload and the last two days have had over a
dozen men come in to pool their v;ool after we were ready to close our books," -
Davidson, Browa County,

"A large amount of the v;ool in Edwards County v/ill be pooled tbnx the Farm
Bureau. The local buyers are offering thirty cents for most of the wool. Some
tov^s are offering thirty-five cents. They are not buying very much wool at this
prices" - Pollock, EdY.-ards Count y^

"Failure to secure a car at Disco this week made it necessary to postpone
loading our second carload of wool, V/e hope to load out this car and another from
Carthage next week. More than 50,000 lbs. of wool have been reported for the pool
to date, and more will come unless local dealers boost their prices," - Lloyd,
Hancock County,

"A Livestock Shipping Association was recently organized at Oregon and the
first shipment was made this v/eek which consisted of a carload of hogs. They
brought 014,95 in Chicago and the expense of shipping vias 58^ per cvrt. The local
stock buyer said he could not give more than 013« a hundred for this bunch of
hogs. This is another demonstration of the value of organization," - Snyder,
Ogle County,

"On fourteen acres of sweet clover near Chandler vi lie there is now an excel-
lent stand of volunteer sweet clover. This field \ms pastured heavily last year
from the middle of April to the middle of June and sixty bushels of unhulled seed
harvested from it in the fall. It was intended to plow this for corn this spring
bxit wet weather prevented this until the volunteer sweet clover loomed up as a
better proposition, in which could be pastured more stock." - Dickenson, Cass Co,

"Liore red clover is nov/ grov,ang in the county than at any time since I have
been here and I feel sure that there is more clover growing this year than has ever
been grown before. Wherever limestone was applied the clover is certainly fine»
IttOst of it will make at least two tons per acre," - Tate, Llonroe County,

Limestone Stumps Labor (In other words ivlr, Stumpf is betv/een Limestone and
Labor as you will agree if you read Adviser Tate's report), "Mr, Ben Stumpf, one
of our members, came into the office the other day and ordered his thirteenth car-
load of limestone for this year. He remarked that his hired man said he ■i'vas going
to quit for if he had to shovel limestone all the time he might as well work for
a quarry \iiere they made it," - Tate, Monroe County,

"'Ban days have passed T/ithout any rain and since the ground has gotten dry
enough to work the farmers have been making good use of their time. A large per-
cent of the corn has been planted but there are still a good many acres of ground-
which have not even been plowed. Some of the corn is up and looking fine, A con-
siderable amount of ninety day corn is being planted." - LCiller, Eacoupin County,

"The chinch bu?rs are very, very serious in the wheat and some of the com
already has been killed by them. Some of thejnen have plowed up their corn and
are planting it to peas. The demand for sunfloxrer seed is getting stronger and I
think it is ^fe to say we Td.ll have close to 1000 acres of sunflowers growing in
Ji^rion County this year," - Blackburn, Llarion County,

• j.f

t9l* III

Page 3

No. 24

A Rural Fire Department. "A community meeting of the farbiers of a portion
it Jackson Towiship was called to discuss the advisability of organizing a fire
[fighting company in that part of the rural community, a fire company ^s asked
Ito have representatives to demonstrate the different machines at this meeting. A
part of the equipment was bought at this time but a later meeting will be called
to secure additional equipnenta" - Hedgcock, will County,

Increases Capital Stock.,- "a meeting of the shareholders of the Woodford County
Agricultural Association vas held at Eureka, June 10, In spite of the fact that
the meeting )sas called for a day when everybody was busy in the corn fields, we
Tuere able to secure a tv;o-thirds vote of the oustanding stock which required the
t^ttendance of nearly sixty men,

TUS-thout a dissenting vote the shareholders voted to increase the capital
stock from §10,000 to 05O,OOO« A committee -was appointed to look after the sell-
ing of the stock, the securing of a site for building and deciding on plans for
such a building," - Mosher, Woodford County,

"T^e corn root rot experiment being conducted by the farm bureau in coopera*-
tion ;d,th Jas* R» Holbert of Bloomington is commencing to show striking results.
Tliis experiment has been planted in duplicate in both stalk ground and sod ground
and is perhaps the largest Corn Root Rot Demonstration plot in the state* In a
recent letter, IJr. Holbert, in speaking of the experiment in Rock Island County
says, »l was glad to know that you succeeded in planting the corn root rot ex-
periments in such fine shape and trust that you will be able to continue these ex«»
periments so carefully. I hope to be able to visit them sometime during July cm
my return from Jkiinneapolis. Sometime in August, I would like to visit them again
in company with Dr« Johnson and Dr. Humphrey of the United States Department* I
am v«ry anxious to convince these people and some others that we have a few county
agents and farmers here in Illinois who can conduct a field experiment carefully
and accurately. I feel confident that you and Golden are going to measure up to
our expectations, I expect to vrite Golden in detail shortly regarding the data
that we wish taken on these plots. •■ (Mr. Golden is one of our live fans bureau
members* )«• » Edgerton, Rock Island county.

Anerica Soon to Face Foreign Competition. "Statements as to conditions in"
Belgivna put out by a reliable bond house indicate that the industrial and agri*

cultural recovery of that countryfrom the effects of the great war has been more i
rapid than would have been deemed possible a year ago. Practically all of the
railroads that were destroyed have been repaired; sufficient locomotives are in
service to handle 60^ of pre-war passenger trains and 80/^ of pre-war freight trains^

The devastated area, amounting to less thsm one percent of total is rapidly being I

placed tjnder cultivation and agricultural production in I9I9 is said to have sur- I

passed the average in pre-war years. I

Plans are also under way for developing the Belgian Congo regicai as a cotton I

producing area to partially supply the Belgian textile mills, 86^ of cotton spin- I

dies are in operation and woolen mills are operating at full capacity, ^Coal pro* I

duct i^>- during April I92O was 105^ of production for April, 1913. Steal production I

is at present only 35% of pre-war output partly due to shortage of coke. I

It would seem from the above that the war has had a stimulating effect in " I

making industry BHire efficient and has thus hastened the recovery."- J. D, Bils*- I

borrow, I

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. Ill June 23, 1920. IJo, 25

The roses of June and Cupid's bow together have conspired in the fates of
four Farm Advisers during this month. The lucky ones are i..r. E. B« Heaton of Du-
Page County, Ur. H. .^. dev/erff of Franklin County, lur. T. H. Roberts of DeKalb
county, and Lr. R. R, v»ells of Warren County.

Suamer Conference of Advisers. One htmdred advisers, assistant advisers
and farmers attended the annual summer meeting of the State Association of Farm
Advisers last •week. The program \iva3 prepared by the Farm Management, Livestock
and Horticultural Comiiittees of the Association, The meeting closed Friday after-
noon vdth a tour of the Experimental plots.

Orchard Spraying Infcmation. "Spray for second brood codling moth should
be applied from Centralia' south July 5th to 10th; Jerseyville and Effingham south
to Gentralia July 10th to 15th; ouincy and Urbana south to Jerseyville and Ef-
fingham July 15th to 20th; from Princeton north July 25th to 30th. First brood
worms are present in about average numbers this season and this spray should not
be omitted.

In all districts where bitter rot is not expected one pound of dry, or two
pounds of paste, lead arsenate should be combined with two pounds of freshly slak-^
ed lump lime in each fifty gallons of spray. If lump line cannot be secured substi
tute four pounds of hydrated line. In orchards in southern Illinois where bitter
rot has been prevalent, susceptible varieties should be sprayed mth 3-^-50 Eordeau.
combined ir.dth the lead arsenate. This should be repeated at intervals of ten days
until four applications have been made. Do not use lime sulfur at this season,"—
W, P. Flint and 17, 3. Erock,

"Flag Smut and Take -a 11. Flag smut of wheat has been found in this country
only in Ladison County, Illinois, It has spread, hov;ever, since last year so that
a larger area of Ladison Goimty is affected than last year. Some of the fields
show as high as 15 to 20^'. of the plants infected. This disease promises to be a
real menace if it is not checked. Flag smutted plants seldom produce heads. The
vascular system of the upper leaves becomes filled \7ith the black spores of the
smut. These blades later beccme rolled and die prematurely. At the present time
the diseased plants are much shorter than the normal healthy plants and they posse
a charactei-istic leaden color which distinguishes them from the plants that may
have died from some other cause.

Take-all is much more limited in extent axid somev.hat less in severity than
last year. It has appeared again in a number of fields in IJadison county, in thrcj
or four fields in iuason County and is strongly suspected of being in one field m
Menard County. Take-all infected plants may be recognized now by their many slen-
der timothy-like blades, their low grOT/bh, their late heading and ripening, and
"t their ease of breaking off at the surface of the ground. If Flag smut or Take-all

my Department, University of Illinois." - G. H. Dungan,

^°^' ^^^ Page 2. No. 25.

"Scab and Hessian Fly are showing effects in wheat. One rye field visited
yesterday contained about 35% dead and mifilled heads, probably due to scab. New
brood of chinch bugs coming out in great nuabers this week, may do considerable
dajnage to wheat if it stays dry," - deV/erff, Franklin County,

Hog Losses, "V/e have had some experience vdth feeder hogs shipped in from
the National Stock Yards, St, Louis, in my opinion a buyer ought to have those
immunized against hemorrhagic septicemia as v;ell as cholera if our experience here
is worth anjrthing. Some of the losses in some of these shipments were quite heavy."
- Kendall, liorgan County,

"Robbers of the Roost. Hen lice are tourists, sojourning on the hen's body
and eating only scales of skin, but red mites are highwaymen, hiding in the house
by day and sucking the blood of hens or chicks at night. This explains the dif-
ference betv/een lied and mites, IJites steal the profits of the poultr:/man.

Red mites have sucking mouth-parts and suck the hen's blood. They live in the
cracks of the woodwork around the roosts, drop boards and nests. They can best be
controlled by painting the woodv/ork mth lice paint, crude carbolic acid and ^.ite-
wash are excellent when used as a spray over the interior of the house. Carbolinium
is widely used," - Connecticut Agricultural College,

"Four Lee County farmers are using 2 tons each of shale potash shipped from
southern Illinois, and to be used on one acre to determine the results on corn.
This material vn.ll be applied to peat or alkali soil, and an acre along side the
treated spot mxH be left separate as a check plot, and report made to the college
of Agriculture," - Griffith, Lee County,

"The early Transparent apples will soon be ready to pick and shipments are so
uncertain now that orchard men are very uneasy about getting baskets." - LicGhee,
Johnson County,

"Alfalfa Fiel&Liv3 Longer T^ien Cut Later, Alfalfa groovers in western Kansas
1*0 have had the greatest surcess in maintaining old stands in a condition of pro-
fitable production usually cut their hay at about full bioom stage. The same ex-
perience holds true in central and eastern Kansas.

FolloTdng is summary of i^ianhattan Kansas Station results: (1) All plots were
entering their third season when this work began. After cutting for one summer
every time the flov.-er buds were ready to open, the early cut plots v/ere so weaken-
ed that they never again yielded as much as the others. From the second year on,
the three or more tons of hay credited each year to these early cut plots were from
50 to 85% crab grass and foxtail. It requii*ed by one season's cutting at too early
a stage to ruin the stand. The feeding value of the hay from this early cutting
Tnas, of course, highest of all, for certain kinds of livestock; (2) Cutting at the
tenth bloom stage has not yielded as much hay per acre as the full bloom stagehand
generally means one more time over the field \7ith mower and rake. Grass is now
entering the tenth bloom plots but is not in the full bloom plots; (3) Cutting in
full bloom has produced the highest yield of hay. Chemical analysis shov/s that it
contains the most crude protein per acre, considering the slightly higher yield,
the absence of grass and saving of labor from one less cutting, and raking, this
stage has much to recommend it. The second gro\rth has frequently been smothered
off before cutting these plots, and if not, it has frequently been 15 to l8 inches
high. There has been no damage whatever from letting it stand, (4) Cutting v/ith
seeds forming has produced less hay than earlier cutting. It has not injured the

Vol. Ill Page 3. No- 25

"A Michigan banker says: 'farm buildings out of repair and needing paint in-
dicate that the ov:ner is slow pay. Such farms are rated at about one -third of the
assessed value for loans. Vjhere the farm buildings are in good shape the rS'ting
is one-half,' The president of a middle western bank says that when real estate
loans are considered, painted buildings are always taken into consideration in
making an estimate. The general appearance of the property surrounding the house
and barn and also the fields and fences would be carefully observed. A Massachu-
setts banker states that it is a policy of the bank to absolutely refuse to loan
on farms when the buildings are not kept up and v/ell painted." - Farm Economy
Bulletin,

Annual Financial Reports and Salary Certification of Farm Advisers for the
fiscal year July 1, I9I9 to June 30, I92O are due early in July, Suitable blanks
for recording the data will be mailed to reach all counties by July 1st.

"The DeliTitt County Sheep Society was organized on June I2th mth a charter
membership of sixteen. This was organized for the purpose of improving the flocks
in Dewitt County and marketing the production of the flocks to the best advantage.
Prices from a number of firms were submitted and it v/as voted unanimously to pool
the wool through the Illinois Agricultural Association the same as \ms done last
year. Prices offered at present v/ere only 35 to 38^ for grades of wool which the
National ViTool Warehouse & Storage Company quoted at 50 to 55<^ on the same day." -
Robbins, Deuvitt county,

"An automobile demonstration trip for Grundy County Fann Bureau members is
planned for next Thursday and Friday, we vdll make one stop in Livingston County,
spend half a day at the University, visit w^, Riegel and J, E. Meharry near Tolonc,
Frank I* Mann farm at Gilman on return and one of the Kankakee County limestone
and phosphate bins." - Longmire, Grundy Count y.

County delegations scheduled to visit the University during the next week or
so are: June 24, Grundy; June 25, LaSalle; June 26, Kane; June 29, LaSalle;
June 30, Moultrie; July 1, Tazwell, and Lee; July 2, Dewitt and woodford.

Roosters should be removed from the poultry flock as soon as the breeding
season is over. Those first on the market bring the high prices.

SvTat the Early Fly. "The fly's the one to swat. It comes before the weather's
hot, and sits around and files its legs, and lays at least ten million eggs, and
every egg will bring a fly to drive us crazy by and by. Oh, every fly that skips
our swatters will have five million sons and daughters, and countless first and
second cousins, and aunts and uncles, scores of dozens, and fifty-seven billion
nieces, so knock the blamed thing all to pieces. And every niece and every aunt-
unless we swat them so they can't - will lay enough dodgasted eggs to fill up ten
five-gallon kegs, and all these eggs, ere summer hies, vd.ll bring forth twenty
trillion flies* And thus it goes, an endless chain, so all our swatting is in vain
unless we do the swatting soon, in Maytime and in early June. So, men and brothers
let us rise, gird up our loins and swat the flies; And sisters, leave your cozy
bowers where you have wasted golden hours; with ardor in your sould and eyes, roll
up your sleeves and swat the flies," University of Idaho.

"Agriculture occupies four-fifths of the laboring population of the land; from
the agricultural ranks have sprang many of the most illustrious names v^hose services
have adorned and honored their country. " •• B. B, Johnson^

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. III. June 30, 1920. No, 26.

"Field oxainjnation and certification of wheat and oats are a part of the program
recently v/orkod out by the Farm Crops conmittee of the Advisers and nov being £ta.rt-
ed in a few counties. The present plans call for two types of certification, (Ij a
field certification or statement of quality of the best fields now available and
(2) a mass selection viiich will look forward to the production of pure seed in quan-
tity three years hence.

The certification of the best available this year seems advisable because it is
practically impossible to got the pure certified seed of varieties wanted, Turkey
Rod, Kanred and Fulcaster will receive most attention this year. loiia 103 Oats v^s
a favoriti.;this spring but certified seed could not be had. Here again certifica-
tion of the best seed available scorns desirable.

It is hoped that one or two men specially interested in coed grain production
in each of six or eight counties vail become interested in the field selection cf
the pure seed and will devote the time necessary to do the work. This will probably
require the time of tv;o ncn for one day. The heads so selected may be sent to the
University where they will be threshed, recleaned and the seed treated for smut. The
treatment will control looso smut as well as bunt of vjhcat.

The seed so selected and treated, perhaps ono-half bushel to three pocks, wall
be returned to the producer viho vdll grow it separately and in thio manner propogai,e
the pure strain. This small lot of quality seed sown thJis fall or next spring should
produce ten to fifteen bushels at harvest time next year and would be something viixch
cannot be purchased at any price nov/." - J» 0. Hackleman

Picnics- picnics- picnics. This is the season of the year to arrange for these
get-to-gethcr times of goocTe'llowship, Picnics advertise the farm bureau in an ad-
veuitagcous way, a good picnic should have music, plenty of eats, lemonade, games
for all sorts of folks, and one or two good speakers who can be short and snappy.

y;ool Pool shipments Grow, The follovang consignments to the wool pool were
reported this week: Woodford l8,000#, De^itt 9,l50#, Piatt approximately 22,000--,
Marshall-Putman ll,600jf, Richland 6,o6o#, Jo Davies 3,3^3fr» Lawence 5,000;^', Stark
and Morgan 1 car each.

Chinch-bug ravages in com are being reported from nany counties- ijacoupm,
Monroe, Greene, Dc\7itt, IJr. Tate reports demonstrations vdth creosote barriers to
control the pests.

Vol. III. Page 2 No, 26.

New Illinois BulJetins, Experiment Station Bulletins: Variations in Farrow:
With Special Reference to the Birthweight of Figs No, 226, W« J» Carmichael and J,
B» Rice, A research bulletin deali:ag with variations in farrow araong the several
breeds of swine, compiled from breeding and farrowing records kept by the Animal
Husbandry Department of the University from I903-I9I6 inclusive. In the summary
are found the following points;

In 54-9 litter studies the gestation period ranged frcm 98-124 days with an
average of 114,58 days.

The size of litters averaged 8,1 pige with the average weight of a litter about
20 pounds. Litters larger than the average tended to contain a larger proportion of
dead or immature pigs, i^ong a total of 5657 pigs 5^*3% were males, 48,1/i females.

Average number of pigs from sows 1^ years old was 7«5r snd 2 years old and
older 8»6, with average weights of 2«44 and 2«6l pounds respectively*

There was a general increase in the number of pigs per litter and in the weight
of individual pigs until the fourth litter at isiiich tijne the sows vrere 3-3-i- years old

Sulphur in Relation to Soil Fertility No, 227 by Robert Stewart deals with the
S. requirement of plants, S content of soil, effect of S on production of crops. The
chief conclusion made in this bulletin and drawn from available data is that, under
bttBid conditions S need not be added to the soil as a plant food«

An Epidemic of Ropy l^ilk No, 228 by H, A. Harding and M, J, Prucha dealing with
the 40 causes, sources of outbreak, and method of control. Conclusions point out
that ropy milk is caused by certain germs in the milk, usually introduced at the
farm, which tends to make the milk viscous, \*ile not affecting its healthfulness or
flavor. Control measures are steam or disinfecting solution (bleaching powder),

Extensiai Circulars: Fashion; Its Use and Abuse, No, 33; Artistic Dress, No,
34j Color in Dress, No, 35» Reprints of these three popular bulletins have just
been published.

General: The University of Illinois Animal Register, I9I9-I92O is just off
'the press. Copy may be obtained by addressing the Registrar,

Boys' and Girls* club Exhibit at State Fair. The premium list for the Boys' and
lOirls* Club Exhibit at the State Fair is now available for distribution. Larger
premiiius are offered and a more satisfactory classification has been made up than
ever before. Copies of the list may be had by writing to the State Leader in Jun-
ior Extension, 1210 Springfield Avenue, Urbana, Illinois.

Clover Seed Insects, "There is a fair set of clover seed in the first crop of
clover in many of the central counties. Some of the clover seed insects are more
abundant than usual this season and one should make a critical examination of the
heads to see if these insects are numerous before leaving the first crop of clover
for seed," • W» P. Flint.

Chinch«Bugs in Central C6untie3, "In spite of the heavy rains early in the
spring, the present seawon as a -rfiole has been very favorable to the increase of
the chinch»bug. At the present time there are a number of wheat fields in counties
aorth of the area where infestation was reported last fall T*ere bugs are present
In numbers to cause some damage to adjoining com. Barriers should be xised around
such fields at harvest time to kill the bugs before they have spread into the corn,"
1, P, Flint.

Vol. III. Page 3. No. 26,

The Good Ship "Farm Bureau* " Some eight years ago two ships set forth upon
an uncharted sea as the Spanish caraveia of old. Their passengers were few in in
number and sane of little faith„ The captains, pilots and officers ';7-ere in each
case, however, of steadfast purpose and guided well the new crafts. Other vessels
followed year by year, the eighty-sixth recently having gone doT.ai the ^lays, -ivith
others in process of building*

You ask- -diither are they bound, have there been any wrecks, have any arrived?
The way has not been smooth, some have even started without a compass. Several
have drifted dangerously near shoals and hidden rocks. One stove a hole in her
side and ^Tas beached for the past three years, having only recently been replaced
by an entirely new vessel.

The voyage has been long but not t/ithout incident. Of all the voyages of
history this one has paver been exceeded for length. Some havo tired of the voyage
and have been taken off by lifiiters. Some unknown to themsolvcs and neighbors were
"dead" vjhen they first embarked, others have been buried at sea. Recently, as
promise of reaching port has been given, many new passengers have been taken on un-
til the total list now approaches 90,000. Those who continue on the voyage have
not been idle. For years they have been studying efficient methods of production,
and better management. Local marketing problems have been solved through shipping
associations and farmers* elevators,

AS the voyage has progressed and the horizon has been oxtcndcd many realize
that other problems beyond the scope of their vcssol are to be encountered. The
shoals of uneconomic marketing must be marked and the channels of legislation
straightened. No single vessel felt equal to these tasks, so a new and stronger
pilot vessel \vas launched through the uxiited effort of all the crews and named
"The Illinois Agricultural Association." This staunch vessel is now acting as con-
voy to guide and point out the course through the dangerous vtatcrs. Two other
fleets, the Home and the Junior Bureaus, have recently joined in thejvbjfage.

The end is not yet. Not a single vessel has yet arrived. Some far sighted
lookouts claim they are able to see the haven. Never for a moment have those of
clearest vision lost sight of the final goal- the improvement of rural life. Captains
pilots, and officers, can you see the haven, have you a clear chart and compass,
whither are you bound? - J, D* Bilsborrow,

I'Menbers make use of Exchange Listr A young man came into the farm bureau of-
fice and stated that bis cousin, a non-member, had wanted to sell a two row culti-
vator. The member told him he could sell it for him, and so inserted an ad over
his oiTn name. The June 1st letter had scarcely gotten out, vihen the plow was sold
through the ad. Since then a dozen men have come to buy that cultivator, and sev-"
eral letters about it have been received. Incidentally, the non-member viho former-
ly would have nothing to do 7.dth the farm bureau has sent in word that he vashes
to join," - Mosher, ^^oodford County,

"The Sangamon County Threshermen^s Association is meeting this Saturday after-
noon to establish a fair prico for threshing," - lladdon, Sangamon covBity.

."Cut worms havo ruined the corn in several large patches this week. One place,
about 10 acres, v.as nearly all cut off two inches under the ground. This was a
piece of land which had become grassy in the com last year and no attempt vas made
to subdue the grass after the first cultivation," - Robbins, DcV/itt County,

If you need addititional copies of the booklet "A Few Straight Questions about
Your University" we shall be glad to supply you. - W. F. Handschin,

%\^t Jxtmsum Messenger

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

/ul. Til. July 7, 1920. No. 2?

Chinch Bugs working Morth» {jith the gradual extension of the chinch bug area
farther and farther north, the situation is becoming serious, Appe^^ring in con-
siderable numbers in Cass, ijorgan, ijjenard and Sangaaon counties, chinch bugs are
causing alarm aiaong farmers MJno have usually considered themselves outside the in-
fested area. Unless heavy rains occur in July and August vjnen the second brcod is
small, to help control the spread and multiplication of these insects, there isiH
probably be need of a very strenuous control campaign next year, i,i>ithout doubt,
'Burn smd Starve the Chinch Bug" -will be a popular slogan,

"Red Top in this part of the country is practically a failure. .'lost of the
I'ields are grov/ing up in hog-hair and v;ire grass. In some respects ue are glad to
ee the failure of thxs prominent hay crop in Southern Illinois, as vie believe this
ill cause a large number of farmers to purchase limestone, i^iiiich is badly needed
n this part of the country. It often takes just such a failure as this to chiange
ur habits. It seems hard at first but in the end it is the best thing that could
appen to us." - Pollock, Edviards county.

Clover a Ne?? Crop to ilany Farmers. "I have been called out several times this
3ek to look at clover as to v.hether it vss ready to cut or dry enough to put up.
lere are so many farmers here v.ho have never before raised clover, that they kno-rr
Tactically nothing about harvesting it, and most of them have no hay tedder or
|Lde delivery rake, so it is hard to get the clover properly cured, Liost cf^them
tint to feed their clover to their co-.ys and they have been so much in the habit of
[lying all their feed for the dairy cattle, they have no place in the dairy barn
|)r storing av.ay a large amount of clover hay, I think if v,e have success v.ath^^cur
j.over this year, it r-dll not be long before more farmers yrill ^sant to grovr clover
j> feed." - Blackburn, I'arion County,

Nev/ Home Advisers; Ivliss Agnes Hitt has been elected to succeed Ilrs, Kary
onson in the position of Home Adviser in champaign county, Liss Hitt v.a3 born
r Ramsey, Illinois, graduated at University of Illinois, and has been four years
Alabama in teaching and Home Demonstration \Aork.

Uxss r..yrtle y.^ldon is succeeding Liss Ethel Dole as Home Adviser in Kane Coun-
Liiss r;eldQ,n's home is on a farm in v.iniiebago county, Illinois. She is a
iduate of Rockford college and has taught tvTO years in the High School at Furling-
t 1, loua, and three years at LaGrange, Illinois,

Liiss Fairie Llallory is to succeed Liss Label v.ilkerson in the position of
•thing Specialist on the Home Economics staff. University of Illinois. Liss
■lory's home is in Freeport, Illinois. She is a graduate of the University of
cago, has done graduate %ork at the University of \isconsin and has taught m
^ Smney and Rollo Consolidated Schools and comes to us from the headship of the
estic art department of the Sioux City High School.

"ol* III* Page 2. No. 2?

I'Cities boast of their efficiency.

Ifarious kind advisers v.aste retJiis of viiite paper trying to bring the rural brethren
up to the city standard.

|3ut if the percentage of efficiency \ras as lov/ in the country as it is in the city,
large numbers of people v.ould go hungry, v.ho, as it is, find food in abundance,

Phink it over for a miriulie.

jO over the country any day - out in \rill County or Grundy, Livingston, Kendall,
or Kankakee Counties - during the spring or summer or autumn.

fou tsill find everybody uorking; no strikes, no eight hour days, no five and six-
day v.eek.

The farmer is at it every day from dav^ to dark. His ground is al^-ays planted and
tilled and harvested.,

There is no such thing as ungarnered crops, unless ^ar or pestilence intervenes,

Hon is it in the city, vAth its boasted efficiency?

Tens of thousands of mc" tc'i^y are idle over the country. As scon as one industry
calms its workers, another set of men lay dov^n their tools,

TPB are not discussing the justice or equity of the strike - \^ are merely pointing
out the fact that today, as usual, in the cities of the country a large percent of

of the \';orker3 are not working, and a big proportion of the necessary i:ork is net
being done.

Add the tens of thousands of r3oni.ed idlers ^o throng the streets, fill the theatres,
infest the clubs, the race courses, the hight.ays, with their high-poB^red tour-
ing cars - not only are thay loafing, they are each monopolizing the constructive
efforts of half a dozen v.orkers, viio mste their energy feeding and clothing and
amusing these idle or.e&r

Cities today are not efficient at all compared to the country.

The farmers of the v^orld are the ones v^o feed the viorld," - Joliet Herald,

(The above illustrates the nev.er attitude of publications generally tor:ard the
farmer),

"One Big Thing and Hammer it__Har_d" is the Farm Bureau slogan adopted in •'is-
consin. Some slogans have already Ltan submitted by Illinois advisers, but \-:e v.ant
to get more of them so the very best one may be selected, please submit your con-
tribution at once or sooner. Send it "Special to the Uessenger,"

"To get results" is probably Sidney B, Smith's greatest hobby. Have you seen
his latest notice intended to bring in Farm Bureau dues? ^.veU. here it if:

"The sv,-eet6st 7:ordE of human speech
Are not 'I love you', as some men preach;
Another sv;eeter phrase, by Heck,
To me, is this-

ENCLOSED FIND CHECK »■

follov.ed by - "Please mail your check to Secretary, etc. "

"All of the 118 men rho had corn in the "oodford county Test last year have
again furnished samples to go into the Test in 1920, i^e had no thought that all
of these v-ould come in. In fact, I had the idea that if a hundred r,ere in the
second year, v,e ;70uld be doing v,ell, " - Kosher, ".xjodford County,

Vol. III. Page 3. No. 2?

The Draft Horse "Crop" - It takes five or six years to grow a "crop" of draft
horses, A "crop" of poultry or hogs can be grown in one year and the increase for
one year is very much greater than is possible v3-th horses in several years. Sheep
and cattle occupy a somevhat intermediate position with reference to the time re-
quired to increase numbers.

Because of these facts it is very much more difficult to keep the supply of
draft horses adjusted to any changes in the demand, than it is in the case of
animals vhich multiply and mature more rapidly.

In spite of the large vjar demands for certain classes of horses, the supply
v&s in excess of the demand during most of the period from I9I* to 1919* As a re-
sult, the price of horses \^s lov^er during the v&r than during the period just pre- ;
ceding, even though prices for nearly all other commodities increased from 50 to
100^ or more, above the pre-war level.

Several factors seem to have been responsible for this condition* Kost im- ■,

portant seem to have been the following: In spite of the fact that vi© exported i

nearly a million horses during the three year period from I915 to I9I8, the absolute ■
number in the United States increased from 20,962,000 in I9U to 21,555,000 in I9I8. .]
The demand for horses in many lines of activity, such as railroad building, logging, '^
and general development and construction work, seems to have fallen off largely dur-
ing the vjar period. ^
The introduction of the automobile and the truck, principally in tov^s and 0
cities, seems to have reduced considerably the number of horses used in the city [:■
streets. Although only 12^ of all horses i^ere in cities in I9IO, and though this jj
proportion has likely been still further reduced since then, we must appreciate |
that the city market represents the most exacting demand and, therefore, exerts a |
very important influence on the price of horses. This is especially true with re-
ference to draft horses of the host quality. /i
The farm tractor has also boon a factor in displacing a considerable number of |
horses, although as compared vA-th the total number of horses on farms, the percent- |
age displacement has been relatively small, perhaps, not more than 3 to 5/o of the i
total number. On the basis of some preliminary studies made in Illinois, fanners |
generally seem to have decreased the number of horses carried whether they used |
tractors or not. This ^^s no doubt due in large measure to the rapid increase in I
the cost of feed during I917 and I918, I
Every indication points to, a short horse "crop" coming on. The number of mares 1
bred in I9I6, I917, and I9I8, i^as much below the normal. It ^11 be 1924 or 1925 ■
before a normal 'fcrop" of foals will be ready for market. Prices for good draft I
horses arc high. They y4.11 likely be much higher within the next few years. It I
would seem the jxirt of good business for Illinois farmers to have a "crop" of good |
draft horses ready for market any time during the next five or six years, I

- g. F. Handschin, I

"Thirty-five people took the two day demonstration tour from Grundy County I

Thursday and Friday, The members of the party vjoro very much impressed with the |
work they saw on the University Farm v3iich sho\T,ed many things of value to them. I

After SQoing the University experimental vjork the party vsas very much interested I
in the practical application of many ideas established at the University, \*ich I

were being put into practice by \;m» Riegol near Tolono. The excellent herd of hogs I
on the J, E. Loharry farm, near Tolono, v.as seen and on the return t-^-o hours ^jore I
profitably spent with Lir. Frank I. Lann on his farm near Gilnan, The farms of both I
Mr. Riegol and ijr, L'ann shov.cd the practical application of the proper rotation andl
the soil treatment," - Longmire, Grundy County. I

A scries of brief notes ftx)m the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. III. July 14, 1920. No, 28

"Farmers and thresh ermen at the call of the adviser met .^dnesday night in
Toulon to arrange a schedule of prices. Each of the throshermen present handed in
a schedule of prices which he wanted established with the understanding that they
lifould be averaged, r^en averaged up and presented to the farmers for considera-
tion, the farmers voted to accept them. Prices agreed on were 3^ ^nd 44^ for
oats, 70 and 8^ for barley, 8^ and % for wheat and rye, and 600 for timothy^ " -
Brown, stark county,

"Christian County Threshermen met and decided that 4^ per bushel for oats and
80 for wheat was a fair threshing price. They endorsed tight bottomed racks, can-
vases under the feeder, etc." - Hay, Christian County.

Hay in Egypt ♦ "Farmers are harvesting from 1 to 2g- tons of clover and mixed
clover hay from limed land« Untreated land will yield a small hay crop of inferior
quality. New clover hay is selling from S30 to $35 delivered loose. Some farmers
are selling at $40 to (;45 for baled hay. In some cases the hay crop is v/orth cloce
to 0100 per acre. Pretty good for Egypt, eh? That means that we v/ill see many
more "tombstones to red-top" (piles of limestone) scattered over this county this
fall," - de^ifcrff, Franklin County.

"KcLean county clover fields will be cut largely for seed rather than hay. The
first crop of clover is "loaded" v/ith seed. Alsike too gives promise of exception-
al yields of seed. The difference between early and late sown oats is daily becom-
ing more apparent. Early oats sown before the Easter snow give promise of heavy
yields. Fields are -already ripening and examination shov7S the heads to be well
filled and plump." - Center, LcLean county,

"Several acres of Iowa 103 oats v/ere sown in the county last spring and they
are showing up much better than other varieties. In one field where the fanner ran
out of Iowa 103 oats and finished sow dng with Red Rust Proof Oats, the lov/a 103
oats are thicker, taller and heavier than the Red Rust Proof. The Iowa 103 seems
to be far superior to any other variety ever grown in the county." McGhee-Johnson Co.

Lantern Talks Successful. "Have been holding a few meetings primarily in the
interest of the Livestock Survey and talking and using slides and illustrations in
the interest of better sires for developing better paying livestock. I find the
lantern valuable in interesting people and getting them out to meetings. It is a
little trouble to take a screen along and set it up, but judging from the results
it is well worth while. On three consecutive nights we had about 125 to 150 packed
a schoolhouse, 75 in a church and 50 in another schoolhouse. " -^iftlworth, Clark Go.

^ol. Ill, Page 2, No, 28.

Dangerous Aniaal "Dope" Habits. Probably there are ferf injurious practices
more extensively followed by some live stock men than the habit of continuously giv-
ing tonics or medicines to the herds or flocks. An earnest effort should be made to
impress fanners that unlimited confidence should not be placed in testimonials or
other printed "cure-all" literature v/hich may be misleading or even false. Some pure
bred breeders have tried the continuous use of medicines and tonics and their ex-
periences should be valuable in this connection. The impression that "cure-all"
medicines have assisted in the development of animals, enabling them to win in the
show ring is subject to correction for in reality tJiere are many observations that
point to the fact that some of the best breeding aniinals have been "doped" beyond re-
pair.

! liedicines and medicinal substances are very valuable in assisting nature ii/hen

properly prescribed, but are dangerous indeed to the life and health of animals if
recklessly or" continuously fed. Healthy animals do not require daily doses of raedi-
cinc. Furthermore, they are not capable of v/ithstanding strong or irritating medi-
cine day after day without losing the vigor and vitality of health. The folloi^/ing

letter is typical of requests coming to the University. "Enclosed is sample of

idog tonic pov/der which has been fed to many herds in County. Several farmers

have reported deaths where same has been fed. One fanner in County reported

jthat he fed it to 60 and lost 40 of them. Uly farmers arc asking for an analysis of
this powder, and we would appreciate the analysis as soon as possible."

An analysis of the hog powder will not save the hogs. The common ingredients
found in tonics of this character include copperas, salt, charcoal, magnesium sul-
jiiate, fenugreek, sodium hypo- sulphide, vyith sand or other cheap filler. None of the
ingredients mentioned are indicated in the daily rations of animals and experience
has definitely shov/n that such remedies may result in injury, Sv/ine, sheep and
chickens are probably fed more "cure-alls" than other classea of farm animals, and
carry the main burden of ill effects from these preparations,

• The health of the herd is fundamental to every owner's peace of mind, but the

secret of healthy herds and flocks is not in tonical medicines, pills, powders or
(other fancy potions. Enteritis is the most common acute disease induced from "cure-
alls" and unfortunately it proves fatal in a high percent of cases. The real injury
comes from disturbing normal digestive functions and death results from a variety
of causes, many of //hich may not be associated by the owner with continuous feeding
of "dope". Discard the "cure-all" before it has an opportunity to induce illness and
death. Refuse to recommend it and best of all, look forv/ard to the tijne when all
farmers may shake the vender's persuasive selling power of patent medicines. Bettor
protection against worthless and injurious remedies for animals, with more attention
to sanitary surroundings is an urgent need of the live stock industry," — Robert
jraham. Professor of Animal Pathology, University of Illinois.

Note: During the last two v/eeks there has seldom been a day pass that complaint
and loss from feeding "cure-all" medicines has not been reported. The above item
iias been prepared for the Extension Liessonger to fortify the county agents on this
subject.

New Assistant Advisor. L'r. ,/. Lloyd Keepers has been employed as assistant ad-
viser in Kane County and began work on Juno 2lst. He was reared on one of^the best
farms in Grundy County and is a graduate of the University of Illinois. His brother,
iU Floyd Keepers, is Assistant Farm Adviser in Grundy county.

Mr. C. E. Durst has taken up his new work, in cook county and Mr. J. J. Docrschuk
has followed Mr, Durst as Farm Adviser in Union county.

Vol. III. Page 3 No- 23.

.yool pool far surpasses last yearv^ Some counties pooled from five to ten
times as much wool as in lyyj. The following figures give soae indication of the
results to date: Greene 2t\^-3B#; Adams 28jn3#; Larshall-Putman 30,500^; Ilercer
69,329#, v/ith 8 to 10,000,5^ acre to be pooled; Knox 35,000#; Crawford 25|178//;
IIcDonough 26,249ii; Coles 22.C00,f; Brown 29,400^; Kane 14-,359#; -i^d 0. D» Center
says- "IIcLean County „ool Fool tl-'.s season is more than ten times larger than in
1919. The sharp break in the •.■u>l market has aroused our v/ool gro^/ers to the point
where they propose to "sit tight" and see the thing through,"

"Iroquois County Swine Breeders stopped making h^y last Thursday and toured
the county visiting each othur's herds. The trip v/as planned to gat the breeders
acquainted and to inspect the systems practiced and the live gtock kept on the
various farms* Argument, discussions, and explanations brought out many funda-
mental factors and impressed them upon the minds of the various breeders. Suc-
cessful results of the use of forage crops in swine grcv/ing i/as do evident on many
of the farms that no further demonstration is necessary. The same is true with
the use of nitrogenous feeds as supplements to corn. Hogs that were improperly
fed bore evidence of the fact v/hen compared with those that have been receiving
the proper kind and combination of feeds. Blood lines were discussed and animals
with shov7 and breeding records were carefully studied. Animal type also came xn
for its share of dis.-ussion and ocrutiny. The trip v/as carefully planned m ad-
vance by Advisers .lise and .^isenand and proved to be of real value. Now that the
official touring season is on, live stock associations might well ccnsidor the ad-
visability of making inspection trips over their own county and adjoining counties,"
— i^ H* 'Smith, Department of Animal Husbandry, University of Jllinoi?-

County Fair i^xhihits. "Thirty requests have been received from couiity advisers
for county fair exhibit materials The circuits of fairs around which this ex-
hibit will be sent have been made from the list of dates that have been received*
If for any reason the dates of the fairs have been changed, let us knew iicmediateiy
in order to prevent conflicts in the circuits. Six sets of exhilit material are
being prepared which will accomodate six fairs at the same time. Already six r>.-
quests have been made for the week of August 23 -2? and also that of September
6 - 11, However, if there are any of the advisers v/ho desire the exhibit on other
weeks besides the two aDready meirticned arrangements can still be made. Requests^
for the two weeks just mentioned can not be granted as it would necessitate makin^j
up an entire new set of material for each case. Full directions ./ill be issued m
the near future to those who are contemplating using this exhibit,"- ..'. h. Smith,

Summer Visitors to the University, "Twelve counties and two other parties have
^s<i delegates visiting the Coilege of Agriculture so far with a total attendance
of 973. Cass county, a Farm Institute group from Tazewell County, and Jcrscyville
High School boys, and from one to two hundred Louisiana boys are scheduled f or ^
trips in the near future. The Louisiana itinerary calls for thirteen stops chief-
ly in Illinois, ..isconsin, and Iowa, with visits to the State Colleges, conaitions
on the University farms arc extremely good at the present time, and all the mci
ors find uuch to interest thein. •" - ... H. Young.

"A splendid demonstrution of the result of limestone and sweet clover on gray
silt loam on tight clay "was found near De..itt. The field had been unproductive un-
til it was limed and sweet clover grown last year. Sweet clover ./as plowed unaer
this spring and nd/ the corn is exceedingly good." - Robbins, Dc ..itt County.

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. Ill Jiiiy 2'^, 1920 No. 29.

"Picnic Speakers. We have had requests frcm several advisers for the
names of speakers who might be available for picnics, V/e would very auch appre-
ciate the advisers vrriting us a confidential letter giving the naces of a«n whon
they have secured for such an occasion, with soae idea as to \s-hether their adciress
was satisfactory. By compiling such a list we may be able to help you secure
some one for your picnic. Let us hear from you." - G. N. Coffey.

A series of group aeetings h^ve recently been held over the state by lir,
J. R. Bent of the Phosphate Department of the I, A. A- to discuss various plans
for storage of limestone and rock phosphate. Practically every adviser attend-
ed one of these meetings and reported "valuable information and discussion".

"Handy Haps. We have recently completed a map of the county by townships,
on v/hich we have located the residents of each farm bureau r^enber in the county.
Ws have blue prints made of this nap by townships and when going about the county,
have this clipped to the wind shield and find it very convenient in locating the
men and in covering the county systematically." - Isaacs, L!ason County.

"The summer meeting of the Illinois Horticultural Society will be held at
Salem, Illinois, July 29 and 30. Those who expect to attend should notify the
Secretary, A. ii. Augustine, Norcal, IlUnois, as soon as possible, so tha. -Ote
reservations may be made. Those in attendance will be shown over the fruit ii
tricts of IJarion County in automobiles." - W, S. Brock.

"A roll call was made of the number of apple and peach trees represented
at the Johnson County Farm Bureau picnic held at New Burnside, July Ibth. 3d2:5V ^
peach trees and 150925 apple trees were given by the craers present. This ioc
ity, situated on a spur of the Ozarks is surely finding itself." - ^P^"*^"^^^'. ,

Joint Exhibit. "The farm bureau organizations of Brown, Schuyler, ^aan .
and Hancock Counties have taken first steps in the formation of a joint erJii i
to be used successfully at each of the four County Fairs." - Lloyd, Hancock oo.

"Black Glumes in heads of wheat have been proven not to be a form of Qis-
ease, but to be a peculiar strain of the Turkey Red variety of wheat. Consequent-
ly these black or brownish glumes, which look a little like smut at a distance,
should cause no alarm whatsoever. r-nqf

Kanred wheat is still shov/ing itself to be resistant to black stem rus^.

Barbless barley, a new variety, is being grown for the iirst time in i
linois on the DeKalb field. Th.is barley has beards, but there are no barbs, x
•beards being perfectly smooth." - Division of Crop Production. U. oi i.

Vol. Ill Page 2. No. 29

"The wheat is being thre<yhed in several sections of the county and the
yield is ranging from oif-^ht to thirty-five bushels to the acre. Most of the yield
will probably be around ten to fifteen bushels per acre," - Miller, '3f'4P9upin County.

"Wheat is shocking up better than was expected tho the yield will be low.
W. E. Riegel has on v;ell treated soil the best field of wheat seen in the county."
- Oathout , Champaign County.

"Reports on yields of Iowa I03 oats are coming in. Every report has been
favorable and members seem to like this variety. One thinks they will make 50
bushels to the acre which is pretty good for Southern Illinois. In another case,
30 acres have been cut and threshed making about 30 bushels to the acre while the
Texas Red oats on the same farm have not yet been cut." - Doerschuk, Union County.

"Two varieties of oats were grov/n on the Ewing Experiment Field this year,
Texas Red was sowa'j on the regular series while Iowa 103 was sown on the series
that should have grown v;heat. Texas Red appears to have done much better on
treated plots; while on the check plots the Iowa 103 looked best. Both varieties
were sown the same day. The Iowa 103 ripened almost a week ahead of the fexas
Red. Iowa I03 has given satisfaction over the county this year." - deWerff,
Franklin County.

"Barley has shown again this year that it would pay the rent whether any
other crops arc satisfactory or not. This is our one sure grain crop in DuPage
County, It never filled better than the present indications show despite the
very late seeding- The spring wheat is in splendid shape and filling fine." -
Heat on, DuPage County*

"Sunflower seed for silage is in greater demand since the rain has made
planting practical on ground v/here the corn has been destroyed by chinch -bugs. "-
Tarble, Bond County,

"Sunflowers to follow chinch-bugs. Have interested about a dozen of our
farmers in the planting of sunflov/er seed to grow silage on patches of land where
chinch-bugs had destroyed the corn. Some farmers are quite skeptical about this
crop as it is a new idea in this county. We are much interested, however, to
see how successful it may be as a silage proposition." - Phillips, Greene County.

"Creosote line, where it is used, is holding the chinch-bugs effectively.
Seven farmers are using it and each one of them is absolutely satisfied v/ith the
results being secured. We feel that every day that the bugs are held out of the
corn means that the corn will have much more vigor to withstand the attack when
the bugs fly." - Piper, Richland County.

"Chinch-bugs are ravaging in our corn fields and the Madison County Farm
Bureau is considering a move to eliminate corn in the county next year, and will
ask cooperation of our surrounding counties to do likewise. We feel that wheat
is our cash crop and is reasonably sure and consequently corn would be the log-
ical crop to eliminate. Expect to plant more wheat this fall to take care of
some of this corn acreage and plant the greater remaining part in soybeans and
sunflowers." - Haberkorn, IJladison County.

"Some clover has been cut for seed instead of fcr hay. One firld of al-

^HII^WIFBilltU tiiiii w'eelc--'«afl-»yi«*«la-=ng--.nearl.y . 4 . bushe 1 pe.r^ acre."-- Ero'-r., ^-tgrk^
County.

Vol. Ill Page 3. No. 29

'*Will Discontinuing the Growing of Wheat stop the Chinch-Bug? This question
is an old one, and has been discussed wherever the chinch -bug is abundant. From
our experience in this state, v;e can say positively that stopping the growing of
wheat will not prevent chinch-bugs from breeding in localities where this is done.

When chinch-bugs leave their winter quarters in the spring they fly to
fields of small grain, settling generally in fields of wheat and rye, as these
crops, due to their size, are more attractive to them at this time of the y«ar.
In many cases, however, they settle in oats, even where wheat and rye is abundant
and if no wheat or rye is present, most of the bugs will settle in oats and the
reiaainder in grass lands. In a recent drive of half a day through the southern
iart of Macon County, three fields of oats were found so heavily infested v/ith
chinch-bugs that much of the grain was killed, while adjoining or nearby fields
of v/heat shov/ed very few bugs.

In general, the best methods of combatting the chinch-bugs are, in the
southern part of the state where the soil is not well adapted to the growing of
corn, to discontinue this crop, putting in a maximum acreage of wheat and rye,
as the second brood of chinch-bugs depends almost entirely on corn for their food
supply. In the central sections, v/here corn is the main money crop, the acreage
of small grain should be cut down as lovif as possible. In both sections the maxi-
mum acreage of legumes should be grown.

A bulletin is now being prepared giving the best rotations for the sections
Of the state now infested vdth chinch-bugs. This bulletin will probably be ready
for distribution early in August." - W. P. Flint.

Marketing Association to Begin Work, "The Champaign County Farm Bureau has
just engaged the services of J. E- Johnson, Cashier of the Broadlands Bank, and
also manager of a grain business at that place, as business manager of the market-
ing work. Mr. Johnson v/ill have charge of all cooperative buying, selling and
other work of a business character done by the Farm Bureau. We hope and expect to
be able to work in close cooperation with Farmers' Elevators. These elevators
are owned by farmers, practically all farm bureau members, and are so financed
and located as to be able to serve the farmers of the county better than they
could be served by a large centrally located corporation. Such a corporation
could not do business except in more or less competition with these elevators, and
we v/ish to avoid this.

We may use potatoes as an illustration of the way v/e hope to handle this
proposition. This county buys the biggest percent of its potatoes every year,
Mr. Johnson will visit the potato grov/ing districts and determine where he wants
to buy. He will make contracts with Farmers' Elevators, township farm bureau or-
ganizations or other groups of farm bureau members to put up the money and to
handle the potatoes locally. \ii/hen he buys he v/ill drav/ on these local companies
or organizations for the money and will ship the potatoes to them. They can usu-
ally be distributed direct from the car but may be stored to be used during win-
ter or spring, tie think that there are many things that can be handled in the
Scuae way.

We have had meetings of our township farm bureau directors and of the offi-
cers of the Farmers' Elevators and all seem enthusiastic over the plan, vfe know,
however, that it will take lots of missionary and educational work, and careful
planning so we engaged the services of the best man we could locate. He is cap-
able of doing the preliminary work and also the business part of it. Of course,
all the details will have to be worked out by him. He has studied the: job very
carefully before accepting it. We expect to go slowly and carefully, realizing
that mistakes and criticism will be plentiful at best." - C. H. Oathout.

% Jxt

msimt

A scries of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. Ill

July 28, 1920.

No. 30.

Thfc Threshing machine is again at v/ork in many counties. In general, wheat
yields are surpassing expectations although the average is below the normal.
The value of limestone and rock phosphate is very evident this year as reports
of comparative yields come in. The following are but a iew of the items at
hand.

"Threshing has started in the county and the vvheat that has been threshed
so far is yielding fairly well with the quality excellent. It looks as though
the average for the county would be about fifteen to sixteen bushels, although
there are some tv/enty-five to thirty bushel yields and one field that v/as liued
and phosphated last fall turned out better than thirty-five bushels to the acre.
The Turkey Red wheat is showing a marked superiority over the smooth head v/heat
again this year, running at least five to six bushels more to the acre, and test-
ing two or three pounds more to the bushel." - Kiggins, Houltrie County,

"Quite a lot of v/heat has been threshed in Crawford County this v/eok. Yields
range from 12 to 36-g- bushels per acre. The latter yield was on phosphated brown
silt loam soil. Indiana Red wave vvas the variety. Turkey Rod is more popular
this year than last. Most of the v/hcat threshed has sold as No. 1," - Logan,

"Farmers had excellent weather for threshing and have all finished now. The
average of the county was probably tv/elve bushels per acre. Tvvo things with ref-
erence to the yield of wheat this year were very noticeable. First, it showed
that it pays to get the ground in good shape. Secondly, it pays not to pL'nt the
wheat before the fly-free date," - Tate, Morj-oe County.

"Threshing has nm begun, but it is being interfered with on account of the
coal shortage. Yields are running from 10-30 bushels per acre." - Bolting, Sl-el-
by County.

"J^ large percent of the wheat has been threshed and the highest yield so
far Was forty-two bushels on a fifteen acre tract. The average of three men
Who used rock phosphate ran frou thirty-four and one-half to forty bushels per
acre and the v/heat in the same neighborhood without phosphate yielded on the av-
erage of ten to fifteen bushels less. The phosphated ground shows up better
this year than for tv/o or three years past." - iuiller, luacoupin County.

"Single Tov/nship put on a Tour to University. "One of our toi.nships work-
ed up a party to .uakc a tour to the University. uhilc the crov/d v/as suall, it
v/as a most satisfactory tour. Everyone had a chance to talk and ask questions
and to get full information about what they v/anted to know about. Tliey went
home prepared to put into operation at once the soil ir-iprovaaent methods v/hich
they got so clearly in mind." - Brooks, LaSalle County. It. Young says this was
one of the most successful party tours over conducted about the plots. There aro
distinct advantages in not having parties too large.

^mmammamammmmmmii^mmmi.^^i'mmmm^^mmaasaBammmmammmmmmKmmmaKmmmmammmi^imamBa

' "^^^^ III Page 2. No. 30

Black Rust. "It Viras fomid on sxaaining the wheat fields this week that
black rust was quite prevalent in both the winter and spring wheat. It will not
do any damage to the winter wheat as it did not develop early enough to make suf-
ficient headway to be damaging. To what extent it will damage spring wheat v/ill
depend on how long it will take xt to mature and r/hether the weather is suitable
for the development of the rust or not. It goes to indicate that black-rust may
become a menace to the growing of spring v/heat in this region just as it is in
the northwestern states, I^ast year I found some late fields of spring wheat dam-
aged by black rust." - Pdchards, Kane County.

v/ants Seed toheat. "I am desiring to buy seed wheat for some of our members.
The varieties v/hich are called for are Fults and Swamp, sometimes known as Indiana
Swamp. I am anxious to get nothing but good, clean seed of the varieties wanted.
Please Write immediately if you have any such wheat for sale. Send a small sam-
ple and quote best price per bushel." - Tate, Ilonroo County.

Producing Good Seed. "One of our members has spent considerable time going
throu^ a fifteen acre field of Iowa 103 oats two or three times, cleaning out
what late oats v/ere in it. I think that he has done a very good job and we hope
to get four or five hundred bushels of seed from this field and put it in the
hands of careful men v/ho will complete the cleaning out process next year and thus
give us a very good supply of seed which will stand inspection.

Another member has done as careful work in cleaning out a ten acre field of
lowar oats. He feels that the lowar is better than the lov/a 103, although the
field on v/hich he has the lowar oats produced less corn per acre last year than
the field v/here the Iciwa IO3 oats are now growing." - liosher, Bioodford County.

Glover Seed from first Crop. "A number of the farmers are threshing their
first crop of clover for seed. Those fields that have been hulled have yielded
extra fine quality of seed yields ranging from -g- bushel to 2 bushels per acre," -
iuadden, Sangamon County.

"The present outlook for clover seed is very good. As a general rule. Pike
County is a big producer of red and alsike clovers. In place of going on the
market and buying seed as v/e did last year, I now believe we v/ill have consider-
able seed for sale." - Kercher, Pike County.

"The first truck load of new alsike clover came in July 2lst to be rcclean-
ed on the Seed Association's big recleaner. Alsike gives promise of very good
yields this year. A field of nine acres threshed last week averaged 5^ bushels
of good quality seed per acre." - Gcrnert, Edgar County.

Limestone luakes Hay Crop. "One of our members reports 54- loads of clover hay
from 19 acres where limestone was used- Those v/ho have not used limestone upon
this type of soil, have a light crop of red top and weeds. One man who spread
limestone with a shovel is able to go over the stubble and notice the length and
direction of his stroke." - tiheeler, Lav/rence County.

Demonstrations with Horses and Horse Hitches. "Jar. Viln. P. Ncwell, feshburn,
Illinois, is prepared -sio give demonstrations in breaking green or mean colts and
unruly horses and also demonstrate methods of hitching and other things regarding
the handling of horses. Ho is prepared to give demonstrations at picnics or oth-
er county gatherings. If you are interested in this matter you should take at
up with him." - G. N. Coffey.

Vol. III. Page 3. Mo. 30

Sunflo'tfers in the Silo - A number of questions have corae to us regarding
v/hen and how to put sunflo'./ers in the silo. Investigation shows that the best
practical infomation on this subject, v/hich is available at the present time,
is given in Bulletin 131 of the University of luontana at Boseman, Montana.

«/e have extracted the following - "Good Silage can be made from Russian
sunflowers fron the time they begin to bloom until the seeds begin to harden.
The stage of growth that will produce the maxiraura weight of the most palatable
and digestible silage has not yet been determined. Apparently there is a greater
loss of juices when thu crop is harvested in the immature stage, and the more ma-
ture plants seem to have a greater feeding value. The Department has a very com-
plete series of tests in progress at present to determine this point.

The most practical and satisfactory method of harvesting sunflowers is with
the ordinary corn binder. However they may be cut by hand or v/ith a stationary
knife attached to the side of a sled. Low, flat-topped wagons are desirable for
hauling the sunflowers from the field to the silo. The ordinary corn silage cutter
is used in cutting and filling the silo. A cutter with rathci" v/ide throat will
handle the heads more easily. More pov/er is generally required than for corn.

Little difficulty has been experienced in getting stock to eat sunflower si-
lage. In some cases a few days have been required to get them to eat it readiiy.
It is palatable to cattle, sheep, and sv/ine. In the experiment of I917-I8, 2,83
pounds of sunflower silage was equal to one pound of alfalfa hay v/hen fed to
dairy cows receiving grain and a limited hay ration. Brood sows and breeding ewes
ate sunflower silage readily, 2.5 pounds of silage being apparently as high in
feeding value as one pound of choice alfalfa hay when fed as a supplement to a
grain ration. Sunflower silage, made from plants that are 30 percent in bloom,
compares favorably in total digestible nutrients v/ith corn silage made from in-
mature corn." (Bulletin was published in I9I9 and is now available.)

To Store Phosphate. "Enough stock has been subscribed in the El Paso Coop-
erative Phosphate Company to put a permanent structure up.- for six hundred tons,
with elevating machinery. iVhile the building is being put up by a separately
organized company, it will be managed through the office of the El Paso Farmers'
Elevator Company. There vvcre special reasons v/hy it seemed wise to organize as
a separate company. Other points in the county have been waiting for the El Paso
people to act, and these others will probably take up the matter of phosphate
bins at an early date." - Hosher, k/oodford County.

"The use of big headed tacks on a county map, indicating the sections as
the livestock survey reports come in, is proving wonderfully helpful in indicat-
ing the parts of the county where the farm bureau members are responding to the
request for cooperation." - lUosher, Kifoodford County.

"The grasshoppers are very numerous in some sections. One of our members
caught over one-half ton of grasshoppers by actual weight off of a forty acre
clover field. He rigged up a grasshopper catcher and pulled it v/ith his Ford.
He rigged up a hitch which pulled the catcher out to the side of the car." -
tiiller, Macoupin County.

Do you want Alfalfa Seed? "Any Farm Bureau interested in securing seed of
either registered Grimm alfalfa, Grimm alfalfa not registered, or common Montana
alfalfa, may be able to do so if our present plans do not miscarry, v/c believe
that dependable seed can be secured direct from the growers thru the Farm Bureau
_in the alfalfa seed producing section of Montana. Any further information may

<hv. 3iic 1 0 1090

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. Ill August 4, 1920 No. 31

"Third Brood Codling Moth. From present indications there will be a moder-
ate "fcbird' .brood of the codling moth throughout the south third of the state this
season. Worms of this brood will be hatching from Centralia southward from Au-
gust 20th to 25th; from Jerseyville and Effingham south to Centralia from August
25th to 30th, Late worms of the second brood will be hatching in large numbers
throughout the first two weeks of August, and v/hore only one spray has been given,
it would be advisable to apply another a little before the appearance of the
third brood. This spray should be applied from Centralia southward from August
10th to 15th; from Jerseyville and Effingham south to Centralia August 15th to
20th, Where two sprays for the second brood worms have been given, apply a spray
for the third brood to be on the trees by the dates of hatching that brood.

A late second brood spray should be given from Quincy and Urbara south to
Effingham. This should be applied August 10th to I5th. The spray should consist
of 1 pound of dry, or 2 pounds of paste arsenate of l^ad combined with 2 pounds
of freshly slaked lump-lime to each 50 gallons of solution. If lump-lime cannot
be secured, substitute 4 pounds of hydrated lime." - »/. P. Flint.

"Hessian Fly. Last year over 50^ of the early sown wheat was destroyed by
Hessian Fly. A survey of the state is now being made and a statement of Hessian
Fly conditions will be mailed each farm bureau about September 1st. tie know now,
however, that flies will be numerous enough to damage early sown fields and now
. is the time to start a campaign for proper date of seeding, which in general will
be three days later than advocated last year," • W. p. Flint.

"Imlll Grow no Corn, we are recommending that the farmers in the southern
half of Idacoupin County do not plant corn the next season. This is ibetlngtsirgji
a hearty cooperation with a large number of farmers and we hope to be able to
bring the others into line. Siost of the men realize that something radical must
be done in order to get rid of the chinch bugs," •. Miller, Uacoupin County.

"The Chinch Bugs are on the wing. There will be lots of chaffy corn this
Uil, due to injury by the coming brood. Visited several 4 to 5 acre patches
along edge of large fields that were completely killed." - Fisher, tfabash County.

"Chinch Bugs. Chinch Bugs - the incessant worry of so many farmers and
farm advisers.'. Reports have grown worse and worse. Creosote lines have been
! +v "'^^'^■'■^ ^" ^°^^ cases, but all too many fields have gone unprotected,

and the infested area is spreading rapidly from Southern Illinois to the real
^hf!! vi^ °l Illinois. Let us not forget these ruined fields of corn, V7hen the
cnmch bug has hidden himself in winter quarters next spring. Let us keep up our
present determination to leave no stope unturned in our campaign of destruction
next tall, winter and spring." - c. A. Atwood,

Vol. Ill Page 2. No, 31

"Fowls including chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese are susceptible to
iPWPftSttlCT-mi germ diseases. Certain diseases of poultry respond to treatment,
but as J. rule when chickens becone sick it is better to kill them in view of
the cost of nedicine and the value of time required in treatment. However, pre-
ventive measures offer protection agiinst diseases of domesticated birds and it
is important that the veterinarian and poultry owner be enlightened as to the
characteristics of some of the more important diseases of chickens. During the
last two months numerous specimens of afflicted poultry have been subraitted to
the laboratory of Animal Pathology for diagnosis, and frequency of intestinal
Worms in chickens one-third to one-half grown is evidence of the unclean and un-
wholesome chicken lots and runs throughout the state. Round worm and Tape »/orm
have been encountered. U. S. Department Bulletin j^957 on 'Important Poultry
Diseases' coiitains a brief description of the prevalent poultry diseases encoun-
tered in Illinois, together with preventive measures.

The importance of the poultry industry and the meager academic training re-
ceived by veterinarians in Poultry Pathology has stimulated requests from many
practitioners that the next annual Veterinary Conference at the University de-
vote a portion of a program to poultry diseases. Aside to parasitism of poul-
try, such diseases as Cholera, Tuberculosis, Roup, and Chicken Pox prevail in
many Illinois flocks. The prophylactic value of Chicken Pox vaccine used in
California has been the subject of many inquiries during the past few months." -
Dr. Robert Graham.

"The. first automobile tour of the iuarshall-Putnam Farm Bureau, making a trip
of 40 miles with 50 in attendance, proved entirely satisfactory. A great deal
of interest vvas aroused for sweet clover, phosphate and soybeans. The most un-
usual scene of the day V7as a 25 acre field of A. K. soybeans. The owner ex-
plained his method of using sweet clover in conjunction with phosphate, which
system last year netted him 86 bushels of corn per acre. In nine years of con-
tinual raising sweet clover he has never failed to secure a stand. Once the
sweet clover was killed by lodging of the grain. From the success of this auto
tour, v/e believe that more should be held. The question is to avoid attempting
to show too much. On such a tour, the^ farm adviser should take rather an in-
conspicuous part. The talks by the farmers v/hom you visit are of most value.
The farmer is the man who has accomplished the thing under surveillance and the
others are ready to listen to him." - Fuller, Lar shall -Put imm County.

Very successful Field Meeting, "The Farm Bureaus of wabash, Lav/rence, Rich-
land, and Edwards Counties held a meeting Friday, July 30th, at the ni/est Salem
Experiment Field. Prof. J. E. Readhimer addressed one of the largest crov/ds
that has ever gathered on a Southern Illinois Experiment Field, The crowd was
estimated at 450 to 500 men. Last year Prof. Readhimer talked to 100 at a sim-
ilar meeting, n'e believe these figures speak for themselves. Prof. Readhimer
had the undivided attention of the entire crowd for over an hour and he w-as com-
pelled to leave some of the men to make the evening train. There v/ere farmers
from wayne, Richland, Lawrence, i/abash, Edwards, and kvhite Counties of Illinois
and Knox County, Indiana." - Pollock, Edv/ards County.

">fe nov/ have rock phosphate stored at four cooperative elevators, and we
hope to Within the next year to have them carrying a stored supply for the farm-
ers who use only a small amount at a time," - wise, Iroquois County.

I *. .

Vol. III.

fag^

No._U

Horticulture to the Front. "Summer meeting of the Illinois Horticultural
Society was held in Marion County July 29th and 30th. Considerable interest v/as
taken in the experiments that the University of Illinois is conducting for the
control of Blotch, t/. S. Brock has had charge of this work. Over 300 people
made the auto tour visiting several 6i the orchards located near Salem and Alma.
laore pears are probably grov/n in iiarion County than any county in the United
States, It is estimated that 400 car loads will be shipped from Alma alone." -
Spitler.

"The HcHcnry County Farmers Cooperative Association was to have been incor-
porated for $50»000 to handle seeds only, but the interest in the organization
increased so rapidly that a group of farmers in McHenry contracted for the larg-
est feed plant in the county and v/ill proceed to turn it over to the county as-
sociation. The plan now is to increase the capital stock to §100,000 and build
or buy a plant at three or more towns and handle feed, seed, etc. The feed busi-
ness at McHenry is being conducted under the management of the farmers and ap-
proximately C500 worth of business is being done per day. Over 95/^ of fanners
interviev/ed to date have purchased stock in the County Association." - Gafke,
McHenry County.

Better Sires - Better Stock - $1000 Money Prize, Under rules and condi-
tions provided by the Bureau of Animal Industry, United States Department of Ag-
riculture, a money prize of one thousand dollars will be paid by Chapin & Com-
pany, 32? S. LaSalle Street, Chicago, to that county in the United States which
first becomes free from inferior sires. By inferior sires are meant low qual-
ity purebred sires as well as all crossbred, grade and scrub sires. The word
"sires" includes stallions, bulls, jacks, rans, boars, and bucks. Poultry is not
included. No time limit is placed on the offer of this prize. County agents or
officials of county livestock organizations desiring to enter their counties as
competitors for this prize, or wanting complete rules of contest, will indicate
their intention of so doing by letter to Chapin & Company, sending a duplicate
of the letter to the Chief of Bureau of Animal Industry, United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture, tiashington, D. C.

"Phosphate grov/s clover, k/e have a glowing example of the value and last-
ing effects df rock phosphate applied to the brown silt loam soil in Edgar Coun-
ty. This particular field on v/hich the value of rock phosphate v/as noted v/as
treated ten years ago. Eleven hundred pounds of rock phosphate were used per
acre. A check strip v/as left near the middle of the field. The field is in red
clover this year. Actual weights of the clover over like areas on the treated
and check strips, amde by a farm bureau representative, disclosed the fact that
there was a trifle more than 2.5 times a much clover by weight on the treated
portion as there v/as on the check strip," - Gernert, Edgar County.

Lime st o ne sh ow s in 'ylh eat . "'Die majority of the farmers are through thresh-
ing v/heat. Yields per acre vary from two to thirty bushels. Farmers who have
been using limestone for several years and have their soil in good shape receiv-
ed the best yields and are fairly well satisfied. The poorer farmers, of course,
are discouraged and ready to quit." - Tate, L'onroe County.

"During our auto tour, we visited a sweet clover field grown by the first
man in the county to grow sweet clover. The owner related his experiences with
sweet clover and told us he raised 114 bushels of corn to the acre follov/ing
sweet clover crop. He also assured us it was absolutely folly to grow sweet
clover in Pike County v/ithout first applying two tons of lime to the acre."

A scries of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. Ill August 11, 1920 No. 32

Dr. Bauer returns to take charge of Soils Extension in Illinois. After a
two years leave of absence to complete his work for his Doctor's Degree, Freder-
ick Charles Bauer is welcomed back to the University of Illinois. As Assistant
Professor, he will have charge of Soils Extension in the Department of Agrononiy.

As a Christian County boy, "Freddie" Bauer grew up in the midst of farm life
in all its phases and he still maintains an active interest in the management of
the old farm. His academy work was completed at James Llilliken University and
in 1909 he graduated from the College of Agriculture, University of Illinois.
In 191:8 he was given the M. S. Degree by the University of Illinois for work in
Agronomy, Chemistry and Botany, and in 1920 the University of Wisconsin conferr-
ed upon him the Ph. D. Degree for work in Soils, Chemistry and Agricultural Eco-
nomics, His thesis was entitled "Factors Affecting the Availability of Rock
Phosphate".

After graduation in I909, Dr. Bauer spent two years as supervisor of Agri-
culture at Boise, Idaho and seven years in Soils work at the University of Il-
linois, where he maintained close contact not only with Soils teaching but with
the Soil Experiment Fields*

"A no-decision tractor demonstration was held at Griggsville August 5th v/ith
six tractors participating, the Parret , Sampson, Emerson, Fordson, Vfellis Cub,
and the Cletrac. About 300 people were in attendance. In addition to the trac-
tors, We arranged for the owner of the field to enter the demonstration, under
the rules and regulations governing the tractors, with two span of mules hitch-
ed to a gang plow. The contrast was very striking and proved to be the feature
of the afternoon. Plowing continued for three hours, during which time the mules
plowed 1.1 acres of ground at the depth of 4^", while the area plowed by one
tractor was 4»4 acres to the depth of 7" and''the least plowed by any tractor was
2,3 acres. The results of the tractor demonstration were so favorable that it
has been decided to make it an annual affair. Cost records, data, etc, collect-
ed will be published in the county papers and the farm bureau circular, ^fe did
not, however, make the decision announcing that any one tractor v/on the contest.
I think that a contest of this kind is very much more appreciated by dealers and
by farmers if no decision is made." • Kercher, Pike County.

Black Rust, "v/e have been keeping close tab on the development of black
stem rust in the spring wheat. There has been considerable damage done to the
crop from this disease. A few fields have been badly injured to the extent of
shriveling all the grain. Most of the wheat is injured to the extent where the
kernels will show some slight shrink with some of the_ lov/ spots badly damaged in
the fields. The spring wheat is not all in the shock at this time so it is hard
to estimate definitely the extent of the damage. The late fields, of course.
Will be damaged more than the early fields." - Richards, Kane County.

Vol. Ill Page 2 No. 32

"liuch corn is injured by continued drought. Pastures are very short. The
only pasture left is that of sweet clover- This crop is showing its superior
pasturing qualities under adverse condxtions, Grundy County will have a lot of
sweet clover seed for sale, both the large growing variety and the snaller or
recently named Grundy County Sweet Clover. One 30 acre field of this Grundy
County Sweet Clover hulled out a little more than 10 bushels per acre." - Long-
mire, Grundy County.

"Threshing will be about finished ail over the county next week. Iowa 103
oats are out -yielding all others and v/eigh heavier. Turkey Red wheat is also the
highest yielder and in nearly all instances tests No. 1 grade. Much of it tests
6l to 62# per bushel." - Belting, Shelby County.

"Iowa 103 oats yields from seed obtained by the farm bureau last spring for
about 40 farmers, are from 30 to 60 bushels per acre. Farmers express themselves
as well pleased with this variety and v/ill continue to use it. I7e feel that the
showing made by this variety is remarkably good considering the adverse weather
conditions of early spring." - Phillips, Greene County.

"The one field of Icwar oats m the county averaged 75 bushels per acre.
Judging from requests ior information which have been coming into the farm bureau
office recently more care as regards varieties of wheat, method of seed bed prep-
aration, and date of sowing vvill be exercised by the farmers in putting in this
year's wheat crop than ever before,

A summary of the readings which were made by Mr. Holbert on one of the corn
disease investigation plots in Knox Cou^ity indicates that the special plot treat-
ed with phosphorus may be the best. The preliminary reading shows 15^ more
strong plants and h% iev/er weak plants for the phosphated rows planted with dis-
eased corn, and l8.8/t mocre strong plants and 9.8/i fewer vveak plants in the phos-
phated rows planted with disease free corn. There is also a 14.3/= better stand
for the disease free corn as compared v^ith the diseased corn when the soil treat-
ments are ignored on the entire plot," - Bracker, Knox County.

"tfe find that Marquis wheat is not so badly affected by rust as Blue Ribbon.
Vifhere spring wheat has been threshed the yields have been from 9 to 15 bushels
and the grain is of poor quality, IVinter wheat is of good quality and yielding
25 to 30 bushels. Alsike seed is yielding as high as 6 bushels per acre." -
Snyder, Ogle County.

"The two best wheat yields of the county came from land which had had an ap-
plication of one ton or more of rock phosphate, the best yield reported being an
average of 38 bushels per acre on 145 acres. The oats crop varies widely with
the time of seeding and condition of the ground v/hen sown. The best yield re-
ported was Oh 22 acres v/hich averaged 97 bushels per acre. A great mny fields
are making 50 to 70 bushels. A few fields are yielding as poorly as 25 bushels. "-
Burwash, Piatt County.

Phosphate elevator to be built in t/oodford County. "At a farm meeting at-
tended by about twenty-five farmers living in the community around Letamora, it
i*as decided to organize a cooperative stock company for the purpose of building a
phosphate elevator at Metamora. Stock is selling quite roaiily and indications
are they will be ready to go ahead and purchase a site and make building plans
very soon. " - Mosher, Woodford County.

VOAr IXJ.

fageT^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Ho^T

"Killing V^bod Chucks, Steveral farmers have made inquiry in regard to eradi-
cating wood chucks« A very practical method was tried out. and was found to be
100^ effective. The "liz^y" (Ford) was backed up to the nests of the wood chucks,
a small pipe about five feet long was placed over the muffler and a rubber hose
about four or five feet long was placed on the end of this- The pipe was used to
prevent the burning of the rubber hose- The hose v/as placed in the hole in the
ground and a sack or dirt v/as placed around the hose. The engine was run for a-
bout five minutes, until the smoke or i gas came out very freely from the other
holes, (la case the gas does not come through some of the holes plug the one up
where the gas is escaping and it will start out through the other holes.) About
a dozen different nests were treated in this manner and all holes were carefully
covered with dirt. T^/o days after this operation the holes were examined and
none were dug out. Several holes were dug into and in each case, one or more dead
wood chucks were found. I am convinced that this is sure death to the animals
where the gas is given as above," - Kline, Boone County-

"' Cure -all luedicines' — Mr. J. L'. — of this locality fed a patent hog
medicine manufactured at Quincy to several head of healthy hogs v/hich had been
immunized against hog cholera and were seemingly in perfect condition at the time
he started to feed this medicine, lilthin three or four days, 1& or 20 of the
larger hogs were sick, 9 or 10 have died and the remainder seem to be doing bet-
ter since the medicine has been taken away. This patent hog medicine was fed in
a self-feeder. One ov/ner, whose hogs were affected kept several ewes and had
wonderful success with his lambs until he was persuaded to feed the sheep and cat-
tle remedy to his ewes. Since that time the lambs that have been born, lived
long enough to nurse tv/o or three times and die in convulsions." - Dr. H. R-
Simkins, Elmwood, Illinois.

"Teaching the Boys Hov/. There will be a school of instruction and demonstra-
tion at the hog barn at the Illinois State Fair grounds for the purpose of in-
structing the Pig Club members of the County how to make their pig look his best
in the show ring while the judge is looking him over." - Madden, Sangamon County.

"A car of cotton seed meal recently came into Ogle County guaranteed to an-
alyze 3ti.5/» protein. It was not satisfactory and the farm bureau called on the
state department of foods and dairies to analyze it. Their analysis showed 3i^.l3%
protein. This service in helping the buyer to get this information was good ad-
vertising for the farm bureau." - Snyder, Ogle County.

, Seed Company .Recapitulates, "An audit of the seed company books has just

eeen completed, we imd that a Uttle over $25,000 worth of seeds v/ere sold the

s year at a margin of approximately 15 percent above purchase price. There v/as
h Th °^ approximately one thousand dollars after ten percent of the net gain

ad been set aside as surplus and seven percent had been paid on the capital stock,
bince the farm bureau carried the management, we can say that the business just
about broke even." - Mosher, tfoodford County.

Important to Make Farm Visits. "Most of the week was devoted to making farm
visits. My experience with farm visits recently convinces me that it is important
to make as many as time v/ill permit without neglecting other lines of vvork that
inay be of equal importance. Undoubtedly, the success of farm bureau work demands
that a certain amount of time be allotted for farm visits outside of those made
upon request." - Richards, Kane County.

% Jxt

m0tmt

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, Gallegc and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol- III.

August 18, 1920

No. 33

irdin

Calhoun County organizes. "On August 11th more than 500 farmers met in
and organized the Calhoun county Farm Bureau, This is the eighty-sixth farm bureau
in Illinois, It was one of the most enthusiastic organization meetings I have ever
attended. There was no hall in town large enough to hold the crowd and the meeting
had to be adjourned to a grove, with approximately 550 members and a good execu-
tive comaittee» this courty, vrtiich is the largest apple grovang county in the state,
is ready to go forvard with the v;ork just as soon as a suitable man can be found
for farm adviser." - G. N, Coffey.

tfinnebago County Employs adviser.. "Winnebago County Farm Bureau has decided
to employ I_r. Charles H, Keltner as farm adviser for that county. l.:r. Keltner at-
tended lit, iuorris College and also graduated from the Universtty 0^ Illinois. He
taught Agriculture in Ut, Lorris College and also in the Northern Illinois Norml
at DeKalb. For the last three years he has been farming in Jo Daviess County.
:ir, Keltner expects to begin work September 1st," • G» N. Coffey.

llr. A« R. Kemp has been employed as assistant adviser in Lercer County. L.r»
Kemp was born on a grain and livestock farm in Indiana, graduated from the Agri-
cultural College at the University of Illinois and has been teaching in Smith-
Kughes work and club leader in Indiana since graduation. He vdll take up his work
in the very near future.

"The past week has been fair week in Schuj'ler County and all
of the time has been devoted to the fair exhibit. The exhibit seemed to create

^iked Exhibit.

quite a favorable impression on practically everyone who saw it. \./hile not nearly
all our farm bureau members were present during the fair, v/e had a great nunber
that were not farm bureau members who were equally interested. The farm bureau
secured a small badge which wa.s given to each member when he called to see the ex-
hibit." - Gentle, Schuyler County,

Cartoons to be used.

"The farm bureau is planning to have another exhibit

tent at the county fair this year, -Ve are not cooperating with other counties, but
attemptiae to put on this exhibit alone, Charles Plumb, cartoonist for the Il-
linois Agricultural Association, has been in Rock Island this week making some
cartoons to be used for this exhibit and the exhibits in other counties, if they
are desired." - Edgerton, Rock Island County.

Liniature Experiment Field. "In preparation for tho Lee County Fair, August
17, 18, 19, 20, it is planned to reproduce the Dixon Experiment Field in miniature
fona, showing the different soil treatments with growing crops, v/ith appropriate
oigas; also a display of weeds will be on exhibit." " Griffith, Lee County.

iVol, III. Page 2. No. 33.

j Vi/heat vs Potatoes. "We have an extensive area of brown sandy loam on gravel

■vihich is practically all cultivated, v/hgat is the main crop and straw has been
burned in former times but is now baled and hauled off. It affords an excellent
example of soil robbery. One member has a 4-0 acre farm in this area. Five acres
of potatoes in this area brought him over §2000 this year. The wheat growers in
that vicinity are beginning to wonder if they can afford to follow a one crop
system or to farm less and in crops which pay a larger profit per acre. This man
grows the Irish Cobbler potato." ~ H, C. Vi/heeler, Lawrence County.

Getting Coal for Threshing. McLean County Farm Bureau did a good service for
farmer members who wanted to thresh and could get no coal. After several confer-
ences, the county advisers prevailed upon a local mining company in Bloomington to
set aside 20 tons daily to be secured by farmers for threshing only. Also it i-was
necessary to have a written order signed by the farm bureau showing number of acres
to thresh and coal required. Allotment vms made on basis of a ton for 40 acres.
A total of 60 farmers secured coal the first four days. This permitted the thresh-
iqg of 60 jobs v/hich otherwise would still be in the shock,

"Silo filling with com has already started. Sunflowers, however, are not yet
xeady for silage and promise a fair yield." - Rehling, Clinton county*

Feeder Ho^s.. "if you know of any feeders in the corn belt who want to buy
feeder hogs we can supply them with some. liiere will be thousands of bushels of
feed bought in this county this year." - Tate, Monroe County,

"The only farm bureau shipping service plan in this state is surely proving
out to be a very satisfactory method of organizir^ the county for cooperative ship-
ping. The Warren County plan is new in that it has no membership except that of
the farm bureau. The county manager is employed and supervised by the executive
ccsoaittee and he in turn selects with the township committee and the local shippers
the loeal managers at the different points, v.'e now have nine shipping points sup-
plied and doing business and expect to furnish this service in every quarter of the
county within a few months.. The service has met with enthusiastic response at near-
ly every point and remarkably small work and advertising was necessary to get
started. Tlie service has brou^t in quite a few new members who have joined the
farm bureau voluntarily. From present indications, it should only be a matter of
time until the service will be shipping the bulk of the less-than-car-lot stock in
viarren County," — v.ells, Warren County*

"Three tenant farmers from Clay County drove to Clinton one day this week and
looked about for places to v/ork by the month on farms the coming year. They said
they wanted to get located in a good farming country and felt that in the long run
they would be better off to dispose of their farming equipaent in the southern
part of th© state and start here as farm hands. I found places for all of them
and tentative arrangements have been made to get them located here," Robbins, De-*
.ifitt County.

For Grain Storafr^e. "Hae farmers of Greenview are contemplating the building
of storage bins at the Farmers' Elevator for their grain in anticipation of storage
I troubles and car shortages next season, and as a marketing proposition." - Hughes,
fiienard County.

Vol. III.

Page 3.

No, 33.

"Alfalfa Seeding on the University Dairy Farm has been very successful the past
two years in the following scheme; Fall wheat is sown following corn cut for the
silo. The next year the wheat stubble is plowed as early as possible and the ground
thoroughly compacted, as soon as rains supply sufficient moisture the alfalfa is
drilled soaetiiae in August, (August 13th, this year). A compact soil and ample
moisture are considered essential. About September 28th the wheat is drilled. The
following season gives a crop of wheat and two crops of alfalfa after the wheat.
An excellent and uniform stand of alfalfa has been secured in this way, althou^ the
wheat has lodged badly in places and the alfalfa stands tvfo or three weeks past its
normal cutting time waiting for the wheat harvest. The scheme is well adapted to
our peculiar rotation requirements, where corn for silage and alfalfa for hay are
the principal crops. It may be found of value elsewhere, under similar conditions
of soil and season," - rf, L. Gaines, Department of Dairy Husbandry, U, of I.

"Resistance in viheat to the So-Called Take-All Disease, The so-called take-
all disease was first found in the United States in the sprir^ of 1919, i" Kadison
County, Illinois, Later in that season it was found in Lason and Sangamon counties,
Indiana. The cause of the disease is not yet fully known. In 1920, take-all was
very destructive on wheat in the experimental plots at Granite City, This v/as es-
pecially true in the case of certain varieties. The disease also was severe in a
few commercial wheat fields near Granite City and also in Lason County, Illinois.
Ihile the disease was very severe where it occurred in 1920, it was very much less
prevalent than in I919, This undoubtedly is explained by the fact that the majority
of farmers in the infested districts did not sow any varieties which gave evidence
of being susceptible to take-all in 1919.

Results from experiments thus far indicate that wheat is the only crop attack-
ed. As to the relative susceptibility of different wheat varieties, very striking
differences became evident this year in the series of plots at Granite City. Cer-
tain u^eat varieties were found to be very susceptible to the disease while others
showed striking indications of resistance. These differences became evident rather
early in the spring and remained so throughout the season. Ten of the leading
varieties of winter wheat adapted to Illinois conditions were used. These v/ere
sown in adjacent parallel strips a drill-width (5* inches) wide and 50 rods long,
on a uniformly infested level field.

Results show that Salzer's Prizetaker and Red Cross varieties are very sus-
ceptible to this disease and that Red v/ave, liay, and Txirkey Red apparently are im-
mune. The immunity of these varieties offers a very promising means for controll-
ing the disease, i/inter Fife and Harvest King showed only a trace of the disease,
Fulcaster 2fo, Fultz 2fo, and Illini chief 25-30^ Spring wheat varieties developed
symptoms s<anewhat similar to but not identical with the take-all symptoms of
winter varieties. Rosen and common rye showed no take-all. The all-important
thing in the infested areas is to avoid the sowing of the very susceptible varie-
ties, particularly Salzer's Prizetaker and Red Cross, and to grow the best adapted
'Varieties known to be immune," -««■ George Dungan,

("Limestone situation is becoming very unsatisfactory. The demand far exceeds
the supply. Marblehead, our most convenient source of good limestone is over 100
, cars behind orders and v/e are sending them orders almost daily. One day this week
I gave them orders for nine cars for two men. We have in mind the organization of
a large cooperative company of fanners who will secure a desirable quarir and in-
stall a large plant located near Quincy, " •— Gougler, Adams County.

' *-^V>:t»3r,*:.»^„'.

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA, ILLINOIS

V<5l. Ill,

August 25, 1920.

No. 34.

'yield examinations and collections of Hessian Fly flaxseeds from different
sections of the state have shavn the fcllwing general conditions;

i- or the north part of the state every field of winter wheat examined has shcAvn
'r<x.i 20 to 70 percent of the stools infested with the Hessian Fly. Spring v/heat
and barley have shown from no infestation to 40 percent. There is a moderate
anount of parasitism, but does not exceed 25 or 30 percent. Conditions in this
Lection of the state v/ill not be far from the sane as they were in the fall of l^l?^

In the central and so'-rth parts of the state practically every field of winter
liheat stubble showrs Hessian Fly flaxseeds in varying numbers. The percentage of
parasitism runs from 60 to 90 percent, and the fly will probably not be as bad as
it was in the fall of I9I9, Enough healthy fly remain in the stubble, however, to
cause a general heavy infestation of all early sown fields.

Practically no fly have emerged up to this date in any part of the state, so
there will be little or no danger of a supplementary fall brood. This means that
the fly free date as given out should hold substantially," - la/. P. Flinb,

Nursery Stock. "Nearly all kinds of fruit trees are scarce and expensive at
this time due to the small nuiaber of trees propagated during the last three years
and to the difficulty of securing suitable stock for propagating purposes. Anyone
expectii^ to plant trees or ornamental plants next season should place oraers vith
some reliable nurseryman as soon as possible. If conveoient the best plan is to
visit the nursery in person, selecting those trees cr plants which conionn to the
desire of the purchaser* If this is not possible, orders should be placed direct
it^ith the nursery. t4th fev/ exceptions "tree agents" should be shunned. The fol-
lowing rules should be observed:

Buy only standard vizrietios. Choose or specify strong trees but avoid over~
grff/n plants or plants too old to conform to the best information for the species
in question; as for example, two year old apples and pears should be planted in^-
stead of those older cr younger; only one year peach trees or strong June buds
should be purchased. Have order shipped as soon as plants have matured naturally
-:nd "heel in" immediately upon arri\'al.

Spring planting is best in the northern and north half of the Central Section.
Fail pliinting is successful and advisable south of Urbana," - /J, S. Erock,

Hail In.iures Corn. "La.st week witnessed a severe hail stjorm in a restricted
c.rea of the county. About 1000 acres of corn was affected, some seriously. Seven
farms suffered real damage. Careful investigation and estimate placed the most
serious damage at about 20 or 25 bushels per acre.

In very limited areas it may later be found advisable to uee this damaged
corn for silage, or green feed, depending on the facilities at hand on the farm."
* Center, McLean County.

IBi. liT.'

Pa:

■^m

NO. :ji-.

Pulaski County employs Adviser. "The Pulaski County Farm Bureau has employ-
I ed Mr, Idllian P., T^asf. -i: as fr.rn adviser, Mr, ::astinan is a graduate of the Iowa
State College ar^d has l.\d special tr::iining in horticulture and poultry, in addi-
tion to his training in r^erieral agriculture<, Ilr. Eastman \7as brought up on a farm
near Amss, Iowa, He Jas assistant in Botany and Vegetable Pathology in the Mary-
land Agricultural Co"'jp-o -^rd Profedsor of Horticulture and Forestry in the Winona
College of Agriculture for about three years. He has also had considerable ex-
perience on fruit farms in different parts of the country. For nearly three years
he was county agent in Karipahire County, West Virginia, loTm Eaatoan expects to
start work about September ICth'^vith offices at lioucd City,

Haberkorn goes to RundoJph County,^ Hr. J, E. Haberkom, v»'ho has been farm
Adviser in Liadison County since the fara biureau started work in April I918, has re-
sigued, his resignation to take effect August 20th| and accepted the position of
Farm Adviser in Randolph County where he succeeds lir. Doerschuk, who went to Union
County,

McLean County has employed Mr» R. L« Cuff as Livestock Assistant* lir. Cuff
l-.as been co'-mty agent in Barren County, VK'isconsin for the past five years and is
especially trained in livestock work and dairying. He will take up his new work
:.s soon as he can get his release from Barren County.

Dr. Martin J. Prueha Acting Head of Dairy Department,^ I^. Ruehe, who has
been acting head of this department, will take a yearns leave of absence for the
purpose of completing his doctor's degree at Cornell. Dr. Prueha will assume his
duties here.

"Mr. Orr N. Allyn of Fergus, L^ontana, a former student of the University of
Illinois, a member of the Field Experiment Staff, and manager of the Farmer's Ele-
vator at Fergus, Montana, was hired to assist us with our work at DeKalb, Illinois."
■► Roberts, DeKalb County,

"Grundy Countv Sweet Clover is turning out exceptiorally well vvith one field
yielding thirteen bushels of seed per acre. There will be quite a lot of this seed
for sale. Several s'.iowers this week have helped our pastures and new seedmgs some
and also helped the corn crop which has been firing badly and needed rain._ i^vr"
with these showers it continues to be quite dry and we need a real goca ram .'
bring things along the rest of the season," - Longmire, Grundy County,

Even
;o

"A busy week was spent at the Ga.lesburg District Fair, The farm bureau was
represented with an educational exhibit. This was visited by a la.rge n'-jub^r of
interested farmers. The noteworthy thing about these \TLsits was the fa:.t that
they were made by maiT/ of the original members of the farm bureau v;ho manifested
a very keen and friendly interest in the work of the farm bureau. Tni.s fact brought
a great deal of satisfaction to us," - Bracker, Knox County^

In the last issue of the Messenger, page 3, we ran an --tern aboufc "Take-all".
liii-, Dungan has requested us to state that most of the credit for ■■A-', r nves-G.T gation
mentioned and results given, is due to i^ir.. H- Hr McKinney of the LV S. Department.
George is modest, which is still more to his credit.

"Potatoes for Sale. We have a letter from Mr, P. Va. EmA.5MseT, Govmty Agent,
Melrose, liinnesota, stating that his farmers mil probably have somewhere between
350 and 400 carloads of potatoes for sale this fall. If your Farm Bureau is ^.n-
terested in this matter you might write to him in regard to it." - G. N. Coifey»

Vol. III.

Page 3-i

No, 34.

"Soae of the gU-^-r:o...^-;E that were planted early and in a good seed bed are
6hov7ing up fine, ij.-'.h the prese-it outlook, we expect to push the sunflcv/er idea
hard next year. Especicily do v/e intend asking every man to use then for silage
next year if the bugs shoiv up this r/inter as they did last v/irfter. Suiiflav-ers
planted late that had to stand through the dry i/eather are aa.king rap-'.d .'Trcvth novi'
and are going to 'Ea':e i. good cro.j sii!ce the recent rains have furnisned c-l fr'c.rent
moisture." - Eymn, Jersey County.

Si.lg_ge Prospects. "The rains in the last two v/eeks have caused big iaprove-
nients in the prospects for corn. In the chinch bug section fields that appeared
to be beyond hopes a month ago nm look as if they will rsake a large aiiouni- o^"
sila^co Sunfloiry-ers planted for silage have just began to get a grov^th. F?ainers
Were very disappointed in then until the late rains. Many of the fields ox l^te
planted sunflowers are still not ouch over a foot high." - liLller, ilacoupir. Ccur.ty,.

>_a;i-Ded Seed., "Soae of our meabers sowed soy beans upon limed land arrJncr'j-:-
lated the seed. They are greatly pleased with the shov/ing as compared with Dfijoxn-
ing corn this year, ue want to find a good source of seed of cow peas, scy tosns
and sweet clover so that it nay be purchased this fall," - .^fheeler, Lawrence County.

Melons. "There is a territory of approximately three tovmships in this coun-
ty where water melons and cantaloupes are one of the chief noney crops of the
farmers. This is on sardy l?.nd and the industry is in a way quite specialized.
Marketing of melons is one of the chief draw-oacks to the business, I should like
to know if there are any counties v/hich have melon grov/er's associations or that
have tried cooperative shipping of produce of this nature." - Dickenson, Cass Co.

Increase Stock, "The DeKalb County Agricultural Association has increased
its capital stock frcas 040^000.00 to OlCO,000.00 so that it nay finance storage
capacity and the buying of v/heat for our flour mill. The mill is now being install-
ed, to be completed by the first of September. Je are experiencing very little
difficulty in placing the additioml stock. Most of the present stockholders de-
Sired to take the limit of five shares in the association." Roberts, DeKalb Co,

"Six tractors started in our denonstration August 10th. There was a Fordson,
Iloline, Hart Parr, *is.terloo Boy, Sanson and Bates Steel Mule, Records were kept
on anount of oil used and the tine of finishirxg a three acre plot v/hich each trac-
tor plowed according to the rules of the contest. We had lir, Doneghuc judge the
plowing and these records were given to the papers and distributed through circular
letters. This method seened to meet with the approval of our dealers, and I be-
lieve it left as good an impression with the farmers as if a decision had been
given out as to the relative merits of any one tractor. There was an unusual amount
of interest shown and one of the largest crov/ds out we have ever had at any meet-
ing." - Dickenson, Cass County*

Branch Office 3.t Belvidere. "To accomodate fanners of the southern part of
the county, a branch office has been located at Belvidere. Last Saturday oresrs
for five cars of liaestone and one of phosphate were taken." - Kline, Boone Ccur.ty.

A real Game! "lienbers of the Home Bureau, under the leadership -- ^.
jplayed the members of the Farm Bureau a game of base ball at the second arn-jal
f/illiaiason County Farm Bureau picnic- Final score was 5 to 5." ^ J>

of I.Iis-> K:>over,
nd arn-jal
C. Spioler.

Wi\t "^ximmm ^

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Karm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBAN A, ILLINOIS

Vol. III. SeptMiber 1, 1920. No. 35

^ea,t Scab ia 19^0» '•Wheat scab, like most other plant diseases, responds
juite readily to the influence of environment. The weather factors of tCTtiperature
and hvBnidity are known to have much to do with the deTelopnent of scab. It seema
that weather conditions most favorable for proper filling and ripening of the
w*ieat; i. e,, wara teinperature accomfanied by abuadant moisture, i? most condu-
cive to the distribution and growth of scab. The sianmer of 1920 was particularly
I dry and cool in Illinois during the latter part of June and the first part of July,
w&ile the same season was very warm ard humid in 1919* It is beginning to be felt
that the knovsrledge of disease in plants depends upon an understanding of the re-
lationship of host and parasite and their response to the various factors of evi-
ronmect in ail combinations. From this viewpoint, it would seem that the best
thing tc do to be prepared for the unfavorable season would be to minimize the
chance of infection by seeding clean seed and by practicing sanitary farming as
far as practicable." - George H. Dungan.

"ViJheat treated with 300 pounds of rock phosphate, sowed with a fertilizer at-
tachment en a grain drill, yielded better than some in the same field treated ^th
250 pounds of steaaed bone meal applied the same way. The yield of the whole field
Ti»as rather low and it could, therefore, hardly bo called a fair demonstration. The
whole field was sowed in clover and v/e are anxious to see the comparative yields
from rock phosphate and steamed bone meal on this crop next year. The bone meal
^eat looked better early in the spring, but- at harvest time the rock jJioaphate ^s
"better. We had practically the same results in this couE*y two years ago except
that the yields from ccmmcrcial fertilizer and rock phosphate, applied the same way
only 3omev!*iat heavier, were about the same. HHb rock phosphate application cost
«ily one-fourth as much as the other." - Rehling, Cliatsn Ccunty.

Soybean Demonstration^ "Mr. Davis has one of the finest fl»i4« •■>f Virginia
soybeans that I have ever h^ad the pleasure of seeing. At this timt' they ere mora
than shoulder high. He has about six acres apd if they produce seed, as present
conditions would indicate, be will probably have about 25 bushels per acre. There
is a very great demand for this variety of beans, as they are so well adapted for
Silage purposes. In addition to this field, Mt» Davis has 28 varieties growing
in his trial plots, a demonstration soybean meeting is being planned for Septem-
ber 14th at Mr. Davis* farm. People from Missouri, Iowa, and our own state are
invited to attend this meeting." - Gougler» Adams County,

"The Grain Farming Lease devised by the Farm Ifcaagement Department at the Col-
*^Se of Agriculture promises to become quite popular. One of our farmers used this
lease in renting two farms this past week. A prominent attorney, who executed the
lease thought it was too cumberscane when first presented, but after reading it over
©ajrefuUy, he pronounced it the best leaaa he had ever seen.'* » Kendall, Morgan Co.

Vol. Ill,

Page 2

No. 35

Apple Packages. "Both barrels and baskets are abnorrally high this season.
A3 a result » mny apple growers have not boufjht barrels sufficient to handle the
crop and there are very few buyers who are v/illing to furnish packages or in fact

to buy any fruit

rnis coadit;

)c>j result in a flood of

bulk apples at the harvesting season and continuing nearly to the holidays. To
the fruat growers thij a^ans that whore possible it would be best to secure pack-
ages at any reasonable cost and place fruit in storage until the bulk stuff has
been worked off. Needless to say it is ixipcrative to pack well and cull closely.
^0 the farmer who has a siaall auount of fruit to aarket the present situation is
bad inasQUch as he cannot take advantage of cold storage. To keep well, apples
should be stored in cool places with a hi_gh hvinidity. An earthen flcor is uurh
better than one of ceucnt or concrete. Store in v/ell ventiJatcd crates, not in
tight, barrels or in bins. Careful sorting will result in long keeping fruit.
Windows should be opened during nights when temperature is above freezing and clos-
ed i.n the daytime. V/rapping in unsized paper or newspaper is good if especial care
is desired," - Brock,

5.°.?-^- .5£<^.i]ZtJ:Ml-. "Two years ago 16 hogs were exhibited at the Clark County
Fair, This year there were nearly 200 and everyone was from the herds of Clark
County breeders. The mojt indifferent follow will concede that the farm bureau
through its breeding associations oust be given credit for this increased in*
terest." - j, c^ Spitlcr.

"Simple Siiaon took some livestock

To the County Fair
But his sc.'-v.bs with all the purebrecls

Did not well compare.
How can I icprove my stock?

Sixaon did inquire.
And the Judge told Simple Simon

Use a pure bred sire*" - Dairy Division, U, of I*

Bureau Exhibits at Ghautauqua. "The county agent has tried the experiment
of maintaining a fir- bv^eau tent at the Jacksonville Chautauqua as a sort of a
headquarters where I'embers might loaf and look over such little exhibits as we
staged from tine to Time. The mornings were spent in the down-town office taking
care of the calls for service and answering the correspondence and the afternoons
were spent on the Chautauqua grounds, ne quite likely met some members in a
social way that we would not have met in the ordinary run of affairs, but I am
very much in doubt as to whether the venture was a hov/ling success or not. We ot-
served August 27th as farm bureau day and had perhaps ten percent of our member-
ship on the ground wearing badges. A special day at a chautauqua cannot take the
place of a farm bureau picnic." - Kendall, Morgan County.

ViToodford County E:diibit. "The entire week was spent at the El Paso Fair,
putting on the usual e:d^ibit and meeting our people. The farm bureau tent again
covered the County Soil Ijap, 10 x 16 feet in size, T.vith the leading types of soil
worked into scale with township lines shown* The tovmship lines and larger
streams virere laid oxit with v>fhite sand. The series of twenty charts prepared by
the University attracted much attention and wc fesl were a very valuable part of
the exhibit. I cctimate the number of people who visited the tent at about 5000
during the four days th-^t the exhibit was in place. We had personal interviews
with from 200 to 300 of our members on definite topics." - Mosher, Woodford County,

Vol- xll.

Page 3

No. 35

Truck Grov/ers ? c-^reci:te Service. "I find that there is a wonderful opportun-
ity for assisting the truck growers to better control insects and disease. Aside
froEi dusting Paris Green over potatoes - the very v/orst possible method to use-
practically no sprayinf- v.hatcvcr is done* The past week one of our members purchas-
ed, at my suggestion, an outfit for treating egg plant lice. He had the v/orst at-
tack of these insects Z have ever seen, I helped him get started and before I left
his premises many of the lice v/cre dead and dying. The same evening a meeting vuas
held in his neighborhood and this nan brought several leaves shovdng that the lice
had been effectively controlled. It was a great surprise to this man and his
neighbors to find that the insect could be controlled. They had, apparently, felt
heretofore, that plant lice could not be controlled. V78 do not have many members
in this neighborhood now, but I am satisfied that this demonstration v/ill do a
great deal to break the ice. It is a fact that the average truck grower thinks that
he is a good farmer and that a farm bxireau cannot help him," - Durst, Cook County.

Farm Bureau Picnic. "Thursday was our farm bxireau picnic at iv^tseka Fair
Grounds. About 3G00 pocple attended, including farmers ana their families. Enter-
tainment for the men consisted of horseshoe tournament and a base ball game in the
forenoon. Huch real sport came ourc of these contests, which provided enough enter-
tainment for one-half day^ The a^-cenicon v?a3 given over to a speaking program in
the amphitheatre at the fair grounds." - Kise, Iroquois County.

Big Picnic. "Th
Bureau Picnic held at
8000^- the largest pi
Thompson and Carl Vrc
free fish and free co
cient to feed the cro
■wards, A well rounde
races, mule and horse
dresses to the crov/d

o big thing in Pike County last week was the Pike County Farm
Grigg3\rille- Illinois* The crowd was estimated betv/een 5 and
cii'-c ever hold in the county. Among the speakers were D. 0*
Oman, Jc R. Bent and Ko H» Armstrong. The farm bureau served
ffee. i.e had over half a ton of fish and did not have suffi-
wdi Neithi^r were v/e able to gather up any baskets full after-
d program af the horseshoe pitching contest, base ball, foot
races was executed^ lir* Thompson and Lr. Vrocman made ad-
mmediately after lunch," - Kercher, Pike County,

"LegT-iDes were

cuud growing on ten farus out of eleven visited the past week*
were growing sweet clover, seven red clover, and two soybeans." - kVhxt-

Eight farm

church. Saline Gountyc.

Civic Leaders^ ^or.forence. Ur. Vaniman attended the sunner school on Communi-
ty Leadership conducted by Ame7ican City Bureau at liadison, '.Visconsin. He was im-
pressed with the similarity in methods used in handling many city problems to those
used in rural affairs.

"J. E. Stanley, Prosho, South Dakota, states that he has a considerable amount
of hay (probably alfalfa) which he would be glad to sell direct to farmers. If
any of your farmers are interested in this matter you mi^-it write to him in regard
to it." - G« II, Coffey.

Farm Bureau Record and Account Books are now being delivered to counties.
Three accountants are helping counties that asked for assistance in installing the
books.

Every sound business organization must be prepared to absorb losses as well
as take profits.

% Jxt

mstmt

A series of brief" notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. Ill

September 8, 1920,

IJo. 3»

New Assistant Advisers, — Harry L. Carlson has been enplnyed as assistant
adviser in Logan County, He grada-ited at the College of Agriculture, U. of I. in
1917. He began work in Logan County September 1,

Mr. A» R« Kemp, a graduate of Illinois, has been employed as club leader and
assistant adviser in Mercer County and took up his work there September 1.

lAr. Roy H. Taylor, class of 1919, U, of I,, took up his work as associate ad-
viser in Shelby County on Septeniber 1. He has been teaching Smith-Hu^es work
in the Shelbyville High School the past year»

Potatoes for Sale.- A letter fron S, E. Johnson, iianager. Fanners' Elevator
Company, Brandt, South Dakota, says; "His expect to have 100 acars of potatoes to
offer for sale this season. Any information regarding a market outlet in your
state will be appreciated." If interested, you may write Mr, Johnson, nfe judge
this is a cooperative farmers' company.

potatoes to be Grown Locally. "The west side of JoDaviess County produces
a surplus of potatoes while the east side usually ships in several carloads each
year. The Executive Coirmittee cf the Farm Bureau has appointed a committee to
work out a plan whereby the local surplus :iiay be used to setisfy the demand within
the county." - J, D« Bilsborrow.

"Corn and Soybeans for Hors., A recent experiment at this station shows that
ground soybeans were v^orth $2.35 per bushel when corn was worth $1.25 per bushel
and tankage $120« per ton. The cosx of feed for the corn and tankage lot per
100 pounds gain w^as 010.73 at the above prices. It required 404 pounds of corn
and 32 pounds of tankage per 100 pounds of gain to grow out 20 pigs from 100 pounds
to 225 pounds, while it required 37''- pounds of corn and 66 pounds oiLiieal for the
second lot. The addition of l/lO -of a pound of tankage to a corn and soybean
ration did not help to produce any more economical gsrins, as some men have thought^
Soybeans do not give a ration the jHlatability that tankage does. The pigs receiv-
ing the corn and tankage i7ould have eaten more feed thruout the experiment than
the pigs receiving the corn and soybeans. This work should throv'/ some light en the
value of soybeans in hogging-down since the figures would be more accurate than
those secured under field conditions," - J. B. Rice.

"Hogging Down Corn, - At this time of year we find many men having trouble with
»heir pigs due to the changing from dry grain to tbe a&er corn. A gradual change
troQ one feed to the other helps much in keeping the pigs on feed and gaining well."
U B. Rice*

Vol. Ill Page 2 '"^o* 36

"The acreage of wheat will af'ain ^c reduced- Last fall it w-as reduced about
thirty percent over the pre-'n.ous year and it will probably be reduced about the
same amount this fail. Indications are that thoae v.-ho will seed will observe the
Hessian Fly date," - Longmire, Grundy County-

Turkey Red Proven Superior. "The farm bureau is ordering a carload or two
of Turkey Red wheat for farcers- This variety is proving to be a superior yield-
er in Greene County, On two adjoining fields, on one farm where conditions were
very similar, there was ayield of 22 bushels per acre for saooth wheat and 28
bushels per acre for Turkey Red. This fairly illustrates the advantage of the
latter variety over others," - Phillips, Greene County,

"The beardless varieties of spring wheat, the l^Iarquis and Bluest eia, have
shown this year that they are superior m yielding quality. The farmers who have
Liarquis and Bluest em are getting 10 bushels more an acre this year in cases that
have ccme to my knov/ledge. The best yield of the l£arquis was on a sinall tract of
about 65- acres which averaged 50 bushel- per acres, but I have found a lot of
yields running better than 40 bushels per acre»" - Keaton, DuPage Ccunty.

"Several bad infestations of the wheat midge h.ave been found. This is an in-
sect which has not appeared in such great numbers for a half century in this
country as far as my records are concerned. They seem to have been pretty late so
did not do the damage they v/ould have if they Iriad been earlier. Some fields we
have threshed, show millions of these insects in the grain at the time of threshing.
One place where they v/ere threshing spring wheat several bushels of this larva was
under the separator after a half day's work. Our faroers very seldom put in wheat
after v/heat and practice a very good system of rotation, so we should not have
much trouble with them next year. Seme of our farmers were very frightened until
they found out just what they were," - Heaton, DuPage County,

More Alfalfa, "More rain has made plowing fine and a large acreage of alfal-
fa v/ill be sown next week. Most farners who wanted to seed alfalfa have provided
their line and the seeding will be done under excellent conditions. Very little
feeding will be done in the county this v/inter. Due to dry v/eather and chinch
bugs, there will be a small crop of corn silage. The northwest portion of the
county has considerably good corn but these men refuse to attempt any feeding op-
eration after the treacherous market of the past year," - Eyman, Jersey County,

"There i.3 a very marked increase in acreage of alfalfa being eown this fall.
One man told me that he believed there v/as five times as much alfalfa being sown
this fall as ever before," - Tarble, Bond County,

Peaches Valuable, - "A local orchard man has just harvested 9,000 bushels of
peaches from thirty-five acres. Mr, Poff, the owner and member of our executive
cooiaittee representing Horticulture refused $24-, 000 for the crop on the trees
several weeks ago, Ke received ^3.75 per bushel for a large portion of the crop,"
Piper, Richland County.

Apple s» - 'THiere will be a very large crop of apples in this county this fall
and many of the orchardists Vvdll be in position to furnish apples in carload lots
and other quantities. The principal varieties raised are Ben Davis, Jonathon,
Grimes Golden, and Willow Twig," - Kercher, Pike County.

Vol. Ill

Page 3

No, 36

Fall Spraying. "Dormant tree spraying is generally speaking, best done in the
spring. The exception is the dormant spray on peach trees which is probably as
iaportant for "peach leaf curl" as for San Jose Scale. The application should be
□ade as soon as enough leaves have fallen to enable the operator to thoroughly
coat the tree but before very cold weather starts. Line sulphur solution, at
the rate of one gallon to eight of water, is the best i:aaterial. The reason for
this recoDiaendation lies in the fact that "leaf curl" begins to develop vdth the
swelling of the buds in spring and inclement weather often results in a delayed
spray which is not effective on peaches," - Brock.

Sweet Glover Silat:e. - "It seems to me Ilr. Fred Rehling h^s found a raeans of
solving the suaner pasture problea» He had sweet clover which was nearly ripe
and after he was about out. of pasture, he asked me v^ether or not I thou^t it
would do to put that sweet clover in the silo for silage. I told hin that I was
afraid that it was so coarse that they would not eat it, but he said he was going
to risk it. Ke went ahead and cut it for silage in quarter-inch lengths. He
used a lot of water va.th it and I am certainly surprised to know it made fin©
siLage, The cows relish it and are giving lots of nilk on it. They clean this
sweet clover silage up bettor than they did good corn silage," - Tate, lionroe Co,

Sunflowers make heavy siLage crop, "A few of our farmers grew sunflowers for
silage this year. The yields seeu to be uuch heavier than corn would cake," »
Belting, Shelby County,

^everal of our far:aors have gotten good yields of clover seed by alloiving
the first crop to stand. In one or two cases the non clipped the clover. Yields
are running from 3 to 5 bushels of clover seed per aero. One -uan hulled a nixturo
Of timothy and red clover and got 35 bushels 15 pounds off five acre,"

"The uactice of clipping clover is followed by several of our Liorgan County
farmers, Tliis season the clipped clover dees not seen to be as full of seed as
the men expected, I think that the eleaaent of chance enters into this practice
to a rmarkafcle extent and I am very frank in stating that I do not believe a
county agent can make a lOCfo record for satisfaction in selectiong a time to
clip clover," - Kendall, Morgan County.

"TSie greatest attraction at the fair was the Fam Bureau Exhibit v/hich was
under the laanag&uent and control of the Assistant Adviser, This display was
housed in a largetent favorably located and was visited by practically every
farmer on the grounds. Such an exhibit requires a great deal of time and labor,
but it is our opinion that it is eminently worth while both from the standpoint
of educating farm folks and the advertising of the county bxareau work."- Lloyd,
Hancock County,

Sales Exchange,- "At the monthly meeting of oxir Board of Directors, the
resolutions of the Champai^ County Farm Bureau in reference to railroads were
warmly endorsed, A resolution was also unanimously adopted favoring the establish-
ment of a livestock commission or sales exchange at the Chicago Stock Yards by
the American Farm Bureau Federation," - Bliss, Carroll County,

Peoria County has enlarged and redecorated their farm bureau office roajs.
They now have a general office and two private offices - all large, well lighted,
sound proof rooms equipped with new oak furniture. You are invited to call.
The location is still 3rd Floor, Association of Commerce Building,

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. Ill September 15, 1920, No. 37

Picnics- Great:- Grandj- Finel- BIGl Largest Everl These and other equally-
glowing titles come to us from every county describing their respective picnics.
The following are good examples:

"The most important event of the week vvas the L'arshall-Putnam Farm Bureau
Picnic, at which there v/ere approximately 3500 present. The -best events of the
picnic were the two very appropriate speeches of the day given by D, 0. Thompson
and S. L» Strivings, we believe the manner in which the picnic was carried on
thruout, together with the thoughts that Strivings and Thompson left vdll do more
to cause us to attain a 90fo Farm Bureau membership when our drive is completed
October 2nd than anything else. Everyone v;as interested in the speeches, as v^ell
as the other events of the day. We believe that one element of the success of
the picnic was due to the fact that there were no commercial organizations, heck-
lers or sideshows, proving that people can have a good time in the old fashioned
way. Two speakers were enough. A good system of parking cars was beneficial,"-
Fuller,

"The annual Farm Bureau Picnic was a great success. Three sides of beef
totaling 750 pounds were barbecued with 10 bushels of potatoes and 25 pounds of
coffee. The crowd of people was closely estimated at 2000 and they were nearly
all served in a space of 15 mintites. Only a few pounds of beef and less than a
bushel of potatoes were left» Chas, Adkins made the principal address and Sidney
B, Smith of Decatur gave a poultry culling demonstration. Everybody was greatly
pleased with the picnic and the splendid team work of the Farm Bureau Committees. "-
Robbins, DeVdtt County.

"The annual Home Bureau and Fam Bureau picnic was held on Labor Day.
Chester H, Gray of Lissouri and ivirs, Frank I. I'lann v/ere the speakers. Over 3000
people attended. Gray has unusual ability in presenting the things which con-
cern farmers, in a way to make them think about their own affairs. "-Brooks, LaSalle
County,

"The first annual Knox County Farm Bureau picnic was held on the 7th inst.
at Gilberts Park, Knoxville. Ideal weather conditions, an Immense crov/d, beauti-
ful grounds and setting, splendid music, good sports and helpful informing ad-
dresses by Dean Davenport and Chester H. Gray, v/ere the chief factors that made
this, our first annual picnic, a decided success, the crowd numbering over 5000."-
Bracker, Knox County,

Of coiirse we haven't said aC3rthing about the stupendous picnic held by
the I, A, A, and the Sangaiaon County Farm Bureau. iVe couldn't do it justice. It
simply was a "ringer"! kiho said Horseshoe tournament?

Vol. Ill Page 2 ^•o.37

C^chard Meeting. "An orchard meeting was held at Ernest Heidenreich's in
Rush Township to show the results of spraying on an old farm orchard which had
been badly infeeted with scale and other pests« This orchard has had the oyster
shell scale cleaned out of it by two years of dormant spraying* Two trees that
were practically dead in the beginning now have new bark and are clean of scale.
Although there was a threshing rig in the community that day, we had 35 people
present who stayed most of the afternoon talking about renovating orchards. One
man came frcm another township with l8 varieties of apples which he had grown in
his own orchard. These atples had been sprayed three times and were practically
cleaa,"- Burns, JoDaviess County,

"Orders for nitrate of soda are ccaaing in pretty regularly now to the farm
bureau office. The men v/ere pleased with the way the nitrate was handled last
season. Some orders have been taken by an agent in the extreme northern part of
'• e county and in another county for $12 per ton more than the farm bureau quota-
tion.

At a demonstration meeting which Was broken up by a rain the effect of
sv.eet clover on a peach orchard was shown, Most of the peach orchard had been
li:.;ed and all had been nitrated but on the limed portion where sweet clover had
>een grown the effect on the trees was much better than on the unlimed even where
Vne nitrate had been used. The sweet clover had not even been turned under but
■..as clipped in the early part of the summer^ Apparently the nitrogen furnished
by the growth of sweet clover through the decay of the roots had benefited the
trees considerable, even more than the use of nitrate*"- Doerschuk, Union County,

"Clover and alfalfa seeding have come through this season in good shape* The
best new growths are v/here rock phosphate has been used, and the men who have been
using rock phosphate are more enthusiastic than ever, because they have found that
Sfhere the clover plant is properly fed that it can stand more dry weather*" -
Heat on, DuPage County.

"There are three alfalfa fields in the county which were sown in August,
■Jhe seed bed was well prepared, the soil well treated with limestone and the seed
inoculated. The fields are green and have grown exceptionally well,"- licGhee,
Johnson County,

"At the horse breakinp; demonstration, Mr, Newell drew the largest crowd ever.
Folks caiae and stayed all day. Every one was highly complimentary to his work in
their remarks, because of its being practical material which every farmer can use
every day in the year." - Brooks, LaSalle Comrty,

The new extension circular No. 39 entitled "Crop Rotations to Starve the
•.■•liinch Bugs", just issued by the Uiu.versity of Illinois, has been in great demand,
I-: approximately a week*s time orders have come in from practically all counties
o: the state where this circular is of interest, A total of 55*375 copies have
'• ceu ordered at this date. t/« P. Flint and W, L* Rarlison are the authors.

Horrible Fate of a Soybean.. Last week "A soybean" usas ground thru the
ec'senger press and in some -©.y, (unexplainable of course) carae out as "oilmeal", '
a\ any rate in the "Corn and Soybeans for Hogs" item, line 6, we should have said-
"66 pounds soybeans for the second lot."

Vol. Ill

Page 3

No. 37

Corn Disease >vork in Illinois. "In cooperation with the division of Crops Ex-
tension and with the county advisers, certain farmers have been conducting studies
of corn disease development. The Plots under supervision are in DeKalb, Rock
Island, Knox, Macon, and Clark counties. In addition to studying the effects of
corn root rot on the plant and its subsequent yield of corn, we are also studying
the effect of different soil treatments on the dovelopiaent of the disease. In
Clark County, for example, ve are studying only the effect of liae. In l-accn
County we are studying the effect of lime and phosphorous.

The plots are showing up noticeable differences and we intend to hold demon-
stration meetings on each of the plots at time of harvest and expect a large
number of farmers to be present. In liacon County, the lime and lime phosphate
plots are apparently much better than the untreated plot. lihen all plots are
harvested, the results will be compiled and discussed for the benefit of every-
one interested."- J. C, Hackleman.

"Corn disease plots are showing that the corn with less disease is ripening
earlier than that grov/n from the badly diseased seed. From appearances the stalks
from the healthy seed are likely to produce more corn," - Smith, Macon County,

"An extended study of Soybean varieties is also being made by the University.
life had a fine demonstration meeting in St. Clair County. Ten varieties of beans
were grown for hay and seed studies and the same number for silage. The 125
farmers who attended v/ere more than pleased with the results. Other demonstrations
were held in Adams, rarrcn, Randolph, and Champaign Counties. All these demon-
strations seem to be attracting considerable attention, especially in the chinch
bug infested area v/here soybeans are being very favorably considered by the farniers
as a substitute for at least a portion of the cultivated area which they now have
in corn."- J. C, Hackleman,

tifhen to put Sunflowers in Silo. "Farmers are getting rather anxious about
their sunflowers and I have made several farra visits to see the fields and help
them decide the best time to put them in the silo, we have about decided that
the proper time is when the majority of the heads have the yellow petals start-
ing to dry up and the seed is pretty well in the dough stage, A number of the
fields are ripening very unevenly," - Blackburn, Larion Coxinty,

Filling Silos. "Farmers in the southern part of the county are begimiing to
fill their silos. Corn is drying because of the bugs and the silage is poor both
in quality and quantity. The first man that cut sunflowers for silage put the
first three loads in the silo and finished filling it with corn. He is offering
the sunflowers to any one that will take them off the field. t,e think that this
is not the fault of the sunflowers but was largely due to cutting thea v/hile too
green,"- Hunt, Macoupin County.

"In the eleven poultry culling demonstrations recently held, the most striking
thing was the fact that there were always a few people in attendance v/ho were
inclined to hang back at the start but who became so interested that they were
catching and passing on hens themselves^ before the flock was fully culled. Many
remarked that they had no idea that there was such a difference in hens. The
discussion was always started after two widely different hens were found, and the
lesson was then taught by contrast between these two hens,"- Hart, Williamson Co.

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Expeiiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBAN A, ILLINOIS

Vol. Ill September 22, 1920. No. 38

Study Farm JVlarapeae'-Tb Results, "On Thursday September 16, the Woodford
County Farm Bureau conducted a Farm Management Trip, Five farms were visited
which were selected from a group of farms that had been keeping records of their
farm business during the past four years. The follomng facts regarding the
farm impressed the vyrriter:

1. That one cannot judge the profitableness of a farm by its appearance.

2. Profitable farming does not necessarily mean soil depletion. Each of
the five farms visited has consistently had 20 to 25/» of its crop acreage in
legumes and has been maintaining or increasing its crop yields*

3* Efficient use of labor is essential to profitable farming. The lovv-est
crop acreage per man was 88 and the highest 98,

4-, The productive organization of farms may vary widely in the same county,
and Adviser Mosher has found it worth v:hile to study the firancial returns of
various systems of farming for a nuraber of years before drawing conclusions. ?> 9 ■
percentage of the crop area in corn varied from 2% to 60/^ on the five farrns
visited. The proportion of live stock receipts to total farm receipts, ranged from
38/0 to 96^0 and the average cattle receipts varied from :'^83» to $2911. Different
methods of production were also followed on different farms. For example, one
farm had coneistently followed the practice of having spring pigs farrov/ed in
April and marketed the follovdng March, The fall pigs were farrowed in September
and marketed the follov/ing August. Forage crops and other roughages were used
to good advantage and expenses for hog equipment were kept at a minimum. This
160 acre farm has produced more than 50,000 pounds of pork in one year, and is
one of the most profitable farms in »;i'oodford County.

5. Comparing these productive and efficiently managed farms v/ith the average
farms in Illinois one realizes that farmers in general still have many problems
of production to solve." - E, Rauchenstein, Associate in Farm Organization and
kanagement, U. of I»

"Better Community Conference.- The fifth annual state-v/ide Better Community
Conference under the direction of Robert E. Hieronymus, Comuunity Adviser, will
be held at Urbana-Champaign, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, October 1, 2, and 3,
1920, Some of the most noted authorities in the country will be present to dis-
cuss the various phases of community betterment. A progrmi of the conference
will be sent you and we believe that it will be well worth the v/hile for every
farm adviser vdio finds it possible, to attend," - G. I'i, Coffey,

Filling Silos.- "Farmers have experienced a great deal of difficulty in
getting cutters to fill their silos. In some instances, where the farmers had
grown sunflowers for his silo the sunflov/ers became over ripe and he v.as forced
to fill with corn." - Piper, Richland County,

Vol. Ill

Page 2

No, 38

"The Farm Bureau has purchased nineteen and one half acres of land near Paris
to be used as a demonstration field. The location is almost ideal, being along a
brick thoroughfare, less than one-half mile from the city limits and. near the
Edgar County Fair Grounds, The soil is a poor phase of gray silt loara. It is not
the object of the Bureau to use this land as an experimental plot, but rather to
use it as a demonstration field. By so doing we hope to clearly "drive home" to
every farmer in Edgar County by actual demonstration, sound, constructive practices
in the treatment of soils and the management of growing crops. Money appropriated
by the County Board of Supervisors will aid in the maintenance and operation of
the field.

We have an example of a fair comjarison of the relative value of spring wheat
versus oats, in this county for this season on brown silt loam. A forty acre
spring wheat field yielded 22^ bushels per acre. A forty acre field of oats on
the same farm and sinilar land made an average yield of 65 bushele per acre. The
local market today is $2.00 per bushel for wheat and $.62 for oats," - Gernert,
Edgar County,

A new Limestone Company for extreme Southern Illinois, "The stock-holders of
the Bolknap Limestone Company recently held a meeting at Belknap and elected their
directors and officers. The sfSOo^-^O worth of stock has been subscribed and it is
BOW only a matter of time until the plant will be in operation. This plant will
be of great value to the extreme southern counties, in that the new freight rates
make the use of limestone in those counties prohibitive,"- McGhee, Johnson Co»

"One of the features of our farm bureau picnic which seemed to be particularly
successful was the provision for supervised play for children. The picnic com-
mittee provided a play ground specialist to take charge of the girls under six-
teen. Races and contests of all kinds v/ere conducted, and she taught the children
a number of new games and drills and later in ifee afternoon, with the assistance
of some others, there were a number of story telling circles for the younger toxs.
It will be mighty hard to keep these children away from the picnic next year. The
Physical Director of the High^ School was sectored to take charge of the play grounds
for the boys and later to umpire the baseball game. Vfe think this feature was
one of the most successful mrts of our picnic."- V/ells, ¥/arren County.

"Hog Pasture. This has been another season that has definitely proven that
one cannot rely upon bluegrass for furnishing hogs with pastxire thruoxxt the summer.
Alfalfa, clover, sweet clover and rape have been good during July and August and
have helped in carrying the pigs through on light grain rations," - J. B. Rice-

S prayers. - "Don't let that spray rig or any spray pump lie all winter full of
corrosive spray material. Take out the valves, clean and oil them after running
clear water thru the pump. Be sure to drain the pump. Every winter hundreds of
them freeze and burst. Take the hose to the dampest part of the ccller and store
it full of water. Lake a note of repairs needed and better still, order then now.
You will be delighted to have these things done when spraying is necessary which
Vifill doubtless not be in the most agreeable weather for working out of doors, "-
III/. S, Brock.

J, B, Haberkorn. who had accepted the position of farm adviser in Randolph
County and began work there August 27, is now associate adviser in Bureau County.

t"- J

Vol. HI Page 3 No. 38.

Lamb Feeding,. "During the week ending September 3, over 20»000 sheep and
lambs were bought for Illinois corn fields and feed lots* Lamb feeding probably
will be less extensive this fall and winter than it was in 1919-1920. Each season,
buyers and comciission men report many cases where lambs are returned to carl-.et afta
after an 80 to 90*day feeding period, a little heavier in weight but no better in
finish or condition than when sent out as feeders. The nargin between purchase
price and selling price is not likely to be so great this winter as a year ago,
and consequently it will pay feeders to return lambs to market with a good finish.
This can be done by buying vigorous lambs and feeding thorn well. Lambs need feed
for producing fat% The length of time between purchase and proposed selling date
urill determine how the lambs should be fed. Good healthy 56-pound lambs, if
liberally fed, should gain ,3 to ,4 lb, per day during an 80 to 90-day feeding
period. They may be purchased in the fall, tised to clean up the fields and fence
rcws, and later put on feed with a good chance of finding a strong market in
January^ February, or iiarch* Sheep and lambs usually sell better during these
months than in the months just preceding,

iiestern growers are glad to sell feeder lambs in considerable numbers direct
to cora-belt feeders, but this is often not a satisfactory method for those who
feed in a small way, lien in a community who plan on turning lambs in corn fields
or feeding them, might well make combined purchases direct from western lamb
raisers thru their county agents. Skillful buying, proper finishing, and market-
ing on a strong market are factors viiich must be carefully ■watched by the feeder
in order to get the largest profits," - \u G, Kanmlade, Associate in Animal
Husbandry, U, of I,

"Vftld morning-glories are considerably of a pest in some corn fields about
the county, A number of farmers are coming to the practice of turning sheep,
especially lambs, into such fields and find that the sheep are very fond of
morning-glories, hence obtain considerable feed in this v?ay and at the same tine
rid the fields of the pest," - Phillips, Greene Countyv

"Just what and vAiere to motorize has been the question before draying and
cartage companies for the past two or three years* Without question, some com-
panies would have both kinds of pov/er, but in caking the division of labor, de-
tailed investi^tion had to be aade and many factors taken into consideration.
Cost consideration is foremost. Comparative figures for six leading cartage and
transfer companies prepared by certified public accountants, show a margin of dif-
ference between companies, but a uniform economy where horses are employed.
Charging in all days of idleness,— Sundays and holidays, — against the days
actually worked, it cost these firms from $4,0b to 07.75 per day to put a pair of
big draft horses and a five ton team truck on the city streets. Add to this 05
per day for a driver, and the total operating expense is from $9,06 to $12.75 per
team and wagon per day. The cost figures for the cheapest one'ton auto truck
were $5.35 per day; a two and a half ton truck $7,66 per day, and a fotur ton
truck $13,29 per day. Adding $6 per day for driver, the operating cost of an
auto truck runs from $11,35 to $19,29 per day. The conclusions, therefore, are
in favor of horse use for short haul heavy transportation, -sdthin the working
radius of a horse, and for all hauling involving frequent stops or long waits,
A wealthy drayman doing successful business says; 'A horse drawn outfit costs
1/3 as much originally as the motor truck, less than -5- ;as much to operate,
earns quite as much in a year's time in congested city districts, where most
Of our business is done, and lasts twice as long,'"- Vfe.yne Dinsmore,

A scries of brief notes from the weekly reports of tlie Farm

Advisers, College and Expeiiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol, III September 29, 1920, No. 39.

Better Sires, "General conditions seem to indicate that it is a good time to
make an attempt to eliminate the scrub sire from the farms of Illinois, Breeders
report a greater supply of high class animals available for breeding purposes than
usual and the large exhibits of pure bred livestock at most of the fairs indicate
this to be a fact. Bulls, boars and rams can be purchased at prices which would
warrant a movement to assist the breeders in disposing of their surplus to the
farmers who need to improve their stock thru the use of better sires.

Livestock associations might well consider plans and projects at this time
that would assist the breeders in the disposition of their surplus sires. The
following methods might be used in addition to the holding of pure bred sales:

1st - Urge the castration of undesirable individuals.

2nd - Put a campaign of local advertising thru the county press and other
local advertising agencies,

3rd - Arrange a farmers* tour and visit the breeders who have boars, bulls,
and rams for sale. Invite and urge all farmers who are thinking of purchasing a
sire to make the trip and visit the breeders. The breeders should have their ani-
mals on exhibition and quote prices. After all the breeders are visited, in-
telligent selections and purchases could then be made." - W» H» Smith,

"The Farm Management Auto Tour was held September 16. Professor Handschin
of the University and Mr, Case of the U. S, Department of Agriculture were present.
Five of the twenty-three farms where the University account book records have been
kept for four years, I9I6 to I9I9 inclusive, were visited. Seventy-five people,
including about fifteen members of the Smith-Hughes agricultural class in charge
of Professor King of the Uletamora school made the trip.

It is the belief of our Board that this matter of keeping definite records is
of much value not only to the individual members but as a means of getting demon-
stration material along Farm i/Ianagement lines. It is our intention to have Mr.
Johnson do considerable v/ork along the line not only of assisting men with general
farm accounts but v/ith more careful accounts along the line of hog cost records
which were kept a few years ago," - Mosher^ Woodford County.

Mr. Paul E. Johnston has been employed in Woodford County as assistant farm
adviser beginning October 1, Mr. Johnson has been engaged in farming in Pike
County,

Annual Sweet Clover. "One farmer in this county has about 400 square feet
sowed to annual sweet clover. Some of this is now more than 5^ feet high and
is seeding abundantly. Many farmers have small amounts of this in their gardens,
a few are ordering very small amounts at one dollar per pound." - Price, Kendall
County,

Vol. Ill Page 2 No. 39

A Successful Method of Grouping Farm Visits. {Durst Profits by Earlier Ex-
perience.) "We have been holding what I eali group field meetings and these are
proving quite successful. These meetings are arranged for in advance with the
township chairmen. Notices are sent tr(xu. the farm bureau office on form post-
cards ^ printed for that purpose. The members meet at a giv^n farm where we ex-
amine the soil, crops, 6tc»> and then we proceed to another farm. In a half-^day
we can visit three or four farms in this Way. The fanners become quite enthusias-
tic during these meetings^ They learn from one another, as well as from the ad-s
viser, and points are brought out that are never brought out in the ordinary farm
visit. Furthermore, such meetings promote fellowship.

I cannot help but feel that such group meetings offer a solution of the farm
visit problem. By means of these and individual farm visits I have reached 500 of
our members in the last 75 days. These meetings provide an opportunity to disi»
tribute the service more uniformly and in my opinion will keep the members better
satisfied. Furthermore, by trying to keep ahead of the game with such meetings
fewer farm visits will be requested. This will leave more time for office work
and other problems," - Durst, Cook County,

"The use of Kainit on land slightly alkali has shown up wonderfully in the
recent development of corn crops. According to the owner this treatment has
made all the difference between practically no crop at all and a most excellent
yield on one of his fields." » Price, Kendall County.

"The contract has been let and work has been started on the new Livestock
Sales Pavilion in Galesburg. This building v/ill be large enough to take care
of such pure bred livestock sales as will come to Galesburg." - Bracker, Knox Co,

Big Oats Yield.- "Mr, L. L. Douglas had 10,34 acres of oats which I measured
carefully that yielded 922|- bushels or an average of 89,2 bushels per acre. This
is the largest yield we have had here. He says these are "just oats" and of no
special variety. The large yield is accounted for by the fact that for a number
of years he rented the adjoining land and kept considerable stock on the home
place," - Robbins, DeV/itt County.

"Held 11 poultry culling demonstrations this week at which I culled about
1600 hensk About 25% of these hens were non-productive. Counting the cost of feed
per hen for a year at ^1»50 (which is plenty low) this means an average saving of
about $36,00 in each of the eleven flocks culled. I am asking all of the people
who h^d their flocks culled to send me records of the flock egg records before
and after culling," - Belting, Shelby County.

"On our inspection trip we found a farm growing 120 acres of Red Clover
where a fev/ years ago it was impossible to grow any. On one 40 acre field the
first crop of hay this year was estimated at not less than two tons per acre.
The wheat crop of last year on this same land produced 25 bushels per acre. This
field had received an application of limestone and rock phosphate. An adjoining
field has lain idle for the past three or four years because it was so run down
that no one would rent it," - Vihitchurch, Saline County.

"The best limestone results found in this county are on gray silt loam near
DeWitt. Meetings were held on three of these farms where sweet clover had been
grown after applying limestone. Subsequent crops show great improvement," -
Robbins, DeWitt County,

• ^:-

f.-'ii •.:'t;/C* .^..^i.; r'. --< ■

— • •"'''■■ '■'<■'-''■ ■ ■' .;yt:

:< c r:,''«T T-

■f . ■;

<r,*:^ t ri'!!- ^

-: i

/ ■*■ 1 • ' ■

■ -. c f • •

W-- */»:

/'• ; ^•■.-^■/

• * i -

/ - ■ i ' ■ -■ •

-- -?,: .j.

i: C

7TTI"

NO. i'i

An increased production of g;ood horses and mules en corn belt farms in the
immediate future is predicted by the President of the Vermilion County Farm Bureau,
"The shortage of work stock was keenly f-elt the past spring and the farmer would
rather pay himself $200 for the raising of a good three-year-old and be sure to
have it, than to pay some one else that amount or more, and not be sure of get-
ting what he wanted at that. In the grain belt, particularly, there is an appre-
ciation in the value of horses rather than a depreciation. For instance, in the
spring of 1917, I bought a gelding coming four years old for Ol40» I worked him
steadily for four work seasons and then sold him in July this year for $200. This
tallies with the reports of the Farm Management Departments of our western univer-
sities, which state that there is a constant appreciation in the value of young
horses used on farms thruout the corn belt. Therefore, if the farmer does not
wish to raise horses, it is good business for him to buy three -year-olds and work
then three or four seasons, as they will do the farm work well and at the same time
increase in weight, strength and value, I am urging our farmers to breed good
horses, and where they have not enough pasture to raise young stock, to breed
mules. Mules are saleable at any age. The demand and market for them is as staple
as for wheat or hogs," - Vi/'ayne Dinsmore,

"The demand for horses is seasonal^ The best market of the whole year for all
classes, ccme^ from March to June 1. Horses are wanted for the spring work on
farms, — most of the farms in the east do not raise enough horses fojr their own
use, — and draft horses are wanted in cities by the ice men, the building contractors
and other lines of business especially active in the open months of the year.
There is a strong demand again in the fall, when logging camps must be supplied
with horses, and coal companies, trucking concerns and dealers take on extra horses
to carry on their work in the winter. Drafters sell readily at these two seasons.
The farm chunk sells well in the spring season, as well as the expressers and
wagon horses, and there is more or less demand for single animals throughout the
year," - Vfeyne Dinsmore,

Pig Club Exhibits Fine Pigs. "Fifty-six boys out of 74 members of the pig
club exhibited their pigs at the Boone County Fair, Roberts, Farm Adviser of
ISeKalb judged the pigs. The pigs were checked up on the following basis: Con-
formation 5C^», Rate of Gain 25%, Cost of Gain 15%, Record lO/,. The record made
by the boys and girls were exceptionally fine. Several of the pigs made an aver-
age daily gain of 2,1 pounds. The Fair Board recognized the importance of the pig
club work and decided to build a special building for club exhibition purposes. "-
Kline, Boone County,

"A concrete mijclng and silo demonstration meeting^ v/as held last week v/ith the
assistance of R, R. Snapp and ^. E, Scott, the latter of the State Highway Depart,
aent. a monolithic concrete silo 80 feet h:j.gh, just be:^ng finished was examined^
i^, Sftott discussed and demonstrated the mixing of concrete for use en the farm,
wr. Snapp discussed silage ^nd the feeding of silage. About 150 attended," - Hay,
-hristian County,

New Sale Barn in Kendall, "The Board of Directors ?f the farm bureau this
veek purchased a feed and tie shed in Yorkville, and have arranged for fixtures to
lake this a fairly substantial sale barn. It is the belief of the directors that
■he breeding of better livestock can be encouraged by having consignment sales
'ithin the county, also that it is wise for the farm bureau to take care of the
ales of the pure-bred men who are now hi^lding individual sales." - Price, Kendall
ounty.

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. Ill October 6, 1920. No. 40

"Hundreds of acres of sunflowers went into silos last week. The general ten^
dency is to cut them too green. Ivlany are now leaving them lay in the fields frco
one to three days after cutting to do away v/ith some of the juice. Many silos
that were not tight have small lakes of juice around them after they are filled,"'
Hunt, IJacoupin County.

Sunflowers Make Heavy Work. "Some of the farmers vjho have been putting sun-
flowers into their silos complain that they are very heavy and make much harder
work than corn, but I am telling then that I think they mil be paid for their work
for if they had not had sunflowers they would not have had any feed at all." -
Tate, Monroe County*

Use Goats to Trano Silage. "Silo filling is in full force-. Farmers around
Pleasant Hill have a novel v/ay of tramping the silage. They have secured about
12 goats. These are placed inside the silo and kept busy moving around. At night
an extra door is put in, they are given a little water and salt and the next morn-
ing they are put to work again, when the silo is full a rope is tied around the
goats' horns to let them down." - Kercher, Pike County,

A Great Crop. - "kr. R, C. Forbes (President of Illinois Shorthorn Breeders'
Association) planted one acre of sunflowers upon land that had been a pond up un-
til the middle of June, In 12 weeks time the sunflowers produced a crop yielding
between 35 and 40 tons per acre. ivir. Forbes is very enthusiastic over the ap-
parent value of this crop for silage." - Fuller, Larshall-Putnam County.

"Sunflowers in the county are yielding all the way from 2 to 1? tons per acre
depending upon the ground and the vay in which they v/ere put in. In any instance,
these sunflowers are yielding about twice as much per acre as the corn yields on
similar land in the same field. If the sunflowers were properly put in they have
yielded well and given excellent returns. We have about 20 fields in the county
this year and there va.ll be much greater use made of them next year if the chinch
bugs show up next spring. Most of our men realize now that sunflowers are our one
chance for a supply of silage in the facfi of chinch bugs." - Eyman, Jersey County.

Another from our ranks gone v/rong (?) "Our assistant adviser, Mr. L» S,
Foote, v/as one of the principals in a double vredding held on Wednesday, September
22. His bride was Miss Martha Hedgcock of this county, who is a sister of '.to, E.
and J. Franklin Hedgcock. The other contracting parties were Miss Nellie Hedgcock
and Melvin Roske, County Agent in Big Stone County, Minnesota, It would seem
that the Hedgcock family runs pretty strong to farm advisory work. Mr, and Mrs,
Foote will be on the job in Hancock County October 4." - Lloyd, Hancock County.

Vol. Ill

Page 2

No. 40

Manyjine exhibits v/ere made up locally by. the Farm^Bureaus for ^'^ir re-
.nective county Fairs, 'some of these were novel, very attractive and received a
l?eTloZT7i Ittiiiop. , V/e should like to tell of all of the. in ^etai hut
lack of space prevents, evehif v/e could do these exhibits justice. One of .he
loll nov fperSps! ^s an exh.ibit v;orV:ed out by Adviser Richey of Mercer County.
"^vo model displays showed the present system of grain marketing and the I. A A,
sy^^r': pl^nned^ Miniature trains, elevators, storage f-^^^-^J^^- ^^1^^^
gave a comparative picture of marketing systems now and as planned by the I, A.
!! to elLLte losses sustained by useless handling." - Miner. Henderson Co.

Soil Ilap at Fair. "We wish to mentioti an idea of exceptional merit which
Adviser Mosher had worked out at the El Paso fair. It was a map of woodford
County about l6x20' made' to scale, and showing actual soil types xn place. It
was simple in execution but very effective. I stood and heard person after person
pick out their home location and favorably comment on the better idea, the soil .
type map had given them of their county." - Center, LicLean County,

Buying Potatoes. "i:any counties are making arrangements to buy potatoes for
Fara Bureau members, iieanwhile prices are declining, and in some cases, local
merchants promise to sell lov/er than Farm Bureau prices, whatever such prices may
be. This complicates the buying probloa. .

Poultry Culling Demonstrations have been reported by many counties as being
very successful. Most advisers are endeavoring to teach a fev/ farmers in each
community so they may assist all their neighbors in properly culling their flocks.
The egg records measure the value of culling and make the project attractive as
a Farm Bureau service.

Culling supplep-iented by regular poultry campaign. "Kr. Barrett, the assist-
ant adviser, is conducting a poultry campaign that is taking him into every nook
and corner of the county and is perhaps winning more friends for the farm bureau,
than any one thing we have been able to do. The Bible says, *The devil fleeth
when" no man pursueth*, but Barrett and I think that he naketh better time when
something is after him« At the present he is .going some,' from the way Barrett
is cleaning the poultry flocks of the county and robbing the hen roosts o.f lice,
mites and bed Vugs." - Kercher, Pike County.

Colt breaking demonstration valuable as well as popular. "V&i. P. Nev/ell of
Jashburn made his second series of demonstrations at our county fair this year.
During three days he v/orked 12 green and spoiled colts and in addition showed the
eight-horse ditch, jwr, Newell worked both forenoons and afternoons and at every
demonstration he held a large crov/d, more than could easily see his work, A very
gratifying feature of this work was the large n'jmber of men v;ho reported to Lr,
Newell their success in using his method that they learned at the demonstration
last year. The farm bureau and the fair association cooperated in putting this
work on, Liss Audra Newell, daughter of iiir. wm. P. Newell, gave a three-horse
tandem exhibition and a riding exhibition each day with her pure white horses.
Her clever work was appreciated by the crowds," - Longmire, Grundy County.,

No Corn Root Rot in this Rowl "On one farm visited this week a 22 inch fence
-supported by twine to a row of corn, is being used where corn is being hogged-down,
The'^pper parts of the stalks have been cut off so that the hogs would not try to
rea^ the ears and thus tear the fence down^" - Price, KendaIL_CountXg__^

Vol. Ill Page 3 No- 40

Hog Sales are Drah^gy. "Three Poland China Breeders sales held by our breed-
ers v/ere attended. They v/ere very draggy and indicate that fanners are hesitating
about paying as high prices for breeding hogs as has been paid during the past
few years. There is considerable evidence that prices have been raised to a level
that is unwarranted thru certain practices that have been carried on in connection
with sales. This has been detrimental to the interests of the farmers and will
eventually be to the interests of the breeders as a whole." - flichards, Kane Co,

"Attended two Poland China hog sales. Buyers are not bidding very high in
this section. One sale that amounted to ^60,000 last year only totaled ;;pl4,000
this v/eek. The general unsettled condition of the country seems to be the causer"-
Kline, Boone County.

Sale Prices Low. Tv/o Pure Bred Livestock sales were held in this county on
September 29 and 30. The bids were not very spirited. Fully half of these hogs
brought little better than stock hog prices, Evidentally price cutting has start-
ed in pure bred circles. It will result in a great deal more pure bred stuff
being put into the feed lot." - Kendall, Morgan County.

A unique but effective method of hulling sweet clover was worked out on the
farm of James Gould near Merna. Mr. Gould had 35 acres of sweet clover cut for
seed with the tractor-binder. It was very much branched and bushy, making it
practically impossible to feed into the regular clover huller. It was suggested
that the bundles be first run thru a regular grain separator and the seed, chaff,
and broken stems and other litter be put into box wagons and taken to a huller,
A short discussion in company with Mr. Gould and the farmer having the huller,
brought out the suggestion that the huller be set along side of the grain separa-
tor and let the grain spout deliver the seed and other litter directly into the
cylinder of the clover huller. This was done, and one of the cleanest, quickest
and best jobs of sv/eet clover hulling I have ever known was the result. The cost
too, was but little more for the two machines than would have been required for
the huller alone. It was the most effective plan for clean and rapid sweet clover
hulling I have ever seen. The yield of sv/eet clover seed was a little over 10
bushels per acre, as it came from the huller. It was so clean that after re-
cleaning it will still show a good 10 bushel yield. Lost of this seed has been
sold at $15. without rec leaning. " - Center, kcLean County.

Sv/eet Clover Seed. "One farmer v/ith 35 acres of sweet clover has been able
to save more sv/eet clover seed by cutting the clover before entirely ripe, put-
ting it in shocks and letting the maturing process continue in the shocks. He
is about to thresh his seed and will apply two tons of rock phosphate per acre
and plow for fall v/heat. He claims that this amount of phosphate will balance
up the nitrogen and prevent lodging of the wheat." - Fuller, Marhsll-Putnam Co.

Bees Make Clover Seed. "A certain alsike clover field xn this county con-
taining 9 acres yielded 5. 5. bushels per acre- One acre in this field yielded
as much seed as any tv/o acres of alsike we have been ab}e to hear of in the county
thus far this year. This clover field was located on good soil and was a fairly
thick stand, however, the soil was no better nor v;ere the plants thicker per so.
rd. than on many other alsike fields in the county. The increased yield in this
certain field over the yields of other alsike fields in the county is und'U^t edly
accounted for by the fact that a bee keeper had forty stands of bees v/ithin honey
gathering distance of this field," - Gernert, Ed-ar County.

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBAN A, ILLINOIS

Vol. Ill October 13, 1920. No, 41

Chinch Bur Resistant Varieties of Corn, "Tests of corn varieties for resist-
ance to chinch bugs, conducted during the past season have shown that where only
the second brood of bugs attack the corn that there are several varieties which ex-
hibit marked resistance. The varieties making the best showing this season are in
the order named: Democrat, Black Kawk, St, Charles Co, .Vhite and Arlington Pro-
lific, None of these varieties will successfully resist the first crop of bugs
coming in from the fields of small grain.

Based on the results of three years' observations of the White Democrat and
Black Hawk, we would recoinriend the planting of these varieties in the areas in
southern Illinois where the chinch bugs are abundant. Seed of the Democrat and
Black Hawk will be available in limited quantities in several counties in southern
Illinois, The St, Charles and Arlington Prolific are not so commonly grov/n but
seed can be located for those who desire these varieties. The Prolific is late in
maturing and should be considered only as a silage corn," - rf, P. Flint and J, C.
Hackleman,

Hessian Fly. "Will County has more Hessian Fly in sections of it than has
been known in the County in years. Vifherever volunteer wheat has been allov/ed to
come up, the young plants are simply over-loaded with the Fly, finding as high as
two dozen larvea in one small wheat plant. As they develop they burst the sheath
of wheat, ■ The Fly has not been known to do a great deal of damage in this County,
although quite a little damage was done this spring." - Hedgcock, vi/ill County.

The Corn Disease Exhibit, "That just looks Uke my corn," said many a farmer,
as he would look at a "down stalk"» a broken shank, a dead or a barren stalk. The
little invisible fungus has made its way into practically every corn field in the
corn belt, and the observing farmer is taking notice. Complete rotation and care-
ful seed selection must be practiced if we are to eliminate the losses resulting
from this disease," - Mercer County Fair,

Good Exhibits. "This has been fair week for Greene County. As usual, the
farm bureau had one of the best exhibits at the fair, consisting of a set of Z^'^^
charts from the University of Illinois, a good exhibit from the state seed analyst 3
office at Springfield, a model farm kitchen, a corn show, an apple exhibit from
one of the large orchards of the county and numerous other things that attracted
attention and interest. We estimate that 5000 people visited this exhibit during
fair week," - Phillips, Greene County.

"The Man Worth Vilhile is the one \-Jho can Smile,
when everything goes dead wrong*"

Vol. Ill

Page 2

No, 41

^H^^^^TCffi^sB^^TB^^^C^tnSwT^^Deensown for many vearsi

This is, I think, in a large measure, due to the campaign we have been waging
against the chinch-bugs. The majority of the farmers obsorvod the fly-free date,
but v/e still have a fev/ that insist it is only luck and sowed as early as possi-
ble." - Hunt, Iviacoupin County.

"Practically all farmers have started sowing wheat, A fev/ of them have
finished and if tho good weather continues for tv;o or three days, nearly all the
wheat in this county will be sown, 1/Vhile a fev; people sov/ed too early, as a gen-
eral rule farmers held off until fly-free date before starting* I can notice
that Farm Bureau members pay more attention to the fly-freo date than the non-
members,"

"There seems to be a renewed interest iu local limestone crushers this fall.
Two things are responsible for this unusual interest in limestone crushers. One
is the fact that most farmers have learned by this time that they cannot do with-
out limestone. The other is that the increased freight rate has brought the price
of limestone up to such a point that they can well afford to turn it out en their
farms through small local crushers," - Tate, Monroe County.

"A car of lime stone on the siding where farmers coming into town can sec it,
will do the v/ork of much publicity," - Brovm, Stark County.

"There has been a litt3e wheat po-jm in our County to date. I am very v/cll '
pleased \7ith the rcsuJts wo have obtained in oior campaign to hold back \atieat so\;^'-
ing until the fly free date, October 3.. A fev/ men got excited and had their
wheat sowing started September 20„ The wheat generally, is going in, in a good
seed bed," - Eyman, Jersey County.

The L'an v/ith Scrub Piu'ebrcds,. "The one v/ho thinks all he needs to do to ac-
quire fame and v/ealth is to bu> a lot of purebred cattle, hogs, horses, or sheep,
and then proceed to let them shift for themselves will soon earn the reputation of
*the man with i;he undesirable purebrcds^. He v/ill find that his we;iith is not the
kind the banker vd.ll recognize." - vi/eekly News Letter, U.S,D,A,

"The Red Top market is very dull this year, and we have not been able to dis-
pose of our Red Top seed vvj.th any profit. Do not seem to be able to do anything
with tho seed which vdll give us a better market, as too much was left over from
last year." - Blackburn, I«iarion Co,

"The outlook for the dairy men is not extremely bright at this time. The
price of milk is being cut in many places $1.00 to ol.20 per cv/t. Farmers are
discouraged and are selling their entire herds in many cases," - Gafke.McHenry Co.

"The shrink of 50/'° in the value of v/hat the farmers have earned this year,
IS putting them in a very determined mood to support their organization in making
a study of, and establishing means to avoid fluctuations," - Brooks, LaSalle Co,

"J. V/. Watson, now assistant adviser in Champaign County, has been employed
as Farm Adviser in Piatt County, to take the place of Mr. A. E- Burvissh, who '.d.11
issume the management of the Allerton Farms near L'onticcllo, f.'r. Watson v/as
feared on a farm in DoKalb County, graduated in agriculture at the University of
Illinois and has boon assistant adviser in Champaign County for tv/o years. He
"ill take up his new work with headquarters at MonticL>llo about October 20.

^tf^ No. 41

The Illinois >ifay. "Tho Illinois system of soil fertility was spelled oirt in
a bed of black prairie soil by sprouted oats. Limestone, phosphate, clovers and
manures, spelled in large letters, encircled a bunch of alfalfa. The bed was
six feet by twenty-six feet and attracted the eye of every visitor." ♦ fiercer
County Fair.

^the f^eld meeting at Ewing Experiment Field was well attended. Dr. Bauer
gave a very interesting talk which brought the facts home to the visitors in a
manner they will not soon forget. The effects of limestone on corn and clover
were an excellent object lesson for the unbelievers. Few people have realized
that this experiment station shows the best results for limestone in the state.
The influence in the immediate vicinity of the field is noticeable. Last year
over 120 cars of limestone were shipped to the little village of ViThittington,
which is the freight outlet of the Ewing territory. The Orange Judd Farmer, in
a recent number, named Vi/hittington the 'Limestone City', Some of this limestone
and rock phosphate is hauled twelve miles. Limestone, legumes and phosphate are
putting the Agriculture in this section on a profitable and more permanent basis."
deWerff , Franklin County,

Value of Spraying, "There is no excuse for the DuPage County farmers not
having plenty of apples for their ovm use and some for the market. Mr, Ferdinand
Meigand, a farmer in York Tovmship. had become so disgusted with wormy apples that
he had made up his mind to destroy the orchard until his boy persuaded him to
spray his orchard this year. The San Jose Scale was very bad in parts of the
orchard, and they gave it a thorough spraying with a scale spray* They also gave
it one spraying to control the motha The result was that he spent $l6.45 for
spraying materials. People from the neighboring towns came to his place and
purchased apples, and he has sold over $200, v/orth of early apples alone and he
has several hundred bushels of late apples in the orchard, Mr, Weigand has 8?
varieties of apples alone, and most of them are just coming into good bearing
condition. This year has shovm him -srtiat spraying vdll do, and he should reav- big
profits frcm the apple orchard alone. He has as nice an orchard of Jonathans,
Northwestern Greenings, Ben Davis, Stayman «i/inesaps, liissouri Pippins, and a good
oauy other varieties of apples, as I have seen anyivhere," - Heaton.DuPage County,

Simflowers are Frcst Resistant, "Liontana State College gives some interest-
ing data on the resistance of sunflov/ers to frost. At both the Experiment Station
farm at Bozeman and the Ft, Ellis farm the sunflowers on September 24 resisted a
temperature of 4 to 6 degrees below freezing. At this time they were able to
withstand more frost than on August 29» vAien a temperature of one degree below
freezing ca\ised a few of the leaves on more immature plants to wilt. J.B.Nelson,
in charge of the experimental plots at the Montana Experiment Station, has for a
number of years tested sunflowers as to the date of seeding. He says, in review:
sunflower seeds germinate at a low temperature, the young plants are very hardy
and the greatest yields are obtained by early seeding,"

"■Hi© Eigbteenth and Twenty-third Reports of the State Entomologist of Illi-
nois (the Seventh and Twelfth of S, A. Forbes), giving a complete, profusely il-
lustrated account of the insect injuries to Indian corn, have been reprinted by
the state and are now available for distribution to all Farm Bureau agents who
have not the original editions, and to Illinois schools in which agriculture is
tau^t, Itese reports were first published in 1894 and I905 respectively, but
the original editions have long been out of print. Requests for copies should
be sont to tho State Natural History Survey, at Urbana, Illinois." - St*stJon A.
Forbes, Chiof,

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. Ill

October 20, 1920.

No. 42

The corn disease investigation plots wore inspected a week ago by Dr. A. J»
Johnson and Mr. J. R, Hoibcrt, both of the U. S. D, A, The effect of soil treat-
ment on different forms of corn diseases was especially noteworthy. The follow-
ing observations made in tv/o plots in different parts of the county indicate that
soil treatment v/orks differently vdth different forms of disease. For instance,
corn planted from an ear v/hich was affected with the Fusarium disease was found
to bo leaning to a marked degree in the plot which had received no soil treat-
ment; in the limestone plot adjoining, the corn was standing as straight as a
sentinel, while in the plot treated with nitrogen, the corn was do^m to an even
greater extent than in the no treatment plot. This indicated that limestone
had acted favorably on this form of corn disease^ while nitrogen seemed to have
aggravated it. In another row the corn was planted from an ear which had been-
affected with another form of the corn disease. Observations on this row indi-
cated that the corn was in a decidedly ^xiproved condition in the rdtrogen plot,
while it was practically the same in the limestone plot, as it was in the no
treatment plot. The final readings are being awaited vdth much interest," -
Brackcr, Knox County.

Two corn demonstration tPeetijTgs were held with an attendance of 175 fanners.
The plots were plr.nted with corn secured from farmers thruout the county, v/ith
high and low ear strains from the Uni.versity of Illinois, disease corn from
the Funk Farms at Bloomington, and disease-free corn.

There were marked differences in variety, characteristics, maturity, hei'^t
of ears, uniformity of height, etce The chief value of the demonstration was not
that it was done as a corn breeding demonstration, but it gave a chance to ttll
farmers the things to bear in mind when it comes to selecting seed corn.
Hacklcman gave a talk on Corn Root Rot." - t/ise, Iroquois County.

I,:r,

Several corn picking demonsti-ations have been held at which the men were
much interested, i/ife noted with a great deal of pleasure the effort that a great
number of our farmers have put forth in securing disease free seed corn this
season." • Edgerton, Rock Island County,

The Farm Account Book. "In making some study of 57 farmers v/ho asked for
aid in starting the farm account book, we find that about 25% are keeping them
up in creditable shape. Lore than 50^0 are using some kind of day book account*
Of those v/ho have their farm account book in good shape, more than half of
them do it by posting occasionally from some day book account. A very small
percent are found to be making their entries from day to day direct in the farm
account bookk" - Brooks, LaSalle County.

"It isn't necessarily the right road because it is well beaten,"

Vol. Ill

Page 2 No. 42

Potatoes. The Farm Bureau has handled the orders for nearly all of the pota-
toes that will be shipped into this territory. Where Farmers* Elevators are loca-
ted they have cooperated with us in working out plans for distribution, we hold
orders from 1,000 people to the total amount of 19,575 bushels which is over 30
mininum carloads. In the whole plan the Farm Bureau has not aimed to deal in the
potatoes directly but to furnish an organization whereby the orders may be pooled.
For this quantity of potatoes the Farm Bureau saw fit to send a competent man into
the potato regions to make the purchase. The few people who have shipped in po-
tatoes have been compelled to reduce their prices as much as 25 cents perbushel,
on account of the competition of the potato pool." - Fuller, Earshall-Futnam Co.

"Orders have been taken to ship in 10,000 bushels of potatoes to the Farm
Bureau members. This is the first step taken to ship in potatoes to Will County, "-
Hedgcock.

"Work in handling apple and potato orders is requiring most of our attention
at present. Orders for nine cars of potatoes have been received*" - Longmire,
Grundy County,

"Our orders for several cars of potatoes have kept down the prices which the
merchants are asking," - Brown, Stark County,

"Tv/elve carloads of Red River Valley Early Ohio potatoes have been ordered by
the Farm Bureau, These are being distributed by farmers' elevators and shipping
associations in various parts of the county." - Doneghue, licDonough County,

"Seed Potatoes Located. 100 bushels of selected, disease free seed potj?toes,
located in East Galena Township as a local project," - Burns, JoDaviess County,

"■ripple picking is on in full force. Truck loads of barrels are passing along
the highways in every direction. Most of them are shipped directly into cold
storage at Hannibal, Quincy, and Valley City. There is fruit every\*ere of every
kind. It is estimated that the crop is about 40^ normal," - Kercher, Pike County,

Window Exhibit Attracts Attention. "During the last v/eek we have had in the
window, an exhibit of an experiment that was put on in the county, of a comparison
of Vifhite Democrat and Reid' s Yellow Dent corn, V/e have a chart shoi.Ting estimated
yield and also an average stalk and an average ear of each variety. The word
"T^emocrat" attracted much attention and the display caused more comment and ex-
citement than any exhibit we have had in the window for months*" - Leslie Hunt,
Macoupin County.

V/e take it Mr, Hunt wishes to point out the fact that si/Tiite Democrat corn
produced a fair crop despite the chinch bugs, \'rfiile Reid»s Yellow Dent produced
practically nothing under like conditions. This display in a Farm Bureau window
would certainly attract attention. More of us should use our windows to point
out such lessons and keep the exhibits live, attractive and up to the minute. Y.E,

Threshing Soybeans. "The most of the soybeans are threshed. The growers
had a good deal of trouble with split ones this year, iilr. Riegel and Jlr. John T.
Smith each got attachments for their separators, the former an Altman & Taylor,
and the latter a Rgi River Special. These run the cylinder and other parts of
the machine at different speeds than they are run for threshing grain. Their
work is very satisfactory," - Oathout, Champaign County.

Chinch Bugs a Plenty. "The dry v/eather is giving the chinch bugs all the
advantage they could want. Old Settlers tell me that they have never seen so many
bugs in Franklin County before." - det^erff, Franklin County.

Weather conditions fn.vo'-able to Fly, "It seems more than ever probable that
there will be a good aoal of daaage from the Hessian Fly. I have examined fields
sown as late as October 2 and there are a groat nunber of eggs on the v/heat- Un-
less something happens to the larva they will be present in groat numbers. "-
Gentle, Schuyler County.

Similar reports from other counties indicate the same danger. This continued
warm, dry weather is very unusual and is fatal to the "dope" of the prognosticator.
But wo v;ill hope and trust Dame Sature will yet come to our rescue. - Y.E.

"There are several S'rall l.rmostone crush_crs in the county and those crushers
will start crushing soon'aitor w"lieat sowing, vi/e have one small crusher that has
ground better than 400 tons this summer, and it will perhaps grind that much more
before the weather breaks up."

Flint in Limestone detr'jnental. "The visit of Bent and Armstrong of the
Illinois Agricultural Associittron to investigate the old Ullin limestone quarry
in the north part of county shattered all hopes of getting a cheap supply of ground
limestone developed there. Small thin streaks of flint were found every 6 to 9
feet thruout the rock formation, which is enough to make the pulverisation of
the rock very costly and probably not practical for us. Our attention will now
be turned to the new pia.nt at Belknap with the hope that they vdll furnish all wc
want," - Eastman, Pulaski County,

Community Develnpmcnt, "During the past few weeks special effort has been
made to organize the Farm Bureau members into local community groups, Tv/enty-six
of these groups have been formed and we aro making an effort to get each Farm
Bureau member to designate the group to which he wishes to be identified- Out
constitution provides for a system of delegates for the annual business meeting
and v;e had to have the groups in order to select the delegates.

In order that it will not be necessary for a representative of the Farm Bureau
office to attend tae monthly meetings of the local committee, we are arranging for
monthly meetings of the local officers. These monthly meetings will be in the
nature of schools of instruction and an effort v/ill be made to put before the local
officers the things that we wish to get before the local communities. It will also
servo as a training school for local leaders, ^/c are expecting the cooperation
of the extension department in making these schools successful." - Lumbrick, ^ .r-
nilion County.

"Considerablo hog disease was reported this week, Tv/o of our purebred brcoa-
ers were forced to postpone their sales on account of sickness in their herds.
So far we have had no 'breaks' in the herds vaccinated with the serum and virus
handled by the Farm Bureau." - Lloyd, Hancock County.

"Two infections of hog cholera have developed as the result of treating well
herds by the simultaneous method. The trouble is due to dormant or weakened
virus. The herds v/ere retreated and it is hoped the disease v^ill be confined to
these premises. There is no other cholera in the country to our knowledge." -
Bliss, Carroll County.

"Our Duroc Jersey Sale of Bears, Gilts and sows averaged $37- Ptr head. Just
about market price when all expenses were paid.

We have taken orders for four cars of potatoes and tv/o cars of apples with
checks in advance. The greater part of these orders and checks were secured m
^^e^^^o^^^e^^i|^V|j^J|^j|gjjrj|^^^^J^|j|||^j^||^^

■

A scries of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol» HI October 27 1 1920. No« 43

"Riesel Invents Straw Spreader. V;. E. Riegel manager of the C. E. Meharry
farm at Tolono, has a unique way of spreading straw. It consists of two logs
24 feet long; these are connected together like a drag by three 2 x 6^s about
three feet long nailed on the bottom of the logs flat-v/ise. A board one foot
wide is placed between the logs on top of the 2 x 6^ s, this for a man to stand on.
The front log is eight inches in diameter and the rear one 5 inches, these sizes
being necessary to get proper weight,

A team is hitched on either end and a man with a fork assists in keeping
the straw going properly in front of the drag. Using a S/S" cable which is tJrown
around a portion of the stack and connected to the tractor, from two to three load
loads of straw are dragged out at a time and left in bunches over the field. The
drag or straw spreader with team hitched on either end is then used in scatter^*
ing these bunches of straw, Mr, Riegel states that by this method a good sized
straw stack can be spread in a half day and the spreading is very even if stack is
new."- Var.iman.

"A Good Idea. The officers and directors of the Farm Bureau were given a
luncheon at the Y, vif. C. A, Saturday, There v/ere 24 present; D« 0. Thompson of
Chicago was the main speaker. The table decorations carried out were as follows:
A number of small pumpkins were placed in the center of the table, these were
labeled 'County Farm Bureaus*; three medium sized pumpkins v/ere placed on top of
these and labeled 'State Farm Bureau Associations* ; capping these three was one
large pumpkin called the * American Farm Bureau Federation* ; place cards for every
iirector and officer v/ere furnished. From each place card red baby ribbon ran
under the pumpkin pile, the idea being to impress the directors and officers that
they were very definitely 'hooked up* v/ith a big organization. A local mirth
inaker was present for the entertainment feature* Everybody had a good tine. This
will be a quarterly event frcan now on." - Edgerton, Rock Island County,

Agricultural Open House, All that is agricultural in and about the Universi-
ty proposes to open itself for general inspection in a grand, big, "Open House** on
Saturday afternoon, November 13, 1920, From 1 to 6 o* clock, on that date, the
various departments in agriculture will be in their best dress to show all visit-*'
ors something of the attainment in Animal Husbandry, Dairy Husbandry, Crops, Soils
Farm Management, Floriculture, Genetics, etc. Some splendid exhibits will be
prepared for the occasion. There will be no admission charges and everyone is
invited. Who's responsible? ii/Tny, the "Ag. Club" of course.

If Zimmerman is right, we may all be destined to be economists. He says:
"Take care to be an economist in prosperity; there is no fear of your being one
lin adversity". It looks as if adversity were coming our way.

■iB^gjHftgsista Ghinch Bugs. After iooking over -several fields of ChaiBj>ion-n»hite
Pearl corn m the county, M-e. find that chiiich-cut^s do not dajrage it as much us
the yellow varieties. In one case the bugs went thru a field of Champion vi/hite
Pearl, which will yield between 40 and 50 bushels, and took practically all
of the member's Reid«5 Yellow Dent on the other side. A large amount of this
corn will be planted in this county next year," - Pollock, Edwards Co.

"Convincing evidence of the superiority of iifhite Corn (Especially Democrat
or Vi/hite Pearl) over yellov/ varieties with regard to chinch bug resistance may be
found on every hand. There v/ill be a big demand for Democrat Corn for use v/ith-
in the county, yet we expect to have about 1000 buehsls to spare,"- Thomas,
Jackson Co,

"Acid Phosphate most econoojcal potato fertilizer* A comparative test of
16^ acid phosphate, and a C°12-4 commercial m:!.xture on potatoes in connection
with manure gave the following instructive results;

Manure alone 121 bushels per acre

Manure & 350 lbs. acid phosphate 22j0 bushels per acre,
Manure & 350 lbs, 0-12-4- l6l bushels per acre.

This demonstration was carried out on a member's farm near Belleville. The re-
sults are in accordance with the advanced thought on potato fertilizers, "-
Tillman, St* Clair County,

Soybeans a great Crop. "Carl Walker of Clinton fcae just hulled 400 buphels
of soybeans from 23"2 acres making an average of 1? bushels per acre. These are
known locally as the walker bean and are grown to the exclusion of every other ^
variety in this county. I believe they belong to the black beauty variety.
These are exceedingly popular because they yield well, shatter very little, and
are hardy and make a good crop either of hay or seed. Carl walker has used soy-
bean hay exclusively for a number of years to feed his horses and cattle, and
his purebred Percherons are as good as any in the covnty. His soybean land was
drilled to wheat immediately after removing the crop. The beans had been sovm
solid one bushel to the acre w^ith a grain drill.

Claude Thorp has just started hulling his soybeans, also of the so-called
Walker variety. His were sown one peck to the acre in rows 28 inches apart and
were cultivated. He says he v/ill drill them in solid a bushel to the acre
another year, because he believes they can be handled more satisfactorily that
way. As fast as the ground is cleared he is drilling in wheat." - Robbins,
DeViTitt County.

"Three Carolina Soybean pickers have been successfully operated in Edgar
County this season and paid for themselves the first year with a handsome addi-
tional profit. Men who own them like them especially because one man can, by
their use, harvest a 50 or 60 acre field, all by himself with very few crack-
ed beans, and the machine leaves stalks and trash on the ground as a v/inter pro-
tection, and it is observed that no more beans are shattered or lost by this
method than by the use of a mower or binder in harvesting the crop- An extra
fine quality of seed is obtained v/hen the picker is used and very few broken or
cracked beans can be found when the seed is cleaned," - Gernert, Edgar County.

"A carload of Nebraska Potash was shipped into this county last spring, for
use on peat and alkali spots. The results from its use have been most gratify-
ing, and a large number of men have left check strips where the effects of the
potash was very plain. Several of these men are planning on husking this separate*
ly; this should prove a valuable demonstration in those communities,"- Isaacs,

j|y£3ca»

5*^-"'

Vol, III Page 3 No. 43

Madison County Secures Adviser. "The Madison County Farm Bureau has secured
the services of Hr» Alfred Raut as Farm Adviser in that county. After graduat-
ing from high school Mr, Raut farmed for several years before entering the Uni-
versity of Illinois. Since graduating from this institution, he has been in
county agent work, having spent nearly three years in Virginia, two years as
district agent in Missouri, and two years as county agent in Perry County, Mo«
Mr. Raut expects to take up the work there December 1."

Cats as a Nurse Crop for Sweet Clover-. "On our outlying soil experiment
fields we have this year sone eight fields located in as many different counties
upon which we have successful stands of sweet clover from a seeding in oats this
spring. On land which has been ti'>:-d;tei v/ith limestone it is a rare case to have
a failure of sweet clover from a seeding in oats. One disadvantage is that on
fertile soil and a favorable season the sweet clover will grow up and be bound
up in the oat bundles. This allows slow drying and sometimes darkens the grain.
Some of the advantages are that a fairly good hay crop may be harvested in the
fall, or a good fall paGt':;i"e may be had without any great danger of injuring the
growth of the following spring. The spring growth may then be used as an early
pasture from which later is obtained a seed crop, and when corn follows oats,
this spring growth turned under will add many bushels to the corn yieldo" -
H. J« Snider, U. of I. Experiment Fields.

"The sweet clover toi;r the past week revealed the great benefit that sweet
clover has been for pasture during the past dry season. One man reported 22 head
of horses and cattle on 16 acres all summer and he still has considerable left to
plow under. This man say^ h^ v/ill al-yays hai'-e sweet clover pasture hereafter."-
Price, Kendall Countyo

"Attended the Advise^g'' '"lonfeT-cn^.e fvr southern ^lli^ioi.^. It seoms that we
get more than twice as mw^'n goo-j. out oi these district ^.i: Terences as we do out of
the general state meet:Lngi„ 1 have talked v/ith several cf the ether Farm Advisers
in southern Illinois, a^d that seei^ir to be the genpral opinto.^, IVhen we meet at
the University we get aooie good v'ork or. what the college is doing and the depart-
mental officers, but it seems th& nion frnr.i the northern part of the state monopo-
lize the greater part of the time, and since southern Illinois is in the minority
at the state meetings, we do no-f have very many things taken up, that are of
special interest to us." - Blackburn, Marion County^

"Our first annual Swine Breeders' sale held October 21 was well attended. We
sold about 50 head of pure bred stock, half of which v/ere boars. The consign-
ment was about equally divided between Duroc Jerseys, Big Type Polands and Spotted
Poland breeders within the coi;nty. No fancy prices were paid for either gilts
or boars but we averaged abnut <342<- a head which vyas considerably better than a
good many of the sales in this part of the state have been averaging of late.
This price would equal about $20, a hundred on an average for all pigs consigned."
Phillips, Greene County,

"Be held two pure bred sales. On Tuesday we sold 42 head of Duroc Jerseys for
an average of $44.17 and on Thursday 4? head of Poland Chinas for an average of
$47,66. Considering the bad condition of the pure bred hog business this fall, we
think these were good sales.

"Corn buskers are coming in about the same as usual and most of them are
satisfied with the 50 prise "- Robbins, De^V" tt County.

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. Ill November 3, 1920, No. 44

"Acid Phosphate most econoaiccil potato fertilizer. On a member's farm, a con-
jarative test of l6/o acid phosphate, and a o-l2-4 commercial mixture on potatoes
in connection with manure, gave the follov/ing instructive results,

ilanure alone 121 bushels per acre

Manure & 350 lbs- acid phos,-hate 220 bushels per acre

MaQU?o & 350 lbs, 0-12-4 mixture l6l bushels per acre
The Acid Pnosphate was given as a surface application in the spring, just
before planting the potatoes, at the rate of 350 pounds per acre. It was worked
into the soil by a double harrowing. The ground had been plowed in the fall,
after receiving an apj^^lication of barn-yard manure. Tlie purchasing price of uhe
Acid Phosphate was ^^26, 50 a ton which made the acre application of 350 pounds,
cost v4.65 not counting the work of s^-reading,." - Tillman, St. Clair County,

"Despite intermittent rajns and muddy reads, a group of farmers met at three
of the fields v/here we made studies of the corn diseasec One farmer stated that
he had a 25 acre field which made but 20 bushels to the acre last year, vifhen
asked, he stated that it should have yielded at least 50 bushels per acre, in-
dicating that he had a 60% loss^ He stated that his neighbor across the road
was having similar experience this year with his entire field, despite the fact
that the seed corn v/hich he used v/as obtained from four different sources in-
cluding South Dakota as one of them. Another farmer gave an experience similar
to that of the first. A field was visited that v/as literally shot to pieces by
the corn disease, and one farmer in the crowd exclaimed that he had exactly the
same condition on his own farm 36 years ago*. Farmers are beginning to realize
the serxousness of these diseases of corn, and are showing increased interest
in the work done in Knox County, where control measures are being studied, as
Well as in any information that can be obtained from other sources," - Eracker,
Knox County*

Agricultural Tours Val^iable, "At the Field Meeting the farmers were shovm
some very excellent corn on the treated plots while that on the untreated plots
VTill probably not run more than 25 bushels per acre. After the field meeting an
inspection trip was made to neighboring farms where some excellent red and sweet
clover were seen groviring on land that had been limed. I believe these agri-
cultural tours should be held frequently to give the members an opportunity of
knowing what their neighbors are doing," - a^bitchurch, Saline County,

"Preparation for a meeting is just as important as the meeting itself."

Vol. Ill

Page 2

No. 44

Group Demonstration Best. "We find the group demonstration meeting the best
method of taking care of soil problems. There are many questions that are asked
that arc of interest to everyone, v;hich could not be obtained from individual
visits. A large percentage of the soil questions in our two counties arc very
similar in their nature." - Fuller, Marshall-Putnam County,

Approximately 600 people have attended the poultry culling dcmonst ratings
hold in this county during the past t-»o weeks. At each of these demonstrations,
everyone has been given an opportuni.ty to do some culling and a great amount of
interest has been shcivn, which cannot help but reflect much good to the poultry
industry in this county," - Isaacs, Mason County

Farmers favor less expensive phosrhate storage bins. "A meeting was held at
the Farm Bureau office for the pui*po3G of discussing storage of rock phosphate.
About 25 people attended, largely township chairmen, Mr» Bent, of the Phosphate
Department of the Illinois Agricultural Association vras present, with plans for
storage bins. Most of the farmers present favored the less expensive structures
with the minimum amount of equipment. Several communities arc seriously con-
sidering the storage proposition." - wise, Iroquois Ccunty,

"a Good Roads Trip. Our Farm Bureau Executive Committee invited each tovmship
highway commissioner in the county, the Commj.ttee on State Aid Roads of the Board
of Supervisors and the County High;vay Engineer to be their guests on a Goods Road
Tour thru northwestern Illinois and southern wisco.nsin. Fourteen commissioners,
2 supervisors, and 5 other persons made the trip. In Wisconsin, they traveled 133
miles on almost perfect state roads last i//ednesday, and learned that there were
enough more state roads in the state to take 58 days cf such travel to see. The
greater part of these roads are just earth. The great advantage over Illinois
roads is the fact that a definite, practical system of maintenance has been v/orked
out and is being applied. The expense of this maintenance is being paid by the
automobile license fees. Since the State Highv/ay Commission has demonstrated this
effective means of road maintenance, the counties and tovmships are adopting simi-
lar systems on the secondary roads. Our people came back saturated \7ith enthu-
siasm because of the excellent roads they sav/, maintained out of Y/hatever material
the road happened to be, at a reasonable costc ii-'hatever funds are available for
construction v/ork are used on the parts of the roads v;hich are more difficult to
maintain," - Brooks, LaSalle Count y«

"The interest in the Farm B'lreau work in #innebago County seems to be grov;ing
nicely. Farmers come to the office more frequently than I had anticipated and
seem to be eager for informationc The little notice sent out sometime ago con-
cerning the presence of an obnoxious weed, yellow star thistle, in some of our
alfalfa fields has resulted in its being found in a great many fields and has
increased the local interest in the securing of clean grass seed, lien who have
examined their fields carefully in search of the above named weed are finding
the presence of clover dodder also." - Keltner, Winnebago County,

Recording Soil Tests. "The Farm Bureau is making detailed tests for acidity
of the soil in Sangamon County, A Truog Acidity Tester 'a U8e\, and an accurate
record of tests, with the added information as to character of soil and location
is kept." - Madden Sangamon County.

Vol. Ill

Page 3

No. 44

"Pig Club Sale. The fecys'and girls' Pig Club Sale was held this week en the
Fair Grounds at Bclvidere. The sale was toiped by a Poland China gilt weighing
305 pounds and v/hich brought $377.^50, This sow was an exceptional individual
and was from the Clansman stock. The average price paid for the 66 gilts sold
was s?47,25. The day before the sale Mr, W, B. Bunn judged the pigs. Seven boys
or the winner from each township will be given a free trip to the International
Livestock Exposition," - Kline, Boone County.

"The Pur PC Pig C3-".b Show and sale Friday morning ;vas a big success, 28 gilts
selling for an average of 08l,5O per head.

The Duroc Association Sale Friday afternoon was not satisfactory, the offer-
ing of 53 head averaging only !;;43.25 per head. About half of the animals sold
were spring boars. The selling cost was about ^5»00 per head which leaves about
market price or a little more for the hogs sold." - Lloyd, Hancock County,

"Soil Infection. I have been called to several places for a soil test v;hcre
farmers said they had pieces of ground that were unproductive and they thought
some plant food vias lacking because the corn and wheat especially, failed to pro-
duce profitable crops in the last few seasons, Vahile limestone has been needed
in a number of cases, I have found that v;hcat scab and corn root rot infection
of the soil is the principal trouble," - Burns, JoDaviess County,

Yellow Star Thistle is a v/eed v/hich seems to have been introduced into
V/innebago County in imported alfalfa seed last spring. The attention of the
County Agent has been called to a number of fields in wh? ch it is found. In ap-
pearance the plant differs radically from the more common thistles. It grows
to the height of 30 inches or less* It is gray in color with loose, wooly hairs.
Stem leaves are small, narrow, each with one margin growing down the stem, heads
1/2 to 3/4 of an inch broad, color bright yellow. The spines on the same are
rigid and yellow measuring as much as an inch in length. Some of the seeds are
said to fail to germinate the first year and appear the second and even the third
year. The best method of eradication is careful and complete removal of the
plant from the field by pulling them by hand. The extreme undesirability cf
this plant makes this procedure almost a necessity," - Keltnor, IVinnebago County.

"Rice Grown in i.Icnroe as well as in Saline. I noticed in the Prairie Farmer
seme time ago that Saline County was boasting of being the first county in Illi-
nois to grov; rice. This is not the case, however, for we have a man in our
county who grew a much larger patch than the Saline County farmer en the Okaw
River bottoms, close to Red Bud. This man is Chas. P. Fehr, Sr. He brought us
a sample into the office the other day and said it would yield about 70 bushels
per acre. Lr. Fehr is also interested in some rice plantations in Arkansas, -
Tate, Monroe County.

"During the recent membership campaign v/e sent out a report card every night,
giving the names of the members who had signed up during the day. This was *ailcd
so the cards were on the mail routes the next morning in all parts of the ccunty.
The State solicitors considered this one of the best pieces of advertising which
had been done; and made the work riuch easier for then, a few nen who v/ere not
at home during the campaign are mailing in their membership agreements. \nc ex-
pect several more of these before our campaign is finally completed. Ninety
percent of those eligible for membership are signed up." - Miner, Henderson Co,

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. Ill

November 10, I92O,

No. 45

"Variety Tests of Corn and Soy Beans for Hogging Dov/n.
On June 9, Elmer Paris planted five one-acre plots of corn and soy beans as fol-
lows:

Northwestern Dent Corn

U, S. Selection 133 Corn

Silver King Corn

Lancaster Surecrop Corn

Funk's Yellow Dent Corn

Plot No.
Plot No.
Plcrt No.
Plot No.

Plot No. 5

V/isconsin Black Soy Beans
V/icconsin Black Soy Eeans
13-164 Soy Eeans
13-164 Soy Beans
/I. \K. Soy Beans

The object v/as to study the feasibility of using these varieties for suc-
cessive ripening for hogging down, k/e have found these varieties good for a suc-
cession for hogging down. By September 10, the first plot was ready for hogs.
The corn and beans were getting hard. On September I6, 46 pigs averaging 68.9
pounds per head, were turned in. Gains and results are indicated in the follovidng
table:

not

1 Yield
N 0, j per A,
lEu. *

Hogs
Turn-
ed in

No.
Hogs

.vt.

of
Hogs

369^

nV.

ivt.

j No, Da,
lin
: riot

<iit«
of

Hogs

Av, {Fork
».t. jper °

Lcre

Gain

per

Head

Gross re
turn per
Acre

!65.7

Sept. 16

68.9

' 11

3690

80.2 526.0

11.3

073,64

1 60.0

Sept. 2?

t<h 2

4040

87,8 5353.5

7,6

^9«49

174.3

Oct. 9

^04n

8V,8

4950

107,6 $919.0

19.8 128,66

" 80.0

Oct. 2i

^+950

107*6

\ (Now Being Harvested)

Green weights as taken from field in September and October*
Computed at 14 cents per pound of pork.
° Note 1/100 of each acre was husked to obtain yield per acre.

The average gains made v/ere made on 99/IOO of an acre but are computed tc
m acre basis," - Sidney B. Smith, Macon County.

"A new Bulletin abstract has just been released at the Illinois Station.
Ms is a 4 page brief of Bulletin No. 230, "Elimination of Germs from Dairy
Itensils." A copy should be placed in every dairyman's hands. Address, College
rt Agriculture, Urbana, Illinois,

"l/aterproofing and iiildevz-proofing of Cotton-Duck. Farmers' Bulletin 1157
.8 now available from the Division of Publications, U, S, Department of Agri-
culture. This bulletin tells how to select and care for duck or canvass on the
'arm and describes simple methods for prolonging its period of serviceability.

Don't forget that Ag Open House. Saturday afternoon 1 to 6, November 131

vol. III

Page 2

No* 45

"Trend xn Conmodity Prices. Ihere has been a downward trend in the price of
practically all commodities during the last few weeks. h.ost of the cereal crops
have suffered decided slunps as have some of the other farm products. Just what
the trend has been in the various groups of commodities for the last 7 years is
shoTjra in the foUoVTing table of index numbers taken from the September issue of
the monthly Labor Review of the U. S, Department of Labor, In computing the in-
dex numbers of any group of commodities, the average monthly or yearly price of
each article in the group is multiplied by the estimated quantity of that article
marketed in the census year I9O9, The different results are added for each group
and all groups combined. These sxms are then reduced to percentages of the I913
sum, taken as a base. In this way each article has an influence on the result
proportionate to its importance in the countries markets. Corn, wheat, and oats
prices have been calculated on the same basis as the other commodities and in-
cluded in the table, taking the place of three other groups of commodities which
were of minor importance. The average fluctuations by months have been included
for the year 1920, Lack of space permitted their inclusion in the other years*
ttfith the averages given for each year, an idea may be gotten of the period in
which the price of each group of commodities started to rise, when each reached
its highest point and just what relationship existed betv/een the several commodity
prices thru-out the whole period," F, F. Elliott, Ass't, in Farm lilanagement Ex~
tension, U. of I.

Index Numbers of wholesale Prices in Specified Yea^s and Ilonths

1913 to Octobelt 1920 by Groups of Commodities. (1913 pricecioq*

Note - In all, 32? commodities were included; 32 farm products, 91 foods,
77 cloths and clothing, 25 metals and metal products, 30 lumber and building
materials and 12 furnishing goods.

"It's the little things that separate us from success - not the big ones."

;'rr? -i.r;..IJvi 'i'l^ '-i :■•-

i '^ '. " £".y ' ' '.
'■••,: t ■ 1 > > TO i

!•■>■' -f' ^'' --f '■.■■■

..-■■■ ".■■•'(:■ :;- ;

.ti^:f ■s.:^-; .•' 't.> ;. ; ?r.4.,;-jL:s r^'i^ii -''^i-- "'v-'»

. i-:

•V - K~ ". •

' T.:'J;..^ '— >-ti. I-

i;vU '. i:\:;a

. X". ;.■-

:* ,t

.Ztl .■:■

•:. ''■>:'■ y.^i'^ -i

. .;- - ^ ; ♦ Jrf

:v »

•vS- ;

:■. 1 r '^^i

— ,. . .1- ■'^

: J" '
J. 2.

. 1 .

.- f i * i ■ ■ . i j ''fi- ■<-/■«■£

-.^

'*vi

<-i.,or-

1 i' ' '

:.> : i

-:Mi.:. -i

Vnl. Ill

Page 3

No. 45

"The Results froa the .-^'^pli cation of Jifferent ■•x:ounts of Limestone^ As a
basis for the recomrrendatr-.on for applying limestone, the Newton Experiment Field,
(Jasper County) offers the follov/ing evidence. On this field the applications of
limestone are made on the sane land once in three years, and of the amounts in-
dicated below. To date there has been made three applications of limestone. The
following table sho-js the rate at vA:ich the limestone is applied, and the sv/eet
clover seed yields for 1920.

500 lbs. limestone per acre per year 3 bu. sweet clover seed
1000 " " " " " " 5'- " " " "

2000 " " " "' " " 8 " " " "

This land is the very light prairie soil v/hich is very acid and difficult
to drain." - H, J. Snider, Experiment Fields,

"Large Volume nf busi.ness. The Lanager of the ndans County Shippers' .:.sso-
ciation reports the largest volume of busir^ss during the month of October that
we have had since the organization of this association. It has been in operation
since September 9, 1919. The total number of cars shipped during the month of
October is 60, The entire county is now organized." - Gougler, ^dams County.

"A case of hog cholera has been identified in .dnslow Township. About 80^
head vriLll be sacrificed to this disease. The local veterinarian first called in,
thouglit it was the lung infection and treated them with bacterins. Another veter-
inarian was called in and he called it cholera. ..n attempt ^>vas then made to treat
a few, but it v/as evidently too late. Dr. Kabecker, federal veterinarian, -.vas
called in on the case Friday, and he corroborated the cholera diagnosis. Neigh-
bors will vacinnate to protect themselves," Baui^eister, Stephenson County,
Hog cholera has appeared in a number of other counties.

"Interest in Pe-ohercn horses is increasing. Len have the idea that real
good horses v/ill be' worln^a -.^od pr^ce in time to come. James O'Brien^ showed me
one of the best young stallions I have seen this year. This is one which he pur-
chased from the University of Illinois, Ke has some splendid colts sired by
this horse and there are a number of others of these colts in the conmunity nortn
east of Clinton." - Robbins, De./itt County.

"A Short Course for livestock shipping association managers will be held
at the Stock Yards in East St, Louis on December 14 and 15. This meeting is
being arranged for by Lr. Ralph Loomis, Extension Specialist in Marketing,
Columbia, Lissouri." - Spitler,

"Pope County has decided to proceed with the organization of a Farm Bureau.
i^r. Spitler and l^r. Easter ley held a school of instruction for the leaders and a
membership campaign will be conducted during the v/eek of November 22,

"i.assac and Jefferson Counties expect to secure enough additional members to
enable them to begin work in the near future." - G, N. Coffey.

Editor's Note. At some of the District Conferences the Lessenger was dis-
cussed. The farm advisers seemed to wish a greater proportion of technical
items and contributions from the Extension Specialists, Agricultural College
workers and county advisers. iVe shall try to publish what our readers want,
u^at is your suggestion? Help us make this the best sheet of its kind.

A scries of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol, III

Noveaber 17, 1920*

No. 46

Add these new figures to Sidney Smith's data on corn and soybean plots in
last v;eek»s Messenger. "The follov/ing figures are relative to the fourth plot
which was planted with Lancaster Surecrop.

The 46 pigs were turned into the plot on October 21 and taken out on
November 2, a period of 12 days. When turned in they weighed 4950 pounds, an
average of 107,6 and when taken out they v/eighed 5520 pounds, an average of 120
pounds per head. They gained 570 pounds on 99/IOO of an acre^ or at the rate
0^ 575 pounds of pork per acre.

The hogs were turned into the fifth plot, Funk's Yellow Dent, on Noveaber 2.
This plot yielded at the rate of 60,2 bushels per acre, green weight," - Sidney
B, Smith, Macon County,

"The First Year After Applying Rock Phosphate. The question is often raised
as to the results v/hich ::aay be expected the first season after an application of
rock phosphate. The Joliet Experiment Field (level prairie soil) affords the fol-
lowing evidence. Here in September 1914 was applied 1-|- tons of rock phosphate on
top of a stand of alfalfa which was seeded the previous June. This phosphate was

I not worked into the soil other than by rain, snow, thawing and freezing. This
land had been limed but no manure or other organic matter had been applied. The
_ season following, the increase of air-dry alfalfa hay due to rock phosphate was
1400 pounds per acre, and the season following this, the increase due to phos-
phate was 2600 pounds. In this case there is no doubt that the rock phosphate
was profitable the first year, but more profitable the second." - H» J. Snider,
Experiment Fields,

"Illinois system with sweet clover doubles corn yield after five years
operation in Henry County. Light brov/n silt loan yielded 66 bushels last year»
Indications point to over 70 this year." - Montgomery, Henry County,

"Corn husking in Illinois is going on generally, though some fanners are de-
laying it due to failure to agree vdth huskers as to price. Yields seem to be
a little disappointing so far, not running up to expectation in many cases. Con-
siderable soft and chaffy grain is showing up.

Winter wheat has generally started well and has been making good grovrth dur-
ing the week, tho some southern sections report the plant coming up unevenly*
?ly has been present over a wide area but -was quickly checked by rains, cool
feather and the frosts of last week. Apparently but little, if any, fall damage
from this source has been done." - S. D, Fessendem, Agricultural Statistician,
Jpringfield,

"Leaders are ordinary persons vd-th extraordinary determination."

■

Vol. Ill

Page 2

No. 46

"One Afternoon' s Demonstration Told a Story IJany Pares would not Convey. The
corn root rot demonstration conducted in this county on the farn of J. H. Maurer,
of Marshall, thru the cooperation of the Crops Extension Division and Funk Farms,
is in my opinion, of fundamental importance as a Farm Bureau Project, After the
meeting, a leadinp; farmer remarked, 'I've read a lot about root rot, but I learned
more about it to-day than in all my readinr^, • Another said, 'That was worth more
than anything else we have done in the county.' There were 58 rows of 60 hills
in length, each row planted from samples either disease resistant or of various
degrees of susceptibility as determined by germination test. Eighteen hills at
the end of each row where the label was placed were left standing; two border
hills at the other end were cut off and the intervening 40 hills husked and
records made. The husked corn was separated into three classes, good sound corn,
chaffy corn, and unsound grain and nubbins, and placed at the unhusked end of
the row, liany of the farmers arrived before the husking and crecords v/ere com-
pleted and they took interest in helping to finish, which made them feel the
thing was not 'cut and dried', With all the material before then. Prof. Hackle-
man's explanation carried v/eight and these farmers took pride in picking out
examples to prove the points explained. Simple observation of the rows would
not furnish any striking comparisons, but v/ith all the records and the material
furnishing them under observation, the lesson was easily and v/ell learned. As
an experiment to gain information, I would consider this kind of a program (as
necessarily conducted) of doubtful worth. But as a means of demonstratiup. a
fact already pretty well worked out experimentally, this sort of work is of
highest value because of the variety and character of the demonstration material
presented. The records also help to confirm the results of real experimental
work that has made this demonstration possible. I believe it carried more
weight too, by being done on a farmer's farm than on specially prepared plots, "-
E» H, Walworth, Clark County.

Use Home Grown Feeds. "In almost all sections horses can be well fed and
maintained cheaper on home-grovm feeds. The systems of crop rotations Vi*iich are
most highly thought of from the standpoint of soil fertility and economical use
of man and horse labor furnished the most satisfactory horse feed. Good pastures
are essential for growing and breeding stock. After its first rank growth,
pasture helps to keep the farm work horse healthy and comfortable during the
pasture season. Plenty of roughage of good quality is required by all classes
of horses, and in the case of drafters, proper use should be made of the le-umes,
alfalfa and clover, as they are high in protein and mineral natter, and in many
instances, do away with the necessity of purchasing protein concentrates; but
they should be fed in limited amounts, as they are very nutritious. Our ex-
perimental work with colts, draft horses, and mules at farm work has shown
that the best results are obtained when legume hays of good quality make up one-
half to two-thirds of the total amount of roughage fed. Carbonaceous roughages,
such as timothy and prairie hays, oats straw, and corn stover, may be used
Satisfactorily %o make up the balance of the ration.

During the late fall and winter months, much use may be made of oats straw
and well-cared- for corn stover; these feeds are good for the horse and cheapen
the rations. During the remainder of the year, mixed clover and timothy hay
or alfalfa and timothy may be fed. For horsfe feed, alfalfa should not b e cut
too soon, as very leafy, fine-stemmed, pea-green hay is inclined to be washy;
the stemiay, first-cutting alfalfa hay is preferfe^l^.' " - J. L» Edmonds,

Vol. Ill

Page 3

No. 46

"Sov/lnr U"hulled Seed in winter. There seeas to be considerable interest in
the sowini^ of sweet clover. One of our leading growers has had rood luck sov/ing
the seed with the hull on in wheat, or rye in December on the theory that the
seed coat vi^ould be disintegrated by spring and the seed ijade already for i;er-
mination. we are going to try this out pretty thoroly." - Tarble, Bond County*

To store phosphate. At the monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of the
Farm Bureau, the Farm Adviser was instructed to take up with the Elevator Con-
panies, in a direct way, the proposition of storing phosphate at the different
elevators in the county. Many companiei; have already been talking about this and
I think there will be no difficulty in making an arrangement," - Price, Kendall Co

"The Qkaw community association has leased a site from the railroad company
on which to build a lime and coal shed. LSoney is being raised to build it im-
mediately. The farmers will haul gravel from the creek and do all of the work
for nothing," - Belting, Shelby County.

"The nitrate of soda orders for Union, Johnson, Jackson, Pulaski and Edwards
counties were pooled and contracted for. This amounted to 325 tons and was
"bought for Novoabor delivery at §62, .per ton, f,o,b. New Orleans," - Doerschuk,
Union Co,

"Farmer reports loss from Root Rot, vVhile fretting his potatoes from the car,
one of our farmers renarked that corn root rot (ho said ho diagnosed the trouble
immediately upon receiving Illinois Circular ^2^3, which was enclosed with one
of our recent circular letters) cut the yield of part of one of his fields from
20 to 30 bushels per acre. He further said that he could tell just to a row
Tsftiere corn selected from the badly diseased part of the field was used for seed,"-
Brown, Stark County,

"Edgerton's pumpkin idea su^mssful in Stephenson. A very successful dinner
and meeting was he3d at the Brewster Grr.li, Sacurday, November 6, Those in at-
tendance were: Executive Board members, Community Chairmen and their Committee-
men, representatives of farmers* elevator companies, livestock shipping associa-
tion. Thirty-one were in attendance and the weather was bad, Ed gcrt o n' s' pumpkin
idea* was carried out. Thanks for the suggestion." - Baumeister, Stephenson Co,

"Value of Publicjjhv. One of our members learned the value of publicity dur-
ing the past few weeks. I have reference to the Uttlo article we printed in
our monthly Farm Bulletin in regard to the value of spraying apple trecsk One
of our town papers printed a copy of this article and as a result the member,
Mr, Weigand, says he could have sold a thousand bushels of apples if he had had
them. He did sell all that he had and has received the value of his membership
in the association for a good Kp.ny years," - Heaton, DuPage County,

"Value of havinr Executive Comrjittee at District Conferences. Galesburg
conference was hi-hly profitable. Two members of our Executive Board who attended
this conference in turn explained to the other members of the board at their
monthly meeting, the value of such a conference. We expect Id alwr.ys have, at
least two members present at such meetings in the future, if possible. Their at-
tendance at such meetings will make the board understand more clearly th • value
and viewpoint made at these conferences and rail be in a better position to help
the adviser." - Fuller, Marsha ll»Putnam County.

A scries of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. Ill

November 24, 1920*

No, 47

Hessian Fly Summary, "During the past three v/eeks a moderate number of wheat
fields in different sections of the state have been examined for presence of the
Hessian- fly. The data thus far obtained show that the fly free date held per-
fectly for the northern tiers of counties. In the central part of the state the
fly continued to emerge and to infest wheat from 5 to 10 days after the fly free
date as given out this fall, altho the wheat sown 5 days or more later than the
date given out is but very slightly injured. In southern Illinois there is a
slight infestation in wheat sown three or four days after the fly free date, but
not sufficient to cause any real dairage. In fact, it is so light that it is
rather hard to find the fly in the fields* The unusual weather conditions of the
fall are responsible for the late infestation by the fly. A more detailed state-
ment of the infestation in the dato-of-sccding plots viall be given to the county
advisers within the next two weeks," - v/. P, Flint, Entomologist,

"Vaccinating pi^s a few days old, Dr, R« E, Nesbitt of Clinton, President of
the Illinois Veterinary kodicai Association, tells me that each year during the
last several years he has vaccinated probably 100 or more little pigs, from a few
hours to a few days old vdth a simultaneous method for hog cholera. These were
from non-immune sows. He had less deaths among these than pigs vaccinated at
Weaning time and believes the immunity is permanent enough to protect these pigs
until they are old enough and large enough to sell on the market," - Robbins,
DeV/itt County,

"Winter Meeting, The winter conference of the Illinois Farm Advisers' Asso-
ciation has been arranged for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, January I8, 19,
and 20, at Urbana, Chalk up the dates NOW so no conflict will arise," - 11, L*
Mosher, President.

The State Meeting: £f the Illinois Horticultural Society vdll be held in
Bloomington December 15, 16, 17, with headquarters at The Illinois Hotel. In the
past, these meetings have not been attended by the advisers -^n. the Horticultural
Counties of the State, but since many things are brought out at thesemeetings
which are very important to Horticultural counties, it seems advisable for them
to attend,- - For further information write W, S, Brock, College of Agriculture,

"Galesburg Corn Show. Plans are taking definite shape for the Corn Show which
is to be held in Galesburg, January 5 and 6, 1921* The Committees are working on
the details and public announcements will be made very shortly. Inquiries are
being received from practically all parts of the state relative to this show. It
gives great promise of being the agricultural event of the winter in the state. "-
Bracker, Knox County,

■¥617 III

Page 2

No. 47

"Trend in Comoiodity Pr:i.ces. (continued). The following table of index numbers
is supplementary to the table appearing in the November 10 issue of the Messenger,
Index numbers showing the trend in price of top hogs, feeder and fat cattle and
cotton have been calculated using the I9l3 price as a base« Index figures on *corn»
and 'all commodities* grouped together have been republished from the previous- table
to give a basis for comparison.

It is interesting to note that corn has led all commodities in the upward
trend in prices and both corn and cotton have led all commodities after the United
States entered the war. It \-jill be noted further that the price of stocker and
feeder cattle has been fairly stable thru-out the whole period and has fluctuated
much less widely than has the price of fat cattle. In fact, these figures indicate
that during the period under discussion, the chances for making profits in cattle
for the farmer who fed corn which he himself produced, were greater in feeding out
cattle than in growing stockers and feeders. j;n other words, the corn belt feeder
could buy his stockers and feeders anirtime during the period at a price from 1 to
5O70 above the pre-war price and could sell them finished at a price ranging from
4 to 110/i above the pre-war price* One of the contributing causes for the losses
sustained in feeding cattle is apparent Vihen it is noted how the price of fat
cattle has lagged so far behind the price of corn, which is the chief grain used
intheir production. Thus the feeder v/ho bought corn to feed out his cattle, faced
a greater difficulty in realizing a profit than did the man who fed corn v/hich he
himself produced. According to Farm Iwanagement studies, DeKalb County, Illinois,
feeders actually realized $1«33 per bushel for corn marketed thru cattle in I9I9
and .$1*21 per bushel in 1920." - F. F. Elliott.

Index Numbers of iu'arket Prices in specified years and months
1913 to November 10, 1920, by different groups of commodities.

All

Commod,

Corn

Cotton

Top
Hogs

1200-1500#
Steers

Stockers &
Feeders.

1913

100

ICO

100

19U

100

1:2

106

j.Jl

1915

101

r.b

'i6

104

102

I9I6

124

1:?

l;,l

JA4

J38

ILI

1917

176

2b3

..'■■3

j,cy-

j.50

104

1918

196

2'>5

2':-3

20"

-.35

144

i919

212

2'-u

245

218

193

153

Jan.1920

248

215

Feb.

249

245

3:1-1

167

186

133

i.:ch.

253

2.-^6

^;?i

1/3

.174

ijb

Apr.

265

9'fl

324

IT!

170

140

Kay

272

315

3i9

166

loO

140

June

269

^08

319

171

189

142

July

262

265

309

178

190

lib

Aug,

230

250

209

1y8

202

iz'l

Sept.

242

235

221 1

192

210

132

Oct.

169

lu6 ■■

167

211

120

Nov. 1-10

14 1

^yi

153

2U>

IZi

.iv.lO-l/3ti0.256

245

271

172

191

188

i.ote - Cotton price - Middling upland New Orleans,

1200-15^0^ steers - Choice & Prime rrade - Chicago
Stockers & Feeders - Choice & Common grade - Chicago

-TOKlfl

Paf^c 3

No» *7

Lon^ire gets the Blue Ribbon, "His Annual Report is the first to reach the
State Leader's office. It arrived bright and early November 224"

Talking of "Getting Results" Bf ovm has the right ideal We quote him -"V/hen
members are to be notified of the arrival of a car of potatoes, apples or other
products, I find a great saving of time can be effected by preparing a copy of
the message and a list of the parties to be called and giving it to the tele-
phone girls along with a good box of candy," - Brown, Stark County,

"The Co-operative Association has purchased an additional Feed Plant at
Crystal Lake taking possession on November 3» This organization will take over
all the business, i, e» seed, potatoes, apples, etc. v/hich has been handled by the
Soil Improvement Association. Individuals have heretofore borrowed money so that
good seeds etc. could be secured for the farmers. The taking over of this busi-
uess by the Co-operative Association will eliminate the necessity of purchasing
on this basis*" -. Gafke* McHenry County,

"A School of Instruction for Comnunity Chairmen was held in Pulaski County
November 19« The object of the school was to give ^hese men information and sug-
gestions to help them in the community meetings that have been planned to make a
program of work for the county. The school was conducted by Lir. Spitler with
the assistance of the State Leader* The men present seemed v/ell pleased. This
is the first countyto take up a program of work suggested at the recent dis-
trict conference." - G. N, Coffey.

"Good Roads Ahead." - This imaginary sign leads LaSalle County onl Read Ad-
viser Brooks' report* "In preparing for our road meeting to be held the 24th, we
have found a most encouraging spirit of cooperation among all the folks we have"
come in contact with, Nevvspaper people seem to be especially interested in fur-
thering road information. The meeting will start off with a good feed. J, T.
Donoghey, Highway Maintenance Engineer of Wisconsin will be the chief speaker. Al-
ready v/e note on some of ovr roads that township commissioners who went on the
road tour are trying out some of the things they learned," - Brooks, LaSalle Co,

"The McLean County Veterinary Association met in joint session with the offi-
cers and directors of the McLean County Farm Bureau to discuss and plan vtays and
means for more helpful cooperation. The spirit evidenced v.as most helpful and en-
couraging thruout. The County Vets are-affirmed their support of the plan for
the control of hog cholera and immunization as agreed upon by the State Associa-
tion and the I, A. A." - Center, McLean County,

"Excellent alfalfa seed can be obtained from Gooding Covuity, Idaho, according
to a letter from Mr- A, M. Smith, County Agent, addressed to our Extension Directoj;^
The letter says - "This seed is grown around V/endall and Gooding, Idaho. It is
Very fine seed and we will guarantee that it contains no dodder. Address, County
Agent, Gooding, Idaho."

"Burn the Bugs.- The vegetation is in good condition for burning out chine-
bugs, We vjQnt to get our farmers started at that next week* V/e have found that
fence posts can be protected from fire by sprinkling or spraying water on the base
of them," - Belting, Shelby County.

"Provide a creep where the little pigs may be fed separately just as soon as

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBAN A, ILLINOIS

Vol. Ill

December 1, 1920,

No. 48

"It pays to spray even a farm orchard. From IJercer County we get the follow-
ing figures on a demonstration orchard v/hich had been badly infested with scale
and was sprayed for the first tiae this year.

lELSON STEAD DELIONSTRATION ORCHARD — MERCER COUNTY

72 Trees - - .Area 1-1/4 Acres

?2.50

Fall apples

218 bu.

$1.50

Winter apples

6S "

v2tOO &

Windfalls

54 "

.75

Ciders

12 "

.75

Given to friends

40 "

.75

Total Produced

390 Bu.

EXPENSE OF PRODUCTION

0327.00

135.00

40.50

9.00

30.00

0541.50

Spraying six times

Picking and delivering

Pruning

Pump (depreciation)

Material

Total Expense

TO BALAIICE

C45.00
50.00
25.00

4,31

. 18.00

0U2.31

$399.19

In addition to the fieures which are suppUed by Adviser Richey, an in-
spection was made by the departmental adviser; the scale had been brought under
satisfactory control. No further comment is necessary." - vV, S. Brock.

"The Insane County Road f.-amtenance Meeting ^vas attended by about 250 people
from 15 or more coml^.es of Northern and Central Illinois. The meeting was ad-
dressed by J. T. Doraghey, Highv.ay Maintenance Engineer of «/isconsin, iranx i.
Bennett, Director of Public .Vorks and Buildings of Illinois; S. E. braax, du^.
intendent of the Division of Highways of Illinois and Clifford Older, cniei
Higb^y Engineer of Illinois. The idea of patrol maintenance, to make sucn
roads as we now have as usable as possible, seemed to be exceedingly well re-
ceived by all those present. The Illinois officials stated their ^[^^^f ^°" °;
asking the next l,eg;.sla.ture for an appropriation, to be made from the Road buna
to be used for patrol maintenance," - Brooks, LaSalle County,

Vol. Ill

Page 2

No. 48

"The DuFaRe County Duroc Breeders* Association held their first Pig Club
Sole last Saturday. The pigs that v^ere in the best condition sold quite well, con-
sidering the present slump in prices. They were all gilts around seven months of
age. The top price at the sale was 08l. The twenty-nine head sold, averaged 052.
In one way the slump in price is probably a good thing because the majority of the
boys' fathers bought the pigs themselves and will, as a result, get into the pure-
bred Duroc business." - Heaton, DuPage County,

The Trail of the Stock Food Remedy. "One of our farmers sued the National
Livestock Remedy Company for damage due to the loss of hogs supposed to have been
killed by feeding this remedy. The case was tried in court yesterday, but the
jury decided in favor of the defendant. If a man feeds any patent medicine and
it does not prove satisfactory, he will have no recourse thru the courts. His
safe course is to leave the stuff alone," - Kendall, Liorgan County,

"The County Unit plan for carrying on of Govt Testing work has v/orked out in
a very satisfactory way during the past year. Few members are placed on the wait*
ing list until such time as a n&if tester can be out to work or some of the members
drop out. We are in a position to keep the testers busy every day in the month
and keep in close touch vn.th each man*s herd." - Gafke, McHenry County.

"The Macoupin Purebred Holstein Association held their annual sale Friday,
Bidding was draggy and the average was not within OlOO, of last year*3 sale. Good
young bulls sold as low as 03O." - Huat, Macoupin County.

"Considerable interest is being taken in the organization of our Percheron
Association which we initiated a short time ago, V«e have now secured enough fann-
ers to purchase pure breds, or who will purchase in the near future, to assure us
a first class pure bred Percheron Association, With one of the best known Perch-
eron breeders in the United States and sires and dams of national reputation in
the county, v/e will start out with especially favorable advantages," - Phillips,
Greene County,

Alfalfa. "Stark County farmers are becoming more and more interested in al-
falfa and next year will see many men who have never tried it before seeding
small patches of 4 or 5 acres," - Brown, Stark County,

"Five cars of nitrate of soda were received this v/eek. Farmers are glad to
get it nov/ because the roads are in good condition for hauling and there is some
saving in price for fall delivery. The nitrate, however, cost !372. per ton de-
livered compared v/ith 067» last year. V/e hope that thru government operation of
the Muscle Shoals plant we will sometime be able to get cheaper nitrate and also
to receive it in better condition, vvhich is very important. The nitrate is shipped
in 200 lb, bags making it very ha.rd to handle and a very large percent of the
sacks are torn resulting in much leakage," ■« Doerschuk, Union County,

The maps furnished us by the soil survey are proving a great help. When I
am asked to visit a farm and test the soil, I always take with me a plat book of
the county and these soil survey maps. After locating the land on the plat book,
I locate it also on the soil survey map and see v/hat types of soil v/ere found in
that section by those who made the survey. After that we go and test the field
that the farmer has asked us to test. We have found that the survey in this
county has been very accurately done," - Kendall^ Morgan County,

"Itany fruit growers have been busy spraying for the
conditions most of the week have been fine for spraying,
worse this year than for aany years and our fruit men we
do an effective job of spraying. In some of our best ke
made quite a lot of headvay and it is thought by the men
to unfavorable spraying conditions last spring when the
applied. The fact that some of the orchards are fairly
seems to indicate that the proper care in making up the
something to do with it also," - Doerschuk, Union County

San Jose Scale, v/eather

The scale has been
Icome the opportunity to
pt orchards, scale has

that it is possibly due
first dormant spray was
free of scale, hov/ever,
solution may have had

"The sleek Democrat and the Champi on white Pearl varieties of corn have be-
come very popular here this year, on account of their resistance to chinch-bugs»
we will have considerable seed corn of this variety provided we can induce the
farmers to save it for seed and buy other corn for feed*" - dewerff, Franklin Co«

"The seed business in Bureau County grev/ to such proportions that the Execu-
tive Committee felt that the seed business must be taken care of thru channels
other than the Farm Bureau, We have finished organizing what is known as the
Farm Bureau Co-operative Supply Company, The company is capitalized at s-50,000
and over half of the stock has been subscribed and paid in, making it possible
to complete the organization of the Company and commence business. The Company
already has a building 50 x 150 along side of the railroad tracks which can^
easily be equipped for handling seeds and other commodities. This will relieve
the Farm Bureau and advisers of a lot of work and put the business in the hands
of a company equipped to handle it," - 7/ilson, Bureau County.

^arm Movie Films Attractive, "\7e have held a series of community meetings
thruout the County. At ^heso meetings we have shown two educational farm movie
films, including an excellent poultry reel. The other part of the programs
has consisted of informal talks and discussion on the subjects of interest to
the community, emphasizing especially the work of the County, State and National
Farm Bureaus. The time of the meetings has been favorable due to good roads,
good weather and slack season of work, We have had the best attendance at this
series of meetings of any we have ever had. Four community meetings have totaled
an attendance of 479," - Longmire, Grundy County,

Notice - Chemical Test of liv-terial. There seems to be a little mis under-
standing regarding the senaing of various materials to the University for chemical
analysis. Such work is done by J. M, Lindgren, Chemistry Bldg. , Urbana, but it
is necessary for the University to make a charge large enough to cover the actual
cost of doing the work, since there are no state appropriations available for
this purpose.

Agriculture is the parent of all industries; it is from the cultivator
of the soil that the mechanic, the manufacturer, and the man of commerce drav;
[their supplies; his granary is the storehouse from ivhich all households re-
(■ceive their daily food; from his flocks and fields are v;rought the fabrics
Iwhich clothe the human race; and upon his domains are laid the foundations which
jaupport the pillars of governnent, and upon which are erected those institutions
[which encourage the o.its, cultivate the sciences, and render the charities of
Uife effective for improving, beautifying, and benefiting the whole v/orld," -
, P, Day,

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol, III

December 8, 1920,

No, 49

College of Agriculture Generous Host to Arkansas Legislature. On December 2,
the Governor-elect and 90 members of the legislature of Arkansas were the guests
of the College of Agriculture and the Champaign Chamber of Commerce, The group
was taken by autos around the campus, buildings, and University Farm vi*iere the
work of the College of Agriculture was explained by Dean Davenport and members
of the staff. Then the group assembled in the Stock Judging Pavilion v/here the
work of the various departments and divisions was explained by the respective
departmental heads. In the evening the Champaign Chamber of Commerce entertained
at a banquet in the Elk's Club Rooms, The legislators were making a tour of
leading Agricultural Colleges with a view of establishing an up-to-date Agricul-
tural College in Arkansas* They were a very appreciative group of men and it was
a genuine pleasure to entertain them.

Short Course Dates Set. "The Annual Meeting of the Corngrov/ers^ and Stockmen's
Convention, or two weeks course in agriculture, will be held in the College of
Agriculture beginning January 17, 192l| and continuing two weeks. The Program is
arranged especially to meet the needs of farmers and farmers' sons who can spend
but a short time a.^ia.y from home. Three lectures will -be given daily upon topics
of general interest to food producers. The remainder of each day will be divided
into 7 sectional meetings. These programs consist of lectures, demonstrations,
conferences, and laboratory work arranged to cover subjects of interest to every-
one, such as classes in the study of soils, farm crops, judging ofgrains, farm
mechanics, judging of livestock, dairying, and horticultural topics. No registra-
tion fees or examinations will be required. The only expenses of the meeting v/ill
be that of travel and living expenses while here, A detailed program vd.ll be avail-
able soon and may be secured by addressing the College of Agriculture, Urbana,
Illinois." - F, H, Rankin,

Scott County Begins Work, - The Scott County Farm Bureau has secured the
Services of Mr, Guy H» Husted as Farm Adviser for that county, Mr. Husted was
reared on a farm in Greene County and graduated from the University of Illinois
and has been farming and teaching since graduation. His headquarters will be
Winchester, Illinois, Ivir. Husted began work on November 22. He vdll be glad to
receive the circular letters, etc, from other farm advisers,

Alfred Raot began work as' Farm Adviser in Ivladison County on Deconber 1, 1920,
Mr, Raut farmed for 12 years before going to the University of Illinois, where
he graduated in Agriculture in 1914, Since graduation he has been constantly in
county agent work, first in Virginia, then in l^ssouri. He comes to Illinois
from Perry County, Missouri, where he has been County Agent for the past 2 years.

"A Wheat D}.sease similar to, but seemingly not identical with, the so-called
"Take-All", is described by Mrs, Louise J. Stakman in Minnesota Bulletin X91- This
disease causes a seedling blight by dwarfing the plants and producing a foot and
TQOt rot» The leaves of heavily infected plants are pale reddish-tan in color,
very narrow, and about one-third as long as those of normal plants. Many blighted
seedlings die, but often some plants recover and grow to maturity. Infection on
older plants produces dark brown blotches on, (l) the leaves, (2) the nodes, and
(3) on the chaff and grain. The source of infection is thought to be the seed
and the soil, but definite proof of soil infection has not been worked out, Ordi*
nary formaldehyde seed treatment has little benefit in the control of the disease.
The use of clean seed is the best known control measure. This disease is caused
by a species of Helminthosporium". — Geo, R, Dungan, Assoc, in Crop Production-

"Plans and Object of Farm J.:anageDent Demonstration V/ork in Illinois, The
policy of the Farm Itianagement Extension workers in the future will be to devote
the major portion of their time to definite projects to be agreed upon by the
farmers, farm advisers, and farm maragement demonstrator. Most of these pro-
jects will cover a period of at leaat three years.

For the next two or three months farm accounting will be the main line of
work. The objects of the farm accounting work, as outlined in the written pro«-
ject, are as follows:

1« To determine every year for three consecutive years the returns of the farm
business on the farms of the cooperating members,

2« To carefully analyze these records in order to get a better understanding
of the factors that make for permanent and profitable farming under the varied
existing conditions,

3» To discover really live farms which demonstrate by their records, the re»
suits of good farm organization and efficient operation,

*• To help each. farmer to study his farm from the business standpoint, in
order that he may come nearer to the standards of efficiency which have been
attained by the most successful farmers of his county and state," - E, Rauchenstein
Associate in Farm Organization and fenagement,

TRACTOR SCHOOL AI-JIIOUInICEI.SNT^ The Divieion of Farm I-lechanics, College of
Agriculture, Uiuversity of Illinois, will conduct a Tractor School during the
months of January and February 1921, tanitting the tv/o weeks, January 17 to 29» in
which the Annual Corn Growers*and Stockmen* s Convention will be in session. The
school will consist of 5 one-v/eek courses, and registration therein for each
week will be limited to 25 students. Twenty-two hours are to be devoted to
lectures and 22 hours to practical laboratory w<M"k, Those who desire to attend
the school should make application at once, stating the v/eek for which they de-
sire to register. Permission to register will be given in the order in which
applications are received. Students will register in the Farm Mechanics Biiilding
It 8:00 A, Li» on the following dates: January IC, January 31» February 7, Feb-
ruary 14, February 21, a registration fee of $10. being the only charge. For
further information concerning the course, fees, roan, boards etc» address cor-
*espondence to R, I, Shawl, Division of Farm Mechanics, College of Agriculture,
Jrbana, Illinois.

A Big Wolf Hunt was staged in Edwards County on December 3 under the marsge-
aent of the Farm Bureau, For some time v/olves have been killing pigs, lambs,
Aickens and geese, so a round-up hunt was planned and 11 captains with 400 men
Bde a drive covering 10 sections of land. The wolves were driven toward the
tenter of the circle and six were killed, although two escaped.

Vol. Ill

Page 3

No, 49

"Fertilizers for Potatoes. Potato yield from four experiment fields. Yields
given in bushels per acre 5 year average except Dixon 3 year average*

TREATMENT

LAMOILUS

N GROVE

DIXON

DIXON FIELD MTH
POTASSIUM

53.3

60,7

61,0

181.5

101,1

114,3

144. 9

94.2

108,3

144,8

87.3

101.6

None 131*9 111.0
Manure 160.4 171«0
Fsnure, Limestone 158,4 176,4
iJanurc, Limestone, 145.0 I82.6
Rock Phos.

Potato - alfalfa rotation

Manure (except Union Grove) applied at rate of 30 tons per acre.

Limestone applied at the rate of 4 tons per acre.

Rock Phosphate applied at the rate of 2 tons per acre,

Kainit applied at the rate of 400 pounds per acre.

"The above results from the respective Experiment Fields in Illinois would
seem to indicate that Limestone and Rock Phosphate v/ere of questionable value
when added with manure to increase the yield of potatoes. However, the evidence
is quite conclusive that, on these soil types at least, the greatest value comes
from the addition of a good supply of manure thoroly v/orked into the soil.' - H,
J, Snider, Experiment Fields.

mini Homestead Beechtvood Breaks Illinois State Record. Illini Homestead
Beechwood No. 46II98 known over the state as "Tv^o Fifty", (250 beingher herd number
in the University of Illinois herd) is a daughter of Emblagaard Tritomia Homesteadj
the famous University Holstein Bull, which died about l-g- years ago. The dam of
Illini Homestead Beechv/ood is a daughter of Sarcastic Lad, grand champion bull at
the world* s fair, St. Louis, and regarded by many as the greatest sire of sires,
"Two-Fifty" freshened this time at 6 years and 23 days of age and altho she did
not produce especially high at any time, she kept everlastingly at it. During
the time she was on test she was taken into the class-room for judging purposes
many times, handled frequently by people visiting the University and taken to the
National Dairy Show with four of her sisters to demonstrate the value of the sire
in breeding. While on exhibition at the National Dairy Show, altho in her 11th
fconth of test, she milked 70 pounds per day. Her year's record is 25,589 pounds
of milk and 894i pounds of fat," - W, i7. Yapp, Assistant Professor of Dairy Hus-
bandry, U, of I.

Shipping Associate on Managers to Meet. - Just as we "go to press", we re-
ceive notice of the Third Short Course for Live Stock Shipping Assn, Managers
and First Annual Meeting of the Missouri Federation of Cooperative Live Stock
Shippers to be held in East St. Louis, IlUnois, December 14 and 15« The forenoon
sessions ^Till be held at Exchange Hall, National Stock Yards, 111,; afternoon
Sessions at Community House, St, Louis Ave, & 5th St,, East St, Louis, 111.: All
Illinois Shipping Assn, managers are invited,

"The farmer needs constructive assistance rather than altruistic ideals.
Agriculture and industry must move forward hand in hand. There must be an under-
standing and a sympathetic interest between business .iman and farmer. Industry
looks to agriculture as a stabilising influence. The farmer must look to industry
for modern business methods," - H. C, weaver, Hyatt Roller Bearing Company.

A scries of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. Ill

December 15, 1920.

■fr©, 50

THIS LOOKS aOODj "The Best Kessen?!:er that we can gake." That' s our sloganl
One man cannot do it, neither can a few, but if all of us contribute our share, it
can be donel Around the central idea of "I,aOre i^egumes in Illinois, " will be woven
a large portion of our work of the year 1921. In accord v/ith this, "The ;..es3en-
ger" will run a systeiiatic and timely series of brief articles on the chief points
to be emphasized in promoting the Legume Campaign. The best authorities in Crops,
Soils, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Husbandry, Horticulture, Entomology and Farm Manage-
ment will contribute* atat ch for this series - beginning; our next issue!

Vermilion County Develops Program. "Vermilion County has developed a program
of work based on data secured through a service survey covering every member.
Half of the membership responded to the request of the committee. The survey v/as
made not only to secure valuable local data upon which to build a program, but
also to give every farm bureau member an opportunity to contribute to the program.
The Program of «i,ork Committee when meeting to analyze and summarize the returns,
were impressed vdth the completeness of the returns, the careful manner in which
the sheets v/ere filled out and the many constructive suggestions received to guide
the committee. As was remarked, it was difficult to realize any method -where as
much information of value to the bureau could have been secured v/ith the same ex-
penditure of time, money and energy* The detailed report and recommendations of
the Committee vdll be presented at the annual meeting, December 16," - J. D, Eils-
borrow.

"Kane County Approves Plan, t^st Friday the Kane County Bureau Executive
Committee unanimously endorsed the service survey method of building a program of
■work. Details of the plan -will be worked out by a committee headed by Henry V.c-
Gough, President of the Farm Eureau and member of the Executive Committee of !•
A. A. The pl^n will be put into operation directly following the annual meeting,"
Eilsborrow.

Ft k^ Bane Accepts offer of Henderson County* iir. Bane is coming back to
Illinois to take the position of farm advi.sf-: ■:.n Henderson County. Lr. J. H.
i«.iner v/ho has been adviser there since the work began in the county, wishes to
take over the personal management of his IvAohigan farms, but v/ill not leave Hender-
son County until kr. Bane can take up the work, Ij, Bane v/as reared on a farm
near Dana, Illinois; graduated from th3 College of agriculture. University of
Illinois; was director of animal Husbandry at St, Charles School for Boys over
a year; was assistant Farm Adviser in Livingston County, Illinois, for a year and
a half; and the past tv/o years has been county agent at Sleepy Eye, ; innesota.
He will take up his v/ork in Henderson County, just as soon as he can close up his
duties in liinnesota.

Vol. Ill

Page 2

No. 50

"Pasture Crops in Growing and Fattening Kogs, (Taken from Ohio Bulletin 343-
W. L. Robinson) Pigs on pasture need less nitrogenous concentrates in the ration,
require fewer pounds of concentrates per unit of gain and usually gain more rapid-
ly than do those with no green feed. In comparing pasture with dry lot feeding,
one acre of hog pasture was worth the equivalent of 19»3 to 5l»5 bushels of corn.
Vihen figured in terms of pounds of pork produced the estimated averages of 2^2
to 609 pounds of gain per acre were attributed to the pasture. The feeding of
a medito-to-a-full grain ration on pasture, is advocated over a lighter ration*
Three pounds of concentrates per 100 pounds or about a three- fourths ration is
as small an amount as should be fed on pasture for the most economical use of
feed- with cheaper pasture and high-priced concentrates, larger returns over the
cost of feed and pasture may sometimes be secured from the feeding of a limited
grain ration than from full-feeding for the entire time. The feeding of a ration
consisting of % of tankage, to pigs being full-fed corn on clover or rape, pro-
duced more rapid and economical gains than full-feeding corn alone and more econo-
mical than where corn and tankage were self-fed separately. There was a tendency
for the pigs to eat too large quantities of tankage from the self-feeder for the
most economical gains. This was true in the dry lot as well as on pasture* Pigs
consume more tankage from the self-feeder from 100 to 150 pounds than before or
after. Pigs full-fed on forage need about one-fourth of a pound of tankage until
a weight of 100 pounds is reached and .3 pound daily to pigs under 100 pounds and
•4 pounds to pigs above this weight is about right." - J« B. Rice

"Pike County Installing Local Limestone Crushers^ Annual I^^eeting of Griggs-
ville. Perry Limestone Cooperative Association held at Griggsville December 9.
Adviser Kercher recommended that contract be let by company to an experienced
man to get out 2000 cubic yards of limestone ready for crusher. Also that crusher
be secured with capacity of 6 to 8 tons per hour. Also plans were considered for
storing several thousand tons of limestone. The plant -.t Detroit is working
satisfactorily and the Griggsville, Perry Company will have the benefit of the
experience of the Detroit plant." - Vaniman,

Limestone prospects. "We consider the help which the I. A. A. is giving in
sending 11^ Armstrong to help inspect limestone sites as a great help. l:r, Arm-
strong is an expert on all matters relating to quarrying limestone and is able to
offer some valuable suggestions. There is a rather extensive deposit of very
soft white limestone here that tests not far from 100 percent vAich we hope v/ill
be available sometime for a large limestone plant." - Doerschuk, Union County,

"The chinch-bug v/inter quarters were v/ell explored this week. Lr. Chandler
found in one bunch of brome sedge grass, over 1000 chinch-bugs, in a spot where
he found only 50 last year. That seems to be a fair compari n of the numbers
present this year over last year. Old settlers here say they have never seen so
many chinch-bugs," - Deu^erff, Franklin County,

Second Assistant Adviser in Kem;_^ County. lo*. Ralph A. Gale of Lincoln,
Illinois has accepted the position as Second Assistant Adviser in Henry County.
I iir. Gale is a graduate of the University of Illinois. He assisted in swine work
at the University for a year and during the past year has been Farm Manager for
the Foley estate at Lincoln, Illinois, liir. Gale will have charge of coionunity
organization and club Virork in Henry County,

^t)l,"fll Page 3 ^^^"^^^^"^^TrS^^

Township ItieetingB Good.- "This v/eek we have started holding a series of meet-
ings in each tov/nship in the county. These meetings are held at either the noon
hour or evening, in conjunction vdth a banquet. The tov/nship director for the
coming year is elected and talks on agricultural topics of the day are given by
Jur. Borgelt, President of our Farm Bureau, iVr. Hammond, Assistant Adviser, and
myself. The meetings are being well attended and much interest is being shown
at these meetings." - Isaacs, Llason County,

Farmers Stick Together, "The first car of livestock shipped by the Vienna
Livestock Shipping Association was shipped this week. All the shippers are well
pleased with the results. The local stock buyers were present, as they were ?/hen
the Elvira Livestock Shipping Association loaded its first shipment about six
months ago, trying to buy the livestock as it came in and thereby break the or-
ganization, but the farmers all stuck to the association," - McGhee, Johnson Co,

Cooperate in Placing Corn with Feeders. ",ie have been trying to co-operate
with the Clinton County Farm Bureau, as they wish to buy corn and we have some to
sell, I have advised that they send a man over here about January 1, as by that
time our growers will be through husking and in a position to load cars. There
is a minimum freight rate since both farm bureaus are on the B. & 0. Railroad, "-
liiiheeler, Lawrence County,

"Held a field demonstration on corn disease plot on S. C, Paris' farm
November 13. The effect of limestone on the corn yield was easily discernable in
the difference in size of piles of corn raised on limestone treated soil and soil
receiving no treatment." - Smith, iiacon County,

Directors will meet moro often. - "The Directors of our Farm Bureau have
been meeting once a year, but they and the othet- members of the Bureau feel that
this is not often enough for them to keep in touch v/ith the work of the Bureau
and Agricultural interests in general, so it v/as decided at our annual meeting
that they could meet every three months in connection with the Executive Committee
v.'hich meets every month.

The membership voted that no more cooperative buying for members of the
Farm Bureau would be handled thru the Farm Btireau office, A committee was ap-
pointed to investigate the feasibility of organizing a cooperative association,
not for profit, but for cooperative buying and selling for farmers* use," - Edger-
t^n. Rock Island County.

"Has Never liissed a Meeting, During the past three years that J, S, Howe
has been President of the Richland County Farm Bureau, he has never been absent
from a monthly or called meeting of the Executive Ccamnittee. As far as I know,
this is a record that has been attained by no other farm bureau president." -
Spit ler ,

Please submit Questions.- In conjunction with our new Messenger plan of a
systematic series of timely items, it is cur hope that all advisers will write
out and send us the particular questions they want someone in authority to answer^
Now interrogate, pleasel

"Agriculture is the greatest among arts, for it is first in supplying our
necessities, it is the mother and nurse of all other arts- it favors and
strengthens population, it creates and maintains manufacturers; give employ-
ment to navif3.tion and materials to commerce; it animates every species of
industry, and opens to nations the surest channels of opulence*" - JiacNeven,

.HJ

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. Ill

December 22, 1920.

I«'Q. 51

Merry Christmas is here once more,

Let's forget ou?' troubles and griefs galore;

For one v/hole day let's just have fun,

We* 11 play v/ith the kiddies and romp and run.

Goodbye to the office and heaps of work,
Goodbye to the duties - so hard to Siirk
For this is Christmas - the Old Yule Tide,
And the whole world's happy far and wide.

We'll forget the letters, and desk stacked high,
We'll turn our backs and heave a sigh,
For the annual report is done at last,
'Twas a busy year - this year just past*

We had the worries of a membership drive.
To make each farmer a member live.
Then there vra.s phosphate and calls for lime,
But we couldn't get cars moe*n half the time.

The orders for seed kept piling up,

And the big wool pool kept us busy enuf,

Then orders for sugar were taken in doubt.

The results of our purchase? I'll leave that out.

Oh yes, v/e handled a carload of twine,
Potatoes, and apples took up some time,
Vrfhile institute meetings and County Fair
Kept us going I do declare.

These trying duties were only a few
i Of all the lot the adviser went thru,
I But now it is over - the year is done,
I And v/e' 11 all go home to our Christmas fun.

For Christmas is the time of year
1 To wish folks happiness and cheer,
i And the Messenger sends its greetings true
; To all its readers, especially you*.

._; L

%L ik!

Page 2

M ORE LEGUMES

No, >1

"Restoration of pre-war conditions is the popular cry. Agricultural read-
justments must inevitably develop slowly. In the very nature of things, farming
systems require long periods of time for readjustment. This explains why we
have just harvested a war crop tv/o years after the war was over. Farming systems
and crop rotations in Illinois are more out of their proper alignment than they
have ever been within recent years« But even in pre-war conditions our farming
systems were de«xdedly unbalanced, tfe have now reached the point v/here v/e dare
stop to take an inventory of our farming operations and consult our compass to
see where we are headed,

A careful survey, just completed in Vermilion County shov/c an average of
only 9f, of the cultivated land in legumes; red clover making up 8»l/o and 9/IO
of one percent was alfalfa and soybeans. In some parts of the county the per-
centage of legumes was as low as two percent. Expressed in another way, this
means a legume once in every eleven years, or in some communities, once in every
fifty years* The inevitable results of such unbalanced cropping systems are
only too well knownh Unless we caji immediately take steps to correct this con-
dition, we will undoubtedly pay heavily in decreased yields, more serious out-
breaks of crop diseases, more frequent and more disastrous insect ravages and
an inferior quality of products grovm.

By the liberal use of limestone and rock phosphate and with legumes in
sufficient amount to properly balance the cropping system^ the actual acre yields
will be increased, the fertility will be maintained, cropping problems v/ill be
more easily solved, labor distribution will bo more easily taken care of and
general farming systems will be more desirable. Vi/hile many farmers are seeking
a system that should prove immediately profitable, the provident farmer is now
looking for a system which will cut down costs, build up the soils and provide
a better crop rotation— a rotation which will make more efficient use of labor
and equipment.

Such a rotation should provide for clovers or other legumes to appear in
the rotation at least once in every four years, i. e. at least one fourth of
the crop area should be in some legtjninous crop each year. Only such a system
will prepare the farming business for th' profitable times which must inevitably
come." - J. C. Hackleman.

"Service Survey Brings out Important Facts.- A detailed summary of service
survey sheets presented at Vermilion County Annual Meeting brought out some sig-
nificant facts as a basis for a t'program of work adopted at the meeting. The
Survey covered 62O farm bureau members, 52% of whom are tenants. The returns
Were grouped by communities. The average percentage of land in corn was 45./°,
clover b*7/°» Hoopeston community reports highest percentage of corn 56»8^s, Ash
Corner the lowest 29.3a. Armstrong reports the highest percent of clover 13.8^^,
Rossville the lowest 2^0. The returns indicate that the best balanced cropping
system in the county is in the vicinity of Union Chapel v/ith Corn 31-6/i; Oats
18,6^; Wheat 13.8;o; Clover 11^ and Pasture 22.5/=

Fifty percent of those replying, indicate they would use lime and phosphate
if local storage bins were provided. 285 men asked for help in keeping farm ac-
counts. The figures also show that there was only one colt foaled this year for
each 184 horses on farms, or only one for each 377 acres of land. Tv/enty-eight
percent of those replying use tractors. Quoting from the committee report: 'On
the basis of all the information obtained thru the survey, and from every other
source and after full consideration of all the facts, it is the opinion of the

Vol. Ill

rage 3

No. 51

comnittee, that projects relative to more efficient and cheaper production,
and the application of the best methods of farm management should be given
first consideration by the farm bureau for the coming year.' Three county-
wide projects were recommended— 'Grow More Clover'; 'Landlord-Tenant Con-
ference'; and a 'County Marketing Conference". Special projects recommended
include, farm management; limestone-phosphate storage; club work; organiza-
tion of shipping associations and elevators where needed; and service to pure
bred breeders," Lumbrick, Vermilion County,

"How has the change in Prices affected the Dairymen? A recent communica-
tion to the writer from northern Illinois stated— 'The farmers are a bit dis-
couraged with dairying and -would like to have you attend our meeting and give
them a word of encouragement.' Is this condition true? A study of the fol-
lowing prices of dairy products and feed prices may throw some light on the
Situation,

Comparison of I919 prices of grains and dairy
products with the 1920 prices*

Dairy Products

■92 score butter (Chicago market)

■Cheese, single daisies

1/tfhole milk (spread not deducted)

Prices

Dec. 1919 Dec. 1920 $ Decrease

Kill Feeds

Gluten feed
Bran

Hominy feed
0. P. Oil Meal
Cotton seed meal

0,71

.32

3,65

66.00

40.25

55.25
75.25
76,50

.49

31.0

.25

21,9

2.60

28,8

48.00

27,3

29.64

26.4

35.50

35.7

46.72

37.9

47.75

37.6

Av^ 32.9

.63

54.7

.47

39.7

.63

49.6

Farm Grains

Corn 1.39

Oats .78

Barley 1.25

Av. 48.0
There has been a great reduction in the price of Dairy Products, There has
likewise been an average decrease of 32,9/° in the piice of mill feeds and of
46/'o in farm grains. Under present conditions dairymen are justified in feed-
ing a liberal supply of a good balanced grain mixture. The opportunities of
weeding out the low producers and replacing them with better grades and pure
breds have never been greater*" - C. S, Rhode.

"Control of Orchard Scale. Most of our fruit growers have completed the
work of pruning out dead wood and _ late fall spraying. It is noticeable
fact that the men who depend upon springtime for the dorcmnt spray, have not
] I successfully controlled scale. On the other hand, one man who had an orchard
badly infested with scale seems to have completely cleaned it up, by both a
late fall and early spring spraying." -

% Jxt

msxafx

A scries of brief nota from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

lol. Ill

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA, ILLINOIS

December 29, 1920,

MORE L E G U iu 5 S
General Adaptation of Legumes for Illinois.

No. 52

"Soybeans grov/ best on v/cll-draincd soils containing plenty of limestone, Cli-
itic requirements are about the saiae as for corn. Altho not particularly sensi-
tive to moisture, they v/ill not thrive where '.vater stands for any extended length
>f time. They are hardy and will resist drouth and considerable cold vreathor, even
when young^ and they are still more resistant when they have advanced toward matu-
rity. »If the pods are fairly v/ell filled before a killing frost 'occurs^ they will
isually ripen satisfactorily.*"- Eurlison

"The cowpea is a v/arm weather crop; has its greatest value in the southern
bates, but is grown successfully in the southern part of Illinois. It is adapted
to about the same climatic conditions as corn but requires more heat. It will with-
stand considerable drouth. It does apparently quite as well on sandy soil as on
heavy clays but will do better than clover or alfalfa on thin soils that are acid.
No other legume can be grown so successfully and on such a variety of soils under
adverse weather conditions as the cowpea," - Burlison.

"Sweet Clover is adapted to a very mde range of climate and thrives under
I'tiddle Vifestern conditions. It is also adapted to a ?/ide range of soil types. It
grows on lands having very thin top soils, on soils low in fertility, and on -those
somev/hat deficient in organic matter. On acid soils the plants may grow for a
while, then become sickly and die. Even if a stand is obtained, the plants are
never so thrifty and the yields never so large as they v;ould be on land which con-
tains limestone. However, sv/cet clover is more or less resistant to any alkaline
condition of soil found in Illinois," - Burlison

"Alsike clover prefers a cool climate, v/ithstands severe winters better than
red clover, and thrives best where summers are coil. It prefers a rather heavy
silt or clay soil with plenty of moisture, Altho it will thrive on good loams, it
does not do well on dry, sandy, or gravelly soils. A rich, moist bottom soil suits
it best, and on such soils it will grov/ luxuriantly. It responds to an application
of lime, but is not as sensitive to acidity as red clover, and can be successfully
grown on many wet, cold, and *sour' soils on which red clover does not succeed, Al-
sike clover is very promising in central and northern Illinois." A, J. Pieters.

"Crimson Clover grows and makes its crop durixig the fall and early spring when
the land is not occupied by the ordinary summer grown crops. Because of this it is
one of the most economical legumes for green manuring, and has been largely used
for that purpose in regions to which it is adapted. It requires very rich soils.
Normally, crimson clover is a winter annual comparable to winter wheat, that is, it
is planted in the fall, lies more or less dormant over the winter, grows rapidly
in the spring, and dies after going to seed early in the summer. Red, sweet, and
alsike clover are better suited to Illinois conditions than crimson clover. Crimson
clover is used to a very limited extent in Illinois." - Burlison^

Vol. Ill Page 2

No. 52

"Stop CullinR Poultry, Several recent inquiries indicate that the culling of
poultry flocks is being continued after the culling season has closed. Leading
poultry authorities state that the proper time to cull flocks of poultry is during
the late summer and early fall, preferably during the months of August and Septem-
ber. Under most conditions it is unwise to continue the v/ork later than the middle
of October, as after that time there is considerable danger of culling out some of
the best layers that have been late in moulting and do not show their laying quali-
ties* Pullets are also likely to be culled out unless the work is done by an ex-
pert. Further, if the flock has been fed until late in the fall it is considered
profitable practice to keep them for the remainder of the season for the eggs they
lay even tho the number might not come up to the average of the flock." - W. H,
Smith,

Good "Horse Sense". "The enormous decline in the value of farm products, the
big increase in freight and express rates, and the lessened popularity of the slo-
gan, 'speed at any cost' are some of the reasons for feeding farm horses and mules
this winter in such a way as to bring then out in good shape for next spring's work.
It would seem to be good 'horse sense' to help a bad market by using more farm-
grown fuels in tho shape of horse and mulo feed for doing farm v/ork. Perhaps, also,
a fe'.v more acres in pasture for horses and colts v/ill not, in the long run, affect
adversely farm profits as much as has been figured at times during the past few-
years. Such practice will lessen labor charges and help to improve the price for
those products which are soldo

Boost your ov/n businessS No, gentle reader, such action will be no infringe-
ment on any of the anti-trust laws, v/ill not require the passage of any more laws,
nor the organization of any new societies.

Mr, Jas. LcNary, manager of the 30,000 acres of fertiles and level farm land
belonging to the Baldv/in estate, located in the vicinity of Ellendale, North Dakota »
informed the writer, during this year's International, that all of thoir tractors
were put in good repair and placed in the sheds this fall, to be removed in the
future, only for belt work. The use of horse-drawn implements for field v/ork tinder
their conditions has proved a big economy, iir. McNary, while holding the poiiticn
of county agent in one of Ivannesota's best counties, carried on statistical work
in connection wdth determining the cost of field work vath horses and tractors, "-
J. L. Edmonds,

"The very low prices of live lamb and mutton on the market and the relatively
much higher price of the cuts of meat at local shops should be an incentive to
home butchering. Sheep can be killed and dressed with less trouble than either
cattle or hogs. A 60 or 65 pound lamb v/ill give about 30 pounds of dressed meat
and cuts of convenient size for an average family can be taken from it. Select
a moderately fat- lamb for butchering. To kill it, cut its throat just behind the
lower jaw^ and belov/ the ear. Remove the pelt and intestines; ;vash the carcass
inside and out and cool thoroly. Before cooking, remove the fell, a thin membrane
On the outside of the carcass. Properly cooked and served hot it is a dish that
will be wholesome, appetizing and economical even to a county agent. If you don't
know hear to do it, send for Farmers' Bulletin #1172 of the United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture, Washington, D. C," - W. G. Kammlade.

"Burn the Chinch Bug" Illinois Circular No, 28 has just been revised and
brought up to date. You v;ill be particularly interested in getting a copy because
•f the splendid chinch bug map, shewing severe, moderate and slight infestations
I— ^ILJ-£C£gMjl_jj__15.20, Write the Agricultural Experiment Station, Urbana, Illinois.

Vol. Ill

Page 3

No. 52

"Don't Forget the Galesburg Utility Corn Show - the first corn ^lOw of its
kind. The corn vn.ll be judged and placed on its real merits, including germination
record^ disease free characteristics and improved type. Remember the dates, Jan*
uary 5 and 6, 1921,"

"The Illinois Perchoron Breeders'* Association will hold its Annual Meeting in
the Live Stock Pavilion at the University on Thursday, January 20. itfe would ap-
preciate having the county advisers call the attention of their Percheron fraternity
to this meeting. A splendid program has been prepared," - J. L. Edmonds, Secretary
Illinois Percheron Breeders' Association,

"Index for Farm Bureau jYonthly, ij?, C. C, Logan, Farm Adviser in Crawford
County, has made an index of his Farm Bureau Honthly for the year 1920* Vi/ith this
index it is easy for him to find the various articles treated in the Farm Bureau
Monthly during the year. This seems to us an excellent idea." - G, N. Coffey

"Farm Advisers are kindly requested to check up their mailing lists to be
certain that all their farm bureau bulletins are going to every other adviser in
Illinois and to the State Leader's Office. Several advisers report to us that they
are getting bulletins from only a fev/ counties," - Atvrood*

"Feeder Cattle, Ivif, Levds M. Woodruff, County Agent, Onida, S, Dakota, states
that his county as a whole, is organized to place feeder cattle directly vlth men
desiring car load lots or more ;*c desire grade Here fords of Shorthorn cattle.
Anyone interested in this matter might -OTite to him in regard to it."

"Springfield Producers Ecet. On V/ednesday a meeting of the Springfield Milk
Producers' Association was held at the Farm Bureau Office. The outstanding feature
of the meeting was the appointment of a committee to v/ork v/ith the Springfield dis-
tributors in advertising, to increase the consumption of milk in Springfield," -
Madden, Sangamon County.

To Standardize Democrat Ccrn. "Ten fanners who are grcv/ing 'Democrat' ccrn,
and v/ho are interested in furnishing corn of this famous chinch-bug-rcsistant for
the purpose of forming an organization in order that they might standardize as to
type, quality and soiling price. Each man brought samples. The corn root rot was
discussed and it was agreed that every precaution to eliminate ccrn from our seed
be taken," - Thomas, Jackson County.

"Piatt County Farm Bureau is of the opinion that it holds the record in the
State for the greatest number of members in any one township. The township is
Cerro Gordo, and the number of members is 227- It is interesting to note that
the president of the Farm Bureau, Lit, n/ise, lives in Cerro Gordo township." -
Vaniman.

^ ^^- J

I HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOUl. i

L i

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol, IV

January 5, 1921.

J^ c R E L E G u ;.: E s

No. 1

"The Importance of Leguaes in a Balanced Rotation. Legume crops must be grov/vj
on the great majority of our farms if the soil nitrogen is to be nnintained econ ■
amically. This is not the only reason for grov/ing legumes, hpv/cvor. In the corn
beltjtthe cotton belt, and the v/heat growing section of the north-v/est v/herc one
crop is outstandingly more profitable than any other, the proportion of the crop
area which is devoted to this oaxiaum-profit crop is usually vory large, — almf>sl
always too large to meet the requirements of a good crop rotation. The intro-
duction of a legume crop into the corn belt rotation almost of necessity results
in a considerable amount of diversification in the crops gro'«/n. It requires a sm:. ■ 1
small grain in additioja to the corn crop. In the central and northern portions
of the state, oats is the most coomon small grain, with v/heat ranking second in
importance. In actual farming practice the introduction of a legunc crop into
the rotation is an important factor in bringing about a reasorB.ble amount of di-
versity, and a certain balance between the several crops v^-ich must be gro'jn to
work in satisfactorily v/ith the legumes. The factors of diversity and balance
are of importance in distributing horse and man labor evenly thruout the cropping
season. This means economy in the use of these two items v.hich make up from 60-
80/i of the total operating expense (excluding interest on the land or rent) in
producing corn belt crops. Diversity and balance are also of importance because
they help to avoid some of the risk necessarily involved in any type of farming
in which one cr©p makes up a large part of the crop receipts. That is, the intpr-
duction of the legume, and the necessary change in the rotation accompanying it,
helps to insure a constant income in the farming businessj," -- J. F, Handschin

"I.-Qre Legumes as ?-"eans of Fic^.ting Chinch-Bues in 1921< It has been said
v/ith much truth that faming is the greatest gambling gams in the. world, for v;hen
everything is considered there are many factors of crop producti;^n over which evert
the most careful, far-sighted, and painstaking farmer has absolutely no control.
He must, each season, take chances on too much or too little rain at certain times
• f the year; too hot or to** cold a season; early or late frost; attacks of in-
sects and fungi; and several other factors which may destroy his crop and about
which he can tell nothing when planning the acreage of eac* crop. Sometimes natui c
is kind enough to v/arn us in advance that some of these factors may be. more than
usually important during a certaijv-year, and this is just what she has done for
the season of 1921. We know that in nearly half of the state chinch-bugs are
hidden away in their winter quarters in such numbers that they will cause enormous
(destruction to all grass crops if the coming Liay and June prove moderately warm
and dry, we know, too, that chinch-bugs will not harm any crops belonging to the
legume family. Cowpeas, soybeans, alfalfa, red, alsike and sweet clover, in fact
any legume Which we can grow, is ©ntJLrely imnune froiu injury by this tremendously

vol. IV

Page 2

No. 1

des^^.ructive little insect. On the other hand, we know that every crop belonging
to the grass family, which includes all our snail grains and corn, vail be seri-
ously damaged thruout the south half of the state if those insects are as abund-
ant next season as now seems highly probable. Several of the legume crops have
proved fully as profitable as the grains in this section of the state. Knowing
the situation as we do, it is highly important that the largest possible acreage
of legxfflies be grovm next year. By doing this farmers v/ill not only bo sure of
having a crop which the bugs will not damage next season, but as the chinch-bugs
will not feed and consequently cannot breed and multiply on the legume crops,
they will be adopting one of the best methods known for reducing the number of
the bugs in the season of 1922." - W. P, Flint

"Ihat Feeds Shall We Buy? Xn most cases only those feeds which will supply
the protein lacking in home-grown feeds should bo purchased. The question then
arises - vJhat shall we feed with our corn, barley, and oatsj Usually one, or
combinations of the following feeds 'ehould be used: cottonseed meal, linseed oil
meal, gluten or bran,

A Comparison of the Economy of Different Protein Feeds.
In 100 Lbs. Cost per Lb«.

Digestible Total Dig. Price Digest. Total Dig.

Protein Nutrients per Ton Protein Nutrients
Lbs. Lbs, Dollars Cents Cents

Linseed oil meal

Gluten Feed

Bran

Cotton Seed Keal

30,2
21.6
12.5
37«0

77.9

54.00

8.94

80.7

45.00

10.41

60.9

34,00

13-60

78.2

47.00

6.35

3-46
2,78

2.79

3.00

Vilhen silage and legume hays are fed, cottonseed meal fits in very nicely
in the grain ration, as silage has a laxative effect and cottonseed meal has a
binding effect. Under conditions where such feeds as timothy hay and corn stover
arc fed linseed oil meal will work in best, due to its laxative qualities," -
C. S, Rhode.

"Value of Skim-Fiilk and Tankage for Pit^s. One pound of tarokage has about
the same feeding value for pigs as 10 to 12 pounds of skim milk or buttermilk when
each is used in the proper proportions. Stated in another way, 100 pounds of skim-
milk has a feeding value of about 8 to 10 pounds of tankage. There are several
guides that may be used in estinB-ting the value of each feed. One is that a pound
of tankage should be purchased for about l/3 the price of live hogs per pound.
Another is that 100 pounds of skim-milk should be purchased and delivered for
about 407» of the price of a bushel of corn. It is also sometimes said that 4 1/2
pounds of skim-milk are equivalent in feeding value to 1 pound of corn. Rather
than not use any protein supplement to corn, one could afford to pay more than
above stated for either feed," - J, B. Rico,

W» F« Handschin was highly honored by being elected President of the Ameri-
can Farm Economic Association at their recent annual meeting in Washington, D, C.
Professor Handschin has just returned from this conference and reports a splendid
program. The features of the meeting revolved about the discussion of the question
of "readjustment of farming to meet present economic conditions". Some emphasis
was placed on marketing and credits.

Professor Handschin also attended the annual meeting of the Anerican Eco-
nomic Association at Atlantic City, New Jersey.

- r

Vol, IV

Page 3

No. 1

"Surel Everybody's f^oine" to the annual meeting of the Illinois Agricultural
sociatioa at Hotel LaSalle in Chicago, January 13 and 14,

If "Lleet you at the Big Adviser's Round Up" - You mean the annual meeting of

the Illinois Association of Farm Advisers? Yep. The dates are January 18, I9
and 20 and the corral is in old University Hall Chapel,

"Illinois Percheron Breeders* are to have a good program at their annual meet-
ing, Urbana, January 20, I92I. ^ong the speakers will be, W. C. Coffey, C, J,
Raboinj Dan Augstin, John Ashton, A. L, Robinson Jr., and V/. S, Corsa. There vd.ll
be a morning session at 9:30 and an afternoon session, both in the Livestock Pa-
vilion of the University of Illinois."

"The Graduate Veterinarians* second annual meeting ^vill be held under the
auspices of the Urj.versity, January 26, 27, and 28, in the Animal Pathology Build-
ing, A-'Splendid program has been arranged for the three day^s meet,"

Get Acquainted: Association of Consnerce of Decatur entertained farmers of
Macon County at the Y. M. C, A. for a "Get Acquainted" meeting. Cry babies and
tic tacs were handed out. Sand\7iches, cob pipes and tobacco, coffee and sT»eet
cider served by business men themselves together vsith all the noise, got everybody
in a good humor regardless of price of corn. Mr, Adkins addressed the meeting
and stated he remembered v/hen corn sold for iSi^ per bushel. Everybody went home
feeling fine. V, Vaniraan,

"Out of the iuud". At the last Executive Board Meeting a permanent Good Roads
Committee was appointed which met December 13 and outlined a plan of procedure
for getting Marshall-Putnac counties out of the *mud^. A great deal of interest
is being taken in this matter. kVe realize the entangling dangers that accompany
the road question. It is likely that the Farmer*s Instiiute in Larshall County
will be made over into a Good Roads convention, for at least one of two days. -
Fuller, Marshall-Putnam County.

"J. D, Weaver, County Agent, Worland, Wyoming, has 10,000 pounds of Grimm
alfalfa seed for sale at $,5C per pound, f. 0. b, Worland, sacked."

"Shall we teach farmers to cull sheep?", someone has asked the Messenger.
Professor V/* C. Coffey answers as follows:- ■'vVe presume the proposed sheep culling
demonstrations to be along the line of demonstrating the type of fleece the farmer
should attempt to grow. Y/e find that a very large percentage of the Illinois-
grown wools are l/4-blood or low l/4-blood combing. We think that we should
grow more 3/8-blood combing, because such a v/ool is more valuable and will bring
more per pound. Then too, we find that our farmers know practically nothing
about the type of -of fleece and the points of selection which will guarantee a
decent weight of fleece,

Mr. Crawford, being well acquainted with mutton type, is also unusually well
qualified to talk to our farmers about the kind of Vtrool to grow, because he spent
the entire summer in the National Vfool Storage Company's warehouse in Chicago.
He would not of course make his demonstration upon fleece qualities alone, but
in the demonstration he would combine desirable fleece qualities with desirable
mutton qualities."

"Agriculture is the fundamental source of national prosperity." - J.J. M.

®i|^ ^^nsimt ^

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILUNOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

^°^» IV January 12, 1921. No, 2

LEGUMES ON EVERY FARM

Limestone « "A study of the relation of limestone to legumes must necessari-

Essential • ly involve plant processes. In all plants, calcium and nitrogen
For Legumest bear a close relationship. As the nitrogen increases, the calcium
• "~ - also increases* The calcium-nitrogen ration in plants of compara-

A Few Rea- » tively high nitrogen content is about twice as much as that for
sons Why • plants of comparatively lo?/ nitrogen content. Thus, legumes re-
....••*..,»• quire about twice as much calcium for a given nitrogen content
as do the members of the grass family*

Both protein- formation and protein-decomposition involve reactions in which
considerable amounts of acids may be formed. Thus, in high protein plants like
legumes, the higher amount of calciiim found may be essential to neutralize and
precipitate such acids, as illustrated by crystals of calcium oxalate found in
many plants.

Some calcium may also be needed for plant food-to become a part of the plant
structures.

Soil materials consist largely of a combination of acids and bases. Drain-
age waters dissolve out the base, chiefly calcium, more rapidly than the acids.
Cultivation increases this loss. Many crops also remove the bases more rapidly
than the acids, A ton of alfalfa hay takes calcium from the soil, equivalent to
100 pounds of limestone; red clover to about 75 pounds. On our common upland
soils, such natural processes eventually bring about acondition in which there is
an excess of active acids over bases. This condition is known as soil acidity.
The available supply of calcium and other bases becomes too low to meet the need
of legumes, and for the favorable physical, chemical and biological processes of
soils.

Acid soils still contain some calcium. liVhether plants can get it depends
upon the resultant of three factors, the calcium content, the rate of growth and
the feeding power. The greater the feeding powef the better able they are to
get it. The first two factors operate in the opposite direction. Legumes like
sweet clover and alfalfa, cannot get sufficient calcium under such conditions.
They grow poorly if at all. The ccmmon clovers fare a little better, but not well
enough for practical purposes, Cowpeas, soybeans, velvet beans and others fare
still better and often-times grow well on acid soils. In general, however, the
best results with legumes can be obtained only v/hen there is an excess of bases,
over acids in the immediate soil environment. For a large number of legumes this
is absolutely essential. This condition can be brought about by the Uberal use
of limestone. Thus, in the very nature of things, limestone and legumes on our
common upland soils are inseparable." - F, C. Bauer,

\3z sez; "Limestone -to precipitate acids-acjd plant food-replace losses-grow legumes."

Vol. Ill

Page 2

No,

Peoria County evolves a New Program of Work for 1921. The following out-
line gives the iKijor and minor projects. Limited space prevents our printing it
in detail but the detailed program can be secured from ndviser Hcdgcock.

LirtJOR PROJECTS.
I. Legumes on Every Farm.
II, Corn Diseases and Seed Certification.
III. Better Pure Bred and iiarket Stock*

IvLINQR PROJECTS.
I. Increased Dairy Production,
II, Poultry Culling and Management.
III. Boys and Girls Pig Clubs,
rv. Orchard Pruning and Spraying,
V, itarket Garden Problems.
VI, Farm Arrangement and iiethods.
VII, Marketing.
VIII, Promotion of Good Roads Movement,

Peoria County* s plan is for the advisers, after consultation v^ith the Execu-
tive Committee, to work out a suggestive general program which they and the Ex-
tension Service deem will meet the coming yearns requirements. At a meeting of
the Board of Directors this tentative program is carefully considered and finally
adopted with such modifications as the Board of Directors think desirable. Later
a program is virtually worked out at each community meeting from suggestions* of
Farm Bureau members, the adviser merely leading the men thru suggestion, to ex-
press their ovm ideas of what the farm bureau should do in their communities and
in the county. This plan of developing a program, worked successfully last year
and vd.ll be followed again in 1921,

Result of Poultry Culling. "The Missouri State Experiment Station has con-
cluded a twelve months hen laying contest to check up on the culling virork done by
County /idvisers. Briefly, this work was reported in the American Poultry Journal

as follows;

^Forty hens were selected by county agents and flock ovmers from four farm
flocks from different parts of the state, representing twenty profitable and twenty
unprofitable individuals. These hens were all healthy and vigorous and of the same
age, but nothing was knovm of their breeding or past records. During the last yesi-
these hens have been fed and housed under ideal conditions and an accurate trapnest
record kept of each individual. According to these records, it is evident that in
the niajority of cases these hens were selected by application of the pelvic bone
measurement, disregarding the several other P^jnts that should have been considered.

In each instance, those selected as unprofitable laid a fev/ eggs less than
those selected as profitable. As a whole, those selected as unprofitable laid
2,043 eggs during the contest, against 2,528 for those selected as profitable, the
difference being only 485 eggs, which proves conclusively, as shown by the records,
that there were culls selected as profitable hens, and vice versa. The fact is,
some of the poorest producing individuals v/ere selected as profitable hens, and
the highest producer among the forty hens was classed as a cull.

As a result of this contest, tlje fact has been brought out that poultry
raisers are not efficiently applying the important principles in culling their
flocks, which are vigor, condition of molt, body depth, quality af pelvic bones,
breast bone, body and abdomen, body spread and pigmentation test," - W. H. Smith.

; X.

Vol. Ill Page 3 No.

Curing Pork on the Farm. "After the hog is dressed hang it in a cool place
over night. Do not let xt fruezc. Sav/ it dovm the center of the back bone, re-
move the head and feet, and cut up each side into ham, shoulder, belly, loin,
spare ribs, and fat back. The loin is eaten fresh as pork chops or roasts, or it
may bo canned. The tenderloin is often stripped outt and fried down in lard.
Spare ribs are eaten fresh. The fat back {i.e. the fat along the back) together
with the leaf fat and other fat trimmings are made into lard. Lean trimmings
and sometimes the shoulder are made into sausage. Hams, shoulders, and bellies for
curing should be trimmed smoothly, rubbed thoroly with salt, and left to stand
over night in a cool but not freezing temperature,

A standard recipe for sugar curing is 10 lbs. of salt, 2 lbs, of sugar, 2
02. of salt peter, and 4^ gallon of water for 100 lbs. of meat. Allow the picklo
to boil and then skim off the skum. Pack the meat in a large stone jar or hard
wood barrel and pour in the picklo after it is cool. ^Veight down the meat so that
it is entirely covered.

Bacon from medium size hogs should remain in the pickle about 4 weeks, while
medium size shoulders and hams should remain 5 to 7 weeks and 6 to 8 weeks res-
pectively. Overhaul and repack the meat at the end of the first and again at the
end of the second week, using the same brine. If the brine sours or becomes ropey,
remove the meat, scrub it thoroly in warm water, and repack in a clean barrel with
fresh brine, A cool cellar, above the freezing temperature is the best place for
curing. After curing, remove the meat and allow it to soak for several hours in
warm water, and thoroly scrub it and string for the smoke house. Hang it in the
smoke house and allow it to dry over night.

Smoke over a cool fire of hard wood, such as hickory or maple, or corn cobs,
smothered with asshos, preferably hard wood ashes* Avoid wood like pine which vdll
give it a resinous flavor. The meat should be hung so that none of the pieces
touch and far enough from the fire - 6 to 8 feet - so that it will not get too
warm. Bacon should smoke 24 to 36 hours and hams and shoulders 60 to 90 hours.
It is better to extend the smoking period over several days rather than to keep
a continuous smoke for the required length of time. Fresh sausage in casings may
be smoked for several hours to improve its paiatability. It will also keep several
weeks longer after smoking." - Sleet er Bull,

New Advisers Employed, Calhoun County has employed as county adviser, Mr,
J. H^ Allison^ graduate of Iowa State College and formerly county agent at Council
Bluffs, Iowa, Mr, Allison expects to begin work about February 1,

C. M, Mctfilliams has been employed by the Randolph County Farm Bureau and ex-
pects to take up the v/ork there by January 15 or sooner, Lr, KcV/illiams is a
graduate of the University of Missouri and was coiinty agent in Cape Girardeau County
Missouri for about 6 years. For the last three years he has been farming in Union
County,

Hr J, Rucker who will finish a three year contract on February 1, 1921, as
adviser in Effingham County has accepted the position of Assistant Adviser in
Morgan Count y^ commencing February 15,

E. B« Heat on. who has been Farm Adviser in DuPage County since May 1, 1913}
resigned Pecembor 31 to accept a position in connection with the organization work
of the American Farm Bureau Federation,

The Madison County Farm Bureau has employed H. U. Landon as assistant adviser
in that county. Mr, Landon is a graduate of the University of Illinois and has
been farming since leaving the University and has been secretary of the Farm Bureau
in Jersey County, He expects to begin work about January 15.

Adams County has recently employed A, B, Leeper to serve as business agent
, for the Farm Bureau, He is employed at present on a part time basis but will de~
1 vote as much time as necessary as the v/ork increases.

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

-P

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Wo. 3

Vol. IV

January 19 i 1921

LEGULIES ON E V 2 R Y F A R L

Our . "Red Clover is the most important legume hay crop growing in this

Common • country but its acreage is decreasing in many sections. Soils v/hich

Hay • once grew red clover are failing because of so called 'Clover Sick-
Clovers • ness'- Ground limestone is a most important remedy. For treated
.......... cornbelt soils, red clover is second to none and there is much senti-
ment connected with the gro;7ing of this crop in Illinois, It has been grovm al-
most ever since there vvas a'corn belt' and for a long time it -vill stand at the
head of the list of legume crops in Illinois, chiefly because of its high feed
value and because it can be employed so well in our rotations.

Alfalfa is regarded as a most important legume hay crop* It is our third
most important forage crop, being exceeded only by timothy and red clover. Pro-
bably more has been said and v/ritten about alfalfa than any other single legume.
For the follov/ing reasons this crop is a leader: (l) It has long life; (2) it
is nutritive; (3) it is. palatable; (4) it produces high yields; (5) it is drought
resistant. Alfalfa deserves more attention in Illinois than it is now receiving,
and without doubt many acres will be newly seeded to this crop in 1921.

Alsike Clover. Vi/hile we sing the praises of alfalfa and red clover, we must
remember that year by year alsike clover is winning a home in Illinois, especially
in Northern counties and on soils too v/et for red clover. ^Unlike most clovers,
it will thrive even vrfiere the soil is water logged'. On the crop field at DeKalb,
better results are being obtained from alsike than frcm red clover."- «if« L» Burlison

Mas sez - "You bet, Red Clover's the good old crop but I calculate I'll
put the back 4 acre lot in alfalfy this year* They say you don't have t' feed
the shotes much if they run in alfalfy medder."

lii'hen making farm visits we aim to find out if the men are interested in any
special line of work, and in better than 90 percent of the visits find that the
men are quite anxious to get a field of alfalfa started. Pushing the project-
"A Field of Alfalfa on Every Farm" vdll be part of our 1921 program* - Hedgock,
Peoria County,

Plans to Feed Hog I.Iark.et. "One of the progressive young farmers of Vermilion
County is planning the hog producing end of his business so that he will have
three crops of pigs, one each, in early spring, mid suamer and fall. This man
also practices the field feeding of corn and soybeans." « Bilsborrow

Keep the calves growing;
the calves are young.

it takes less feed per hundred pounds gain when

Vol. IV

Page 2

No. 3

Do not Sacrifice Sheep Flocks. Better Times ^Ui ea d , says Co f fey. "This is
not the time to sacrifice healthy flocks of sheep on the open market. Condaticns
exist which warrant us in believing that v/ithin the next two or three years farm
flocks will be more profitable than ever before. True, our wool market has been in
a state of collapse for several months, but the time cannot be far av/ay v/hen the
prices asked for woolen clothes vail be so reasonable that people will buy. The
large surplus of wool that accumulated during the war in Australasia and the Argen-
tine because ships wore not available to transport it, will gradually be absorbed.
And the European countries that formally took large quantities of wool will slowly
come back to their pre-v/ar rate of consumption. Prices may not be high for several
years, but knowing that we produce only one-half as much wool as we consume, v:e
are confident of the return of satisfactory prices.

Everything considered, prices during recent months reflect a strong deofind
for lamb in this country. Were this not the case, the market would have been com-
pletely demoralized by the unprecedented competition furnished by enormous importa-
tions of frozen lamb from Nev/ Zealand, The importations of 1920 amounted to one
third of what we nonnally produce in a year. We had to suffer this competition,
firstly because a large surplus collected in New Zealand during the war and second-
ly, because the countries that usually consume it v/ere unable to buy. The year*s
experience has demonstrated that the imported lamb carcass is not as popular as
the home grown product, and if it should have to come in under a duty it would
likely seek a market elsewhere. In fact, it is thought that the importations this
year will be much less than last year.

But why the bright future for farm flocks? Our western sheepmen have suf-
fered from both bad grov/ing and bad marketing conditions. Even tho help thru
legislation or thru any other means comes to them soon, production in that great
region is sure to be reduced. Our cities want American grovm lamb; their appetite
for this product is growing. The West v/ill be unable to supply as much as in
former years* The Ivtiddle V/est will have an opportunity to make up the deficit,
but she cannot if she lets her flocks go on the open market no\7« Hold on to them, "
tf. C. Coffey,

"Pork Sausage. To make a hi^. grade sausage, the meat should contain not over
one-fourth fat. ".Wiile the trimmings are usually used for sausage, many trim out a
few shoulders for this purpose. A good formula for sausage is as follov/s: 4 lbs.
pork, 5 teaspoonfuls salt, 6 tcaspoonsful sage (if its flavor is liked), 2 tea-
spoonsful white pepper, 1 teaspoonful ground cloves, 1 teaspoonful sugar, 1 tea-
spoonful baking soda, l/2 cup water. Grind the trimmings* Spread out the ground
meat and sprinkle the seasoning on it. Then run thru the grinder again which makes
a smoother product. Mix and knead the sausage thoroly with the hands, adding the
water. It may be made into pats for cooking or it may be stuffed in casings of
muslin. If casings are used, it v/ill probably be more satisfactory to buy some
prepared hog casings from a butcher. Sausage may be preserved for a long time by
frying it dov/n in lard. Sausage in casings may be smoked for several hours to
aid in its preservation,"

"t "Dry Cured Pork, lilany prefer to dry cure their pork rather than to cure it

tin a pickle. A good formula for curing pork without the use of a pickle is as
follov/s; for 100 lbs, of meat use 5 lbs, of salt, 2 lbs, sugar (brown or granu-
jlated), 2 oz, saltpeter and pepper to suit the taste. If desired, mollases may
jbe substituted for the sugar. The seasoning is mixed thoroly and l/3 of it is
1 rubbed into the meat. The meat is then packed in a tight box or barrel or laid
upon a table in a cool, moist place. After three days, rub another third of the

'■'O ,■^

Vol, IV

Page 3

No. 3

seasoning mixture into the meat and repack. After three more days rub the remain-
der of the mixture into the meat and again repack. Twelve or fifteen days after
the last rubbing, the meat is washed, dried and smoked. This recipe is not as sure
a means of preserving the meat as the brine method. However, if cured in a cool,
moist basement it should be successful and imparts a milder cure and a better
flavor to the meat than the brine method," - Sleeter Bull,

■•Recently in treating cases of milk fever

A New Treatment for i.':i Ik Fever,
in the University herd we have been using oxygon instead of air and have found it
superior. At this season of the year one may expect milk fever to attack some of
the older cows, especially those which are normally high producers and in good
flesh.

The symptoms of milk fever are usually fairly easy to distinguish. An at-
tack almost always occurs within 48 hours after the animal calves, tho in some
rare instances it occurs before calving, and occasionally it will occur a week or
oven a month or more after calving. The affected animal usually shov/s signs of
of uneasiness, has a rather fixed stare out of the eyes, and shov/s a weakness in
the hind parts. These symptoms quickly give place to almost complete paralysis
and the animal is unable to rise to its feet the it may try to do so. At this
time the animal frequently tho not always takes a characteristic position of put-
ting the head around on the side, the nose near the rear flank, THESE SYl'PTOLS
SHOULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED, ESPECIALLY IF THE ANBIAL HAS CALVED RECENTLY, hlTHOUT
PROPER TREATI.EOT THE Ai\IIIaAL v^ILL USUALLY DIE.

Previous to this time, the most successful treatment for milk fever has been
the pumping of air into the udder. The oxygen treatment is superior to air for
several reasons. Oxygon is a sterile product and therefore reduces the chances for
the infection of the udder. Furthermore, oxygen is slowly absorbed by the tissues,
and we do not find oxygen collecting under the skin and loosening the same as does
air. Again the oxygen treatment is simpler, as the oxygen comes in small metal
cylinders ready for use and all of the additional equipment necessary is a small
piece of hose and a milking tube, Tho latter should be carefully sterilized by
placing in boiling water.

In applying treatment for milk fever the end of the teat should be disinfect-
ed with a solution of tincture of iodine, or other equally good disinfectant, then
the small tube should be pushed into the opening of the teat and oxygen allowed to
flow in until the udder is tight, indicating considerable pressure v/ithin, Tho
tube should then be removed and the teat tied to prevent the escape of the oxygen.
In tying the teat a rather soft, flat cord or tape should be used as it is less
likely to cause the teat to become sore as a result of the lack of circulation.
Each teat should be filled v/ith oxygen in the same way. If the animal being treat'
ed is lying on her side, it is usually best to fill the teats nearest tho ground
first, as they are much easier to reach than if those above are filled. Usually
the animal will be able to get up in frftm 2 to 4 hours if taken in time and treated
as above. In cases where the cot/s do not get up in 4 hours it is best to inflate
the udder a second time* In case of doubt as to whether the trouble is really
milk fever, take no chances if the animal has calved recently. The oxygen treat-
ment if carefully and properly applied will do no harm and it might save a very
valuable cow.

The small oxygen cylinders referred to above may be secured from the Linde
Air Products Company, East Chicago, Indiana, or the Lennox Chemical Company, Cleve-
land, Ohio, The cylinder costs about ^7« v,dien new and can be refilled repeatedly
at a cost of about 01.5O for each filling. Each cylinder contains 40 cubic feet of
■Bxygen and will troat 5 to 8 co.vg ior ^^jy^Jjjjgj^^^^^lJj^f^g^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

. r ■ :

■ i.

.. .!;■.'.■.'

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

Vol. IV

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS
January 26, 192l«

No. 4

LEGUMES ON EVERY FARM

Sweet , "Experiments at this station indicate that from 1^ to 2 acres of the
Cljver , best blue grass pasture on the University farm are required to carry a

For , cow with suckling calf thru the grazing season. Obviously, v/e cannot
Pasture . afford to eliminate from our cropping system, l-g- to 2 acres of 1300
..*....,. or §400 land to graze an ordinary grade beef cow and her calf. If
cattle-breeding on high-priced land is to prosper, the summer maintemnce of the
cow herd must depend upon the utilization of a legume pasture which has a value in
the crop rotation in addition to its pasture value.

The first experimental work at this station on the use of sweet clover as a
cattle pasture was done during the summer of 1916. Seven cows with 7 calves y/ere
turned on 7 acres of sweet clover on May 20, Half of this field was mov/ed for
hay on June 1. It had made too rank a growth for good hay and the m07.?ing killed
practically all of the clover. However, these 7 acres, with the addition of 98O
pounds of hay per cow, carried the cov/s and their calves for a total of 147 days.
The best mixed pasture on the University farm that season yielded a pasturage of
98 days per acre for cow and calf. The same season 9 pure-bred two-year-old
heifers on 8.05 acres of sv7eet clover, that was seeded that spring, secured 128
days' pasturage per acre. During the season of I918, 9 acres of sweet clover,
seeded in oats the preceding spring, yielded 136*2 days* pasturage per acre. This
is calculated on the basis of mature animals, calves not counted. The same season
our Demaree mixture, which had been seeded in oats the preceding spring, gave 95
days' pasturage per acre, and our best mixed pasture, which was largely blue grass,
yielded 110 days* pasturage per acre.

This past season, 8 acres of second year's growth of sweet clover, pastured
with 13 yearling heifers, yielded 217.1 days* pasturage per acre- Other results
secured at this station do not differ materially from those cited. The greatest
difficulty we have experienced in pasturing sv/eet clover seeded in oats the pre-
vious season was to keep ahead of it in the spring and make it hold out in the
fall. IShile the Animal Husbandry Department has never been fortunate enough to
have a good stand in stubble ready to turn on to when the regular pasture failed,
results of observation lead us to believe that under the right system of manage-
ment we may depend upon the sweet clover aftermath in oats stubble to supplement
our second year's growth during the fall. Likewise, observation of results se-
cured by practical farmers, as well as the flffects secured by clipping on the
agronomy plots, lead us to believe that clipping high at the right stage of growth
may safely be employed for holding back grov-fth in the spring, and that such clip-
ping will materially lengthen the period of growth in the fall. The sum total of
the experimental evidence and of results secured by practical breeders, indicate
that SY/eet clover, when properly handled, may be depended upon to give at least
as much pasturage per acre as our best blue grass pasture," - H. P. Rusk.

Vol. IV

Page 2

No. 4

"One Way to Get Hip;her Prices for Butterfat, Fanners often compiain of
receiving lower prices for fat than the butter market warrants. In aany cases
the fault is not the creamer/man" s, but the dairyman's. The remedy lies in pro-
ducing better grade cream from which high scoring butter can be made. The wide
spread betv/een high grade and low grade butter is indicated by the following
table which gives the average v/holesale prices on the Chicago market for the
past year.

Wholesale Butter Prices (in Cents)

1"20

Jaa,

Feb.

kch»

Apr,,

Lay

June

July Aug„

Septr,

Oct.

Nov*

Dec«

Avg,

9^ score

.63

.6?

<* wO

= 6A

>57

...55

^'6 .55

,?7

•5T

.60

.51

.5'6.5

86 score

-^'^

^■■6

,61

^>1

.53

,.50

.'"9 .-.43

.^^0

.■16
ii

.46
14

.38
13

.50.9

Spread

6 7

7.6

Some 'jreameries maj; make .lovi/- grad^ gutter from the best cream. No creamery
can make the highest grade butter from pool*- cream, nnhen there is a difference
"ji 14 cents a pound between 9?. and 88 score butter as there was in November, it
should be apparent- to every farmer that he cannot afford to deliver cream that
is old, yeasty or dirty." - H. A. Ross, Associate in Dairy Economics, University
of Illinois.

Adams County Shipping Associettion Results.. "The Annual Meeting of our Ship-
pers* Association was held Saturday afternoon, January 15. This association has
accomplished some very good results in the past year. During the past year the
association has sold §1, 200,067«l8 v/orth of business, shipping 38»434 head of hogs
3094 head of cattle, and 309I head of sheep, at a total cost of approximately
61,652! per hundred. S. L, Rishel, of the I. A. A., Carl Kennedy, Associate Editor
of the lifellace Farmer, and two representatives of the Agricultural Department of
the state of Kansas were present and delivered short addresses. Several changes
were made in the constitution and by-laws. Inquiries are coming to us daily
from other counties and states for information about our or^mzation. " - Gougler,
Adams County.

Cooperative Shipp?.pg Payg. "Five local Shippers' Associations were organized
in two weeks time within Lemrd County. The first shipment netted the shippers
obbut- O2OO over local price." - Hughes, Memrd County,

The series of communj.ty meeting;s are well under way. ni/e find it very profit-
able to hold soil demo.nstrations in the forenoon and give the results of the ser-
vice survey in the afternoon, covering the territory where the meeting is held.
We use local talent in so far as it is possible. A summary of the townships thus
far show a low acreage of legumes, not over 7/^ of the tilled land. Three- fourths
of the farmers indicate that they will use limestone if the landlord iirlll bu;-.^ it
and if it can be secured local3.y. The value of the community meetings caunot
be over-estimated, especially ;'d.th a large membership where it is impossible for
the adviser to keep in close personal touch with the members." - Fuller, karshall-
Putnam Count y-

The big iob of the Farm Bureau for this winter is publicity. We are hold-
ing from one to tv/o big meetings in each township at vi^hich time we secure the ser-
vices of a State speaker. We have organized a Farm Bureau quartet of which the Ad-
viser and Assistant Adviser are members, I am enclosing copy of some parodies
that we have successfully used; this parody business has unlimited possibilities.
We believe that our big job this winter is to furnish information to the individiial
members arv what is being accomplished and v/hat can be accomplished if they will
stand by their organization." - Edgerton, Rock Island County.

Vol. IV

Page 3

No. 4

Will Standardize Grades of Melons and Tomatoes, "A series of five meetings
were held at the principal shd pp.' ng points in the county - Balcom, Dongola, Anna,
Cobden, and Alto Pass, Thepe meetings were well attended and were called for
the purpose of having each local shipping point take some definite steps to im-
prove the grade and package of vegetable product? principally. The meetings
showed that in most places the growers were determinsd to make some improvement
this year so that Union County prcd'''cts v/ould get a better name on the market.

J^.t Balcom, 2C grov/ers decided to gro'.? only thi'ee varieties of melons, to
have the packages inspected by their manager and divided into first and secnnd
grade wr'tn rejection of some packages autliOrizcd if not up to grade. Balcom
g-owf^rs seemed to realize the necessity for turning out a better product as they
at one iiiaii enjoyed quite a rep .'.tation on their melons which was lost thru send-
ing out Foue pt or st'^ff. At Cob^len^ the grov/ers d^^cided to call another meeting
at which an attempt vvdll be made to have as many growers as possible decide on
three varieties of ttmatoes for this season and probably take some further steps
in regard to grades and packages." .^ Coerschuk, Union County,

Approve of Utility Show. "I was very much interested in the Utility Corn
Show hcj-d at Galet-'>;urg th:U; week,. Judging from our knov/ledge of types of corn
which :iav3 been giving the bett returns on the basis of dry shelled corn, the
method of judging used in Ga^'esnurg is a decided step in advance over the old
method of judging. This ccnclu.5i on was very greatly emphasized, in our estmation
when we visited the Iowa State Corn Show at Ames on Thursday and Friday of the
same week. The Iowa Corn Grov/ers^ Association has been conducting a field grow-
ing test of corn from 128 men during the past year," - Mosher, Woodford County,

Pool Soybeans Thru New Organization, "The Soybean Growers met and formed a
permanent organization, electing H. 0. Praetor, President; E. L. Anderson, Secre-
tary; and Am B, Leeper, Treasurer and sales agent. They completed arrangerjents
for pooling something over 1000 bushels of soybeans and raised a fujid of $150,
to be used for advertising purposes, Ihey have alresg^ published 5000 copies of
a booklet on the subject of Soybeans, copy of which is available for mailing, "-
Gougler, Adams County,

New Advisers. We welcome back to our ranks, E, Vif. Rusk who was Adviser in
Adams County, Illinois, for more than four years, leaving there to take up the
managemeitt of a large estate in Missouri in September 1919» On January 15, 1921,
Mr, Rusk began work as Adviser in IJacoupin County, Illinois.

Frank M. Bane, we also welcome back to Illinois, He succeeds J. H. Iviiner as
Adviser in Henderson County and took up the work there on January 20« i/lfe men-
tioned Mr. Bane in Our December 15 issue,

Elmer A, Ei ;rbaumj, formerly instructor in Horticulture, U« of I, has taken
up his position as assistant advise*- in Union County* He began his new work
early in January.

A, W, Johnson, formerly of Vlfooster, Ohio, has been employed as assistant
adviser in Ogle County^ He began January 5 and has been placed in charged of
livestock and club work chiefly.

WillFoolMr.

Chinch Bug. "IVe are taking a lot of orders for Vfliite Democrat

This makes me feel as tho

seed corn, early seed oats, cow peas and soy beans.

success was coming to our campaign against the chinch bugs in the use of crops

which the chinch bugs do not like." - Tate, Monroe County.

^t fxi

^nstrm

A series of brief" notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. IV

February 2, 1921,

No. 5

Seeding > "Sweet clover is going to be much moru vvidely seeded in Illinois

Sweet » this year than ever boforu« This condition, of course, is very en-
Clovor • couraging. There arc, hov/ovcr, a few more or less general facts re-
«.•...••• garding adaptation and seeding which should be kept in mind, Tho
crop is adapted to all non-acid soils suitable for other cultivated crops.
Fertile, sweet, corn»belt soils are naturally best for sweet clover but the
crop will do remarkably well on sands and on those soils containing very limited
amounts of humus. Liberal applications of limestone, sufficient to correct the
acidity and thoro inoculation are prerequisite to tho best success on all soils.

Cultural methods for sweet clover are not unLvorsally understood because
the crop is comjiarativoly new on Illinois farms. This fact has led to consider-
able variation in seeding practices and^ consequently, occasional failures*
Ifoturally no uniform hard and fast rule can be promulgated. Seasonal conditions
and crop uses must influence somewhat.

The most satisfactory time to seed is apparently the same as for red clover.
When seeded on a winter grain, wheat or rye^ February seeding on the snow or
frozen 'gr 6 und is best. Seeded with a spring grain the swoct clover should bo
Seeded at the same time as the grain. On very rich soils where the sweet clover
is likely to grow exceedingly rank and interfere at harvest it may be advisab]fC
to seed the sweet clover two v/ecks after tho grain is seeded. In case the swqct
clover is seeded at the samo time as the spring grain it should bo seeded separate-
ly and in no case mixed ;vith the grain.

Sweet clovor is quite hardy, in 5.ts proper onvirorment, and ifvill usually stand
the severe conditions to v/hich it is subjected when tho grain is removed, \yhcre\,
tho crop is being grown for the first time or where corxlitions are not the most
favorable the question of tho kind of nurse crop might bo considered. Barley
is perhaps least injurious, v/hoat second and oats v/orst. In southern Illinois
when it is necessary to uso oats as it usually is, it is advisable to use a
short strav/ed, early maturing oats and seed as early as possible.

The amount of seed to use will depend upon tho quality and the kind, whether
hulled or unhullod, scarified or no n- scarified. Only clean soeod should be con-
sidered. Eight or ten-^unds of inoculated, hulled and scarified seed per acre
on fertile sv/eet soils is sufficient, Tv/clve to 15 pounds of non scarified seed
on the whoat in February should give a good stand. As tho season advances it
becomes more advisable to use scarified seed. Freezes and thaws during February
&nd March tend to crack the impervious seed coat,

Swoet clover makes an excellent component of any pasture mixture and should
bo used wherever a leguminous pasture is wanted. Tho follovri.ng mixtures ■Ij^p
sweet clover as the basis: Sweet clovor 4 pounds, rod clover 3, alsiko l,^and
timothy 2; swoet clovor 4, alfalfa 4, timothy 4, and alsiko clover 4." - J. C«

Vol. IV

Page 2

No. 5

"Legumes for Brood Sows,- The use of alfalfa hay as a part of the ration for
brood SO-/S is advised by some of our leading hog breeders. Their argument in sup-
port of this practice is that the hay gives bulkincss to the ration, and it is
relished by the animals and causes thorn to take more exercise in getting their
feed*

The Nebraska Experiment Station has conducted a series of experiments along
this line, which indicate that a ration of corn and alfalfa hay can be used suc-
cessfully in wintering brood sows* An average of four feeding tests showed that
9*9 bushels of corn and 86 pounds of alfalfa hay were required to keep a sow
weighing 38? pounds thru a winter period of 121 days. The average daily gain in
weight ^f^o.s »78 pounds, or a total gain of 95 pounds was made during the winter.
The alfalfa hay was fed in racks, Where a ration of one half ground corn and
one half chopped alfalfa was fed to similar sows, the results were not as satis-
factory! O" account of the increased cost, as where a ration of corn with alfalfa
hay was used*" - W. H. Smith,

♦liCgxaneg in Horticulture*- Legumes are becoming more important in Illinois
horticulture. There are three chief reasons: First, the greater importariCo of
nitrogen as canpared with other elsnents has been known for a relatively short
time in fruit production. Second, manures are becaaing so scarce as to be negli"
gible. Third, the cost of commercial nitrogen is increasing*

Experiments and observations in Illinois shov/ that cow peas, sweet cloveri
red cloverj and hairy vetch are successful legvmcs for apple orchards in about
the order named. Cow peas and hiiiry vetch may be used in peach orchards. Hairy
vetch is the only legtsae of recognized importance in truck growing.

Liming orchards is of no value in the production of either tree or fruit*
Experiments have shown that limestone is valuable only in growing legumes and,
therefore, indirectly ber^ficial. One must, therefore, ccsnpare carefully the cost
of limestone with the probable value of the legume which may be produced if maxi-
mun returns are sought. This will necessitate a good working knowledge of the
soil and its possibilities since it is probably true that in some localities
orchards may be grown and fruit produced more economically with commercial nitro-
gen.

Because of its tolerance toward acid soils and shade the cow pea has been
used in southern Illinois more extensively than other Icgwncs and with consider**
able success. The use of sweet clover is extending slowly ecpecially in the hilly
section of the extrone south and the river bluffs of western Illinois, where it
is not practical to practice annual cultivation. Young orchards like nothing
better than annual, clean cultivation, so that cow peas which may be sown in mid-
siaamer will doubtless continue to be the favorite in our prairie orchards," -
W. S, Brock.

"The Legxgoe and Silage Partnership,- There is no combination of feeds that
comes aa near answering all the requirements of a good dairy ration as corn silage
and Icgime hay. They supply nutrients in about the proportion required by the
dairy cow, they are bulky, arc palatable, have a good physical effect on the
animal, and are usually cheap feeds.

One year at the Illinois Experiment Station 9 cows were fed on silage and
alfalfa hay, with no grain, and averaged for the year 8343»4 lbs, of milk and 284
lbs, of buttcrfat» Undoubtedly more milk and more buttcrfat could have been
produced at a profit if grain had been added to the ration. However, the results
demonstrate the great value of corn silage and legume hay for dairy cattle,
! Every dairyiain in Illinois can have these feeds for his cattle and they can
^

Vol. IV

Page 3

No. 5

"Protection Afforded V^^er-.t by Heavy Stand of Glover, - Chinch-bugs are very
soldom .iLuniaiit in v.-hcat in which there is a heavy stand of clover. The same re-
sults can bo obtained by growing a heavy stand of timothy or any other crop which
can be covra in wheat in the spring, but timothy has the disadvantage that the bugs
v/ill feed upon it. The reason that the buf;S do not infest v/heat where a heavy
sxand of legumes is growing is entirely due to the mechanical effect of the plants,
A thick stand of any crop in the v/heat means shade and dampness at the surface of
the ground. This is unfavorable to the groirth of the young bugs. Old bugs will
not gather in niiabers in such fields to deposit their eggs. It will be a decided
advantage to have a heavy stand of clover in all wheat fields in the chinch-bug
area this coming year, as such a stand will not only mean the startir/': of a crop
wni.oh will not bo injured by chincrt -bugs, but the protection afforded wheat va.ll
inmost cases mean a higher yield by lessoning chinch-bug damage," - vif. P. Flint*

♦'Feeder °igs, - J„ J. Mueller of the IdLnnosota Pig & Cattle Co., Union Stock
yards, fit. PauJ., iiinru VTrites that he would be pleased to get in touch with
lUAnoid feeders wanting feeder pigs. His company handled some 70,000 head during
the year 1920«

As?.de from the above, it might be stated that the prospects point toward
as cheap hogs in the next fev/ v/eoks as v.'e v/ill see this spring. If arqr one is
considering a profitable means of marketing cheap corn, no^.v is the tine to buy
feeder pigs." - J, B. Rico,

"Over 150 ^ farmers gathered at the Farm Bureau Sale Barn to hear w. J, Car-
michaelj, Secretary ot the National Swine Growers* Association, in a judging demon-
stration. Three classes of hcgs were provided, each representing a different
breed and the farmers v/ere shown the *why and wherefore* of the selection of breed-
ing hogs," - Price, Kendall County.

Tenant and Landlord Coniorenees, Ninety tercints responded to a call for a
meeting la.=t Tuesday at Dan-vJ.?.i^u^ On the following day 45 landlords answered a
sjjniiar call.

The object Of each meeting was to bring out a full discussion of the problems,
difficulties and needs of each group. Both meetings were outst^.nding from the
standpoint of const ruct5.ve suggestions offered, the sp-rit of cccperation a;;d
desire to prcmcte a better understanding and more ho.rmcnicu3 rolaticnchip betv/een
landlord and tenant. Beth meetings recognized that the interests of both parties
wore mutx;!al and that the greatest profits could some to both cnlv by v/orking to-
gether, and thru the development of a system of leasing that v/ill result in a more
permanent and profitable typo of agriculture^

Three members were appointed at each meeting to serve on a joint committee.
This committee y/ill make a complete study of the land leasing problem as related

to Vermilion County.

committee v/ill also prepare a program fer a joirri meet-

ing to be held in February at v/hich time the report ox the oo-TLiJ.ttee embodying
its recommendations for a plan, program and policy for land leasing in the county
ii?ill be presented." - Lumbrick-Cheokiey.

St. Clair County Employs Assistant.- ETo _0i V_^ Mqrgian has been employed by
the St. Clair County Farm Bu^cju as assistant adviser in that county. Mr^^ Lorgan
graduated from the College of Agriculture of the University of Jndiara in 3.919*
Since graduation he has been engaged in garden v/oi-k, f^taT-c Fair Livestock exhibits,
teaching manual training in Kokomo Industrial School, besides having served a
brief period in the navy. lir. Morgan v/ill have charge of the junior club v/ork in
I that county.

®l|5 Jxtmstmt fitssm^tv

A series of brief" notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol, IV

Sweet Clover

February 9, 1921,

No. 6

the
Pretaibr Soil
Builder

"Sv;eet clover as a soil builder is unsurpassed by any other crop.
It possesses certain distinct characteristics which make it espe-
cially adapted for use as a green nanu.re. The most important of these
characteristics that should receive general recognition are included
here.

1. Adaptability to a wide variation of climatic and soil conditions provided
the soil is not acid and inoculation is ass'ored.

2» Hardiness to acid and drought and resistance to diseases and weeds,
3« Production of a large tonnago per acre at a time when it can best be util-
ized for soil enrichment. For example: its rapid groivth in the spring of the second
year and during the first year,

4» Rapid decomposition in the green condition.

5« Deep-rooting habit v/hich enables .it to assist in rendering impervious sub-
soils more porous and to feed at greater depthSi.

6, Ability to obtain plant food from insoluble minerals more readily than other
crops.

In soils where the spring growth of sweet clover (of the second year) vras
plowed under for the corn crop,*the available niti ogen (nitrate nitrogen) content
was measured. In every case the nitrate content xpas more than doubled in the four
or five weeks after the sweet clover ^vas plo\7ed under.

Samples of the spring growth of swset clover tops v/ere analyzed for nitrogen
and total dry matter. The nitrogen found ..n the tops expressed on an acre basis
varied from 98 to I.96 pounds, dependi.ng on "Liie location of the field and the heighth
in inches of the growth. This fact 3u0'."-.d be roted carefully as the nitrogen in
the roots and that in the fall growth of the f: vst year are not included in these
figures. The importance of sweet clover in adding nr.trogen to the soil is indicated
by the fact that a plot which accumulated only 80 pounds of nitrate nitrogen (in-
cluding that in the corn crop and that remaining in the soil) supported a grcvrth of
sweet clover, the tops of which alone contained I96 pounds of nitrogen per acre.

One legume in a four or five year rotation, as ordinarily practiced, Tivill not
maintain the nitrogen content of the soil. i[|/here sweet clover is seeded in small
grains and plowed under as a green manure the following spring, it assists greatly
in keeping up the available soil nitrogsn. as well as inc^-easing the total nitrogen
content of the soil. Therefore, its use for this purpose must be carefully con-
sidered in planning every crop rotation." - A. L, «i/hiting.

^ez sez - "If one crop of red clover in four years won't keep up the nitrogen
element in my soil, I slip in a little sv/eet clover seed with my oats or v;heat and
plow under the green growth next spring. "

■+

Illinois Exp. Station Results 1917. 1918, I9I9, and Exp. Fields
Woodford, Champaign, Jasper and Crav/ford Counties,

Vol, IV

Page 2

No. 6

, Save the Pigs. "large losses of pigs at farrov/ing time and during the early
poriod of their developaent is all too common on Illinois farms. A survey nade by
the Department of Animal Husbandry, University of Illinois, showed that there was
1 loss before weaning time of 24.95^; of the pigs farrowed on 192 farms in Illinois
in the spring of I918. A similar survey of several hog farms in one county of
Indiana was recently reported by the Indiana Station showing that 44^o of all the
pigs farrowed died before weaning time. The three best farms in the survey saved
lT/> CI their pigs while the three poorest records showed only 44/^i saved.

These losses can be partically eliminated thru proper feeding of the soiirs
before farrowing and by careful handUng of their litters. Feed the sows a bulky
ration oonsir,ting of 1 to 2 lbs. of corn daily for each 100 lbs, of live weights
aupplement this with I/2 lb. of middlings, I/2 lb, of ground alfalfa or bran, and
1/2 lb. of tankage for each sow regardless of weight. Alfalfa hay may be used in
place of the ground alfalfa. Give the sov/s plenty of fresh water and exercise
oefore turning in, clean the farrowing pen thoroughly and disinfect with a solu-
tion containing 1 lb. of Lev/is Lye to 40 gallons of water. A snail amount of fine
straw for bedding is prefeijjbl*.. Build a guard rail 8 inches above the floor and
3 inches from the sides of the farrov/j.ng pen. Protect the pigs from drafts and
provide means for getting them all the sunshine possible." - ¥♦ H. Smitb»

Don't Feed Too Luch Tankage^ A beginner has as much tendency to feed too much
tankage as to feed too little. He does not realize the concentrated make-up of
SO^o tankage. Better weigh it so you know how much l/2 lb, really is, and thus
feed it correctly.

Tankage for Poultry <^ "We are ordering much more tankage for our farmers this
.inter than ever before. A good deal of this tankage is ':eing used to feed
Sickens, iiost of our Farm Bureau members have learned that tankage is about the
3t thing they can use to produce eggs during the v/inter, and all those v/ho
ve been doing good feeding, feel that they have made more money on their chickens
this winter than most any other part of their farm operation. This, I think, ac-
^cunts for the many orders for tankage which we received." *• Tate, Monroe County,

Llake the Old Machinery Do. "The directors decided to set the week of February
21 to 26 as Farm Liachinery Pvepair and EAcha.oge 'Vtiek^, in Dev/itt County. The object
is to make the old implements do the woi-k another year^ without buying new ones
it prices which are excessively high, as compared w.lth the reduced prices of
farm crops." - Robbins

"Sliminate the Gambling by the use of limestone" was the essence of statoaents
aade by one of the prominent farmers of Stephenson County, who is nov/ starting on
the second round of limestone over his farm. Lime has practically insured the
:roTd.ng of clover and alfalfa on this farm every year. It has done so by eliminat-
ing one of the many factors which Irjuit crop production and infringe upon suc-
cessful farm management," - Bilsborrow

All Elevators Tdll handle Limestone & Phosphate. "Our efforts to get Farmers*
^levators to handle limestone and phoephate for their patrons are beginning to
show results and I think it will not be long until all such elevators are keeping
this material on hand." - Snyder, Ogle County.

Have you Grain in Storage?- Better \mtch it to prevent injury from insects..
Ifliere are 25 or 30 species of insects commonly found infesting grains and seeds
Illinois. The University of Illinois has published a circular (Extension Cir-
^^'^y^t^^^^^^itlflafccflLJlLJaaac:Ls_Illia£i^us_to__Stored Grain and Seeds" - by V/, P,

Vol. IV

Page 3

No, 6

A Real Egp: Record,- "VVe notice that George Baumeister is eatirtg fresh eggs
these days and boasting of about tv/o dozen a week from 13 pullets. We know of
one little flock in Paris composed of four pullets and a hen that shelled out
29 eggs this week for the Farm Adviser* s family. The record ran like this: Sun-
day 3, Monday 4, Tuesday 5, Wednesday 4, Thursday 5, Friday 3, Saturday 5. Farm
Bureau members are still calling us to cull their poultry before they let the
chicken man have a number of them and we give them that servioe whenever possible,
attempting to shov/ them how it should be done in October, and also picking out
sick, infeiior and otherwise defective fowls, and we feel that much is to be done
in improving flocks by proper culling at almost all times of the year, keeping
in mind that for a month or so after October 1st, we are liable to find a heavy
layer at a disadvantage," - Gernert, Edgar County.

Making »yool Blankets out _of Pooled wool^-- "We have already placed orders for
3 dozen double v/ool blankets to be made up from our v/ool pool. Interest in this
matter is increasing and we doubtless wf.ll sell many more blankets before the tine
limit expires," - Phillips, Greene County*

"Thus far the Farm Bureau has taken orders for 53 double blankets, 3 single
blankets, 52> wool batts and 8 autc robes. The farmers like the idea^" - Price,
Kendall Co.

Similar reports are reaching us from other counties, showing the interest
farmers are taking in this means of helping to use a surplus crop to good advantage*
Auto robes and v/ool bats are made as v/ell as blankets*- Ye Editor,

Slides Help Local Meetings, - "Our local meetings are being well attended and
seem to be appreciated. We shov; a set of slides on some one of the important
agricultural enterprises and a slide of the tov/nship soil map. The men are able to
locate their o?m farm and see just what soil type or types they have on their
farm, V'lfe point out the location of the sch-rar. house and the farms of two or three
well knovm men in the community,'^ - Baumeister, Stephenson County,

All Day Meetings, "This year we are planning all-day community meetings.
Those that have been held have been very suc.-;e3sfa'.v Ih^ women have been as much
interested as the men, and have entered h-sar'o.vly into xhe prepai-ations for the
dinner. They have also manifested a keen xrii-erest :'.n the programs. We have had
as many as 75 ladies present at one of cu." meetings* and at another, at least 60
were present. We expect to continue the pZan of the all-day meetings^" - Bracker,
Knox County,

Improve the Corn and Interest liember^^ at_ Same Tf^j^ "We have in the office
about 35 samples of seed corn representing some 20 different varieties. These
are being tested and v/e find some very roc^ germr.nation records. Some 50 men were
in the two days we were reading our tests and they took a very good interest in
probabilities of their own corn. We have some 20 samples on test now and have
advertised that v;e v/ill study the results and want as many as possible to come
in to talk over seed corn for next yeare." - Fisher, Wabash County,

Br. Coffey at >^&shington Meeting.- Last week, Dr. G- N. Coffey attended a
meeting of the Directors of Extension in Washington, D.C. This meeting was held
at the invitation of the Secretary of Agriculture, for the purpose of studying
the work of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Dr. Coffey brought back a
comprehensive report of the work discussed.

A series ot brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. IV February X6, X921. No. 7

Sweet
Clover
Jncr eases
crop
Yields

"The sweet clover catch crop in wheat or oats is now being suc-
cessfully used on some 30 experiment fields located in as many differ-
ent counties. This catch crop is seeded in the spring and plowed
under the following spring for corn. The growth plowed under varies
from nothing to 3 inches high on unlimed land, and from 12 to 40 inches
' on limed land. The actual dry matter varies from 3/lO tons dry matter

per acre to 2»8 tons, and this does not include the extension root system.

In experiment field work, straw, corn stalks, and clover or soybean chaff is
applied on the same land with the sweet clover, so that increased crop yields may
not be alone due to sweet clover. Limestone must also figure in experimental re-
sults, because as a rule sweet clover is a failure without an abundance of lime-
stone. Under the above soil treatment the fcllov/ing increases in corn yields
have prevailed in the corn belt as an average of 6 to 8 years: LaMoille experiment
field. Bureau County 10 bu. per acre increase; Joli.et field. Will County 6|- bu,
increase; Hartsburg, Logan County, 16-g- bu. increase. On southern Illinois soil
under the above soil treatment the corn yields, for a 6 and 9 year period, are as
follows: Raleigh, Saline County, untreated land 11^ bu, treated (limestone, crop
residues and sv/eet clover) land 34 bu, ; Toledo, Cumberland County, untreated land
185- bu., treated land 25-2 bu, ; Enfield, Vi/hite County, untreated land 1^ bu. ,
treated land 34-g- bu. The above mentioned soil treatment also increased the yields
of other crops in the rotation." - K. J» Snider.

"The great relative importance of nitroF^en in the productiveness of tree
fruits is shown by several recent experiiaents. Productiveness is largely governed
by the amount of new twig grov/th. This occurs early in the growing season. Such
growth should be moderate in degree, if too vigorous or too weak, the tree v/ill
be unproductive.

The use of nitrogenous organic matter in the right amount, taken together ivith
with the right pruning, will secure fruit fulness. If legumes are to be grown for
this purpose, limestone, and often rock phosphate, should bo used. Such additions
ire to be made according to the soil type and the legume to bo grown, not from
the standpoint of the orchard. The gi'ey silt loam and yellow grey silt loam areas,
for example, will need three to five tons of limestone and one ton of rock phos-
phate as an initial application," - W. A, Ruth, Dept. of Horticulture,

Encourage Meetings. - "We have been having a series of meetings to encourage
the growing of more legumes and the raising of more colts. We hope to have several
towoBhip meetings during the w^inter conducted by the farmers themselves. If they
can learn to get together and discuss their problems it v/ill be a great thing for
them." - Oathout, Champaign County.

Vol. IV

Page 2

No. 7

Pumpkin Idea Good One, ii/e v/ere more than pleased v/ith the success of our
^«.«,,al meeting, iiore than 500 people attended. Four hundred and fifty tickets
were sold approximately a week before the date of the meeting. The meeting vvas
held in a garage and every one was served and the dinner over in 40 minutes.
Talks were given by Z. U, HoLnes, V. Vaniman, and A. u. licNeil of Chandlerville^
The I» A. A. cartoons xvere displayed and Pal Edgerton*s corn and pumpkin stunt
added much to the meeting, v/e bought the pumpkins follov/ing the banquet at Cham-
paign. We are now thru with then and if any one wants to buy then, they are
for sale." - Isaacs, Mason County-
Selection £f Seed Corn.- "In order to help the farcjers get a better under-
standing of the selection of seed corn v/ith reference to disease free character-
istics, we have taken to each coiranuiiity mseting a rag doll tester and about 10
ears of corn. The corn which was used in the test was selected for the most
part from samples v;hj.ch v/ere shovm in the Utility Corn Shov/, Ten kernels were
taken from each ear and were placed in rov/s on the germinator, which had the
same number as the ear. There v/r.s a iCCfc germination in each case, bxrt it v/as
easy to see that there was a great differencB in the character of the sprouts
and the character of the root develot-'ant, as v/ell as other characteristics that
indicate disease. \7e believe that it will be much easier for the farmers to
make a physical selection of their corn than it v/ould have been if this demon-
stration had not been put one" - Bracker, Knox County,

l'^'^ In Germination. V7e have been testing corn for members and so far the
tests have not been satisfactory. We believe there is a lot of corn in this
section that v/ill not germinate to any great extent." - Hunt, Macoupin County.

"During this week nearly BOOo _pcunds of seed ordered from the DeKalb Agri-
cultural Association was ci-c\:.f±i into the ccarty thru the Farmers* Elevator
Cmpanies. Of course, the seed is of unusually good quality and the Farm Bureau
feels particularly well pleased v/ith the amount that has been ordered by Kendall
County farmers. Such a start as this ought to be enough to make an impression
on all parts of the county, and if the DeKalb seed is good enough for DeKalb
farmers it ought to do for us here,'- - Pr-.ce, Kendall County.

"jiiill Tr^ out Patrol System in LaSalle. - At a meeting of the tov/nship com-
missioners called by the County Highv/ay Engineer j, 3d of the 37 ci?am:*x''e±oners
were present. The principal purpose ox the meeting was to discuss patrol mainte-
nance of highways as it could be carried on by the tov/nship commissioners under
present conditions. The meeting gave a strong vote of approval to this method
of road maintenance. "z- Brooks, LaSalle County.

"Tell members v/hat has been done.- We have v/ritten an extract covering the

main v/ork of our annual report of

county, an extract from articles giving the

main accomplishment. s of the Jimerican Farm Bureau Federation and also of the Illi-
nois Agricultural Association. This, compiled in a circular, has been mailed to
each of our members to give them an idea of the actual acccmpliehments of the
three organizations in 1920." - Lonppire, Grundy County.

"One of our good farmers says it pays to use Potash on Alkali soil. Last
spring he was advised by the farm b"-ireau to use potash on his alkali corn land.
This is his report. Tne corn weighed off of this field produced 1000 bushels
more than the same field last year," - Edgerton, Rock Island County.

Vol. IV Page 3 No. 6

Sheep Culling. "The ovyner of the flock that was culled in East Galens Town-
ship said that he thought this work vvas very valuable to any flock ovmer. Few
farmers can cull their sheep with regard to the character of the fleece v/hich
the sheep carries. Personally I believe that this v/ould be a good deaonstration
to develop further with flock owners." - Burns, JoDaviess County,

Directors Lieet Quarterly. "The quarterly meeting of the Tov/nship Director
was held on Tuesday, with 27 officers and directors present, the only ones laiss-
ing being one who failed to get the notice and one who was in California. The
meeting vyas called at ten o'clock and the time from then until noon was taken up
by the directors, each one giving a short talk on the work the Farm Bureau could
best do during the coning year as he saw the needs in his comcunity. Each one
responded and this proved to be the best part of the day* s program.

After dinner the work for the coming year was outlined, making the campaign
for the eradication of qtjack grass, Canada ihistle and horse nettles the main pro-
ject. The goal set was to entirely eradicate these three weeds in Bureau County
by the end of 1923. V7e have the cooperation of the Board of Supervisors on this
project and expect to wage a real v.a;- on these pests, first plotting the entire
aoanty, locating the different patches, and follov/ing this with the eradication
v/ork and as the patches are entirely destroyed shov/ing the progress on our to^ra-
ship and county maps.

Several other projects were also outlined including the providing of stor-
age of phcephat© and limestone at different stations of the County in connection
v/ith our new cooperative supply company and the completion of a system of dis-
tribution of all farm commodities handled by r.his coupany so that all farmers
in the county get equal service," - Vdlson, Bureau County,

"A Farmers* t/eek Short Course was held in LIcDonough County the first week in
Febrxiary in cooperation v/ith the western Illinois State Normal School and the
University. The attendance and interest ;vas ve..-y good. Those in attex:iejce
seemed to be interested especially in the moi-e scientific or technical phases
of agriculture. Quite a number attended all of the week's sessions and many
were there tv/o or three days," - Doneghue, llcDonough County,

"The Illinois Agricultural Association -jooperated v/ith the local Farm Bureau
in proaoting the iicKenry County Farmers Cooperative Association in the county.
Approximately 55CCO, v/orth of stock was sold da'-ing the first 4 and l/2 days of
the week^making a total of $62,000, worth sold to date, A vast amount of good
was accomplished during the v/eek. The men from the Illinois Agricultural Asso-
ciation, visited about 100 farmers in the county and explained the v/ork of the
county association- The men visited have an entirely different viev/ of the
situation than before and are more anxious to support their organizations* This
association has transacted Ov4rv60,0C0^ v/orth of business during the past four
months," - Gafke, L'cHenry County.

Nev; Offices.- Both Henry and Warren County Farm Bureaus have nev/ office
space. Each is nor/ located in a splendid ground floor roon, large enough to
permit of excellent office management for adviser and assistant. Each county
• has a new seed association v/ith cleaning mill and seed storage space housed
under same roof v/ith the Farm Bureau.

"It is agriculture alone, th^t fixes men in stationary dv/ellings in vil-
lages, tov/ns, and cities and enables the v/ork of civilization, in all its
branches, to go on," - E. Evefi€>tt.

©iie Jxtmsintt Messenger

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station .Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILUNOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. IV

LesuQ?;

February 23, 1921.

No. 8

Pasture

I'^ixturef

"Legune pasture mixtures are coming to be more appreciated in beef
cattle production, and their use has occasioned the plo;ving up of many
old weedy rundov/n permanent pastures that v/ere of value mainly as
exercise lots. The fear of faiii^re to secure a stand, however, has
caused many farmnrs to be reluctant to rely upon legumes as their main
source of pasturage even tho they do regard them as important supple-
mental forage crops.

Red clover, because of its continuous grov/th thrucut the summer and fall,
should form the basis of most of these mixtures. Some mammoth clover should be
included because it tends to produce an abundance of forage in early and middle
summer. Alsike clover may also be used. It is particularly adapted to the v;et,
poorly-drained soils, and it makes a much closer turf than does red clover, and
withstands tramping better. Lespedeza or Japan clever may be used in the southern
one-third of the state in the case of pastiu-es that are to be more or less perma-
nent. Sweet clover will strengthen most pasture mixtures because of its tendency
to come on early in the spring, v/ithstand the drouth, and hold over until late in
the fall.

The following table is suggestive of possible combinations of strictly legume
pasture mixture for use in beef raising:

Northern part of state
Central part of state
Southern part of state

Red Clover Sv/eet Clover Mammoth Clover AlsiTce

¥
^

*4#

2^'per acre
^per acre
2# per acre

A mixture known as the Demaree mixture has been used on several farms thruout
the state with satisfactory results. This mixture is made up of ^ Sv/eet Clover,
^ Alsike Clover, 4^ Alfalfa, and 4,f Timothy, At the University of Illinois in the
summer of I9I8, this mixture seeded in oats the previous spring provided 95 pasture
days per acre for beef cows," - R, R. Snapp,

Salarirs Exempt From .^nj>ome Tax.- The part «f the salary of farm advisers
which is paid from Univdrsi.T.y Smith--Lever ^r State Depai-tment of Agriculture funds
is exampt from the feder-al income tax. The part paid from Farm Bureau funds is
not exempt. - G. N. Coffey,

"At the Annual i.!eeting a spirit of 'larger service' seemed to prevade the
entire proceedr'-rgb-. Tv/F.at /-seven out of a possible 3C of the township governors
were present. Every townsl^ip of the county was represented at the meeting, most
of them with five or more delegates," - Center, McLean County^

Vol, IV

Page 2

No, 8

"The Livestock Survey of this county is being tabulated by the office secre-
tary. Some very interesting facts have been brought out. On 9^*3 farms surveyed
only 222 were using registered sires. 398 v/ere using grade sires. Taking the
county as a v;hole the survey showed one sire in use for each 20 cov/s of breeding
age." - Kline, Boone County.

Shipping Associations Do Valuable V/ork,- "I attended a tovmship meeting at
Gilman for the purpose of explaining v/ork of Farm Bureau, I,A»A», and A,F»B»F»
We also organized a livestock shipping association. The organization of this
shipping association is. the thirteenth in the county. ViTe believe the service
rendered the communities in this v/ay of as much value as anything V7e have done*
Our first shipping association v/as perfected January 23j 1920; the average time
for the organization of eleven associations (up xo the time of organizing the last
two, which are not included) v/as ''■-k r.tnthSc c?250, 000,00 of business has been
done, and over 900 members have been served." - Y/ise, Iroquois County,

"A six-foot lime st one le.d^ has been discovered in the extreme northeast
part of this county. The owner of the land has ordered a small crusher and v/ill
grind agricultural limestone this spriiig and summero This find \7ill be a great
boon to the farmers in that locality- since some of them live 12 miles or more
from the nearest railroad station. These farmers realize that they must use
limestone or quit. Some have hauled limestone 3-2 miles and felt that they were
well repaid for their labor, ViTe expect, to see this crusher rushed to the limit
this year,'? - Deli/erff, Franklin Cou-ity.

"A Demonstration of the crrn diseases, root, stalk and ear rot is being given
in the office every Saturday afternoon, Germ.inated seed is used in these demon-
strations. These meetings have been well attended and promise to prove of great
value to the farmers of the county. The meetings v/ill be held each Saturday after-
noon until about planting time if the interest continues." - Gougler, Adams Co.

"Our program of tov/nship meetings v/as started this weak. Three meetings were
held with an average attendance of more than 65 men xvhich can be considered a large
attendance as the roads have been almost impassable for automobile travel. The
meetings are being held for the purpose of informing our members of the work of the
state and national farm bureau organisations, and of asking the members to assist
the officers and farm advisers in framing the farm bureau program for the year.
lie are attempting to furnish one speaker from outside of the countyj and so far
these meetings are going in fine shape, ^is is the best idea we have ever tried
for getting the "message' across to the average member," ~ Lloyd, Hancock County.

Nine Percent Clover. - "Have just finished a series of meetings over the
!j county. At these meetings a survey has been taken of the araount of clover to be
left this summer and it has been found to be 14 acres to the farm or about 9 per-
cent of the area.

We also teok a record of the colts expected and found 243 colts to 521 farms.
There \/as about one weanling colt to four farms, one yearling (ccmxDg tv/o) to
each 2^ farms and one two-year old (coming three) to each two farms. That is to
say there v/ill be one colt to break for each tv/o farms v/here formerly there v/ere
one to three or four on every farm." - Oath out. Champaign County.

The Story of the Soybean is an attractive 12-page circular issued by C. H.
Oathout, Farm Adviser, Champaign County. The bulletin is attractively illustrated.

VoU IV

Page 3

No. 6

"Bulletin 3^0 of the Ohio Experjnient Station contains a report on four exper-
iments in using forage crops in fattening la^-bs. The objects of the experiments
may be summarized as a comparison of biuegra&s pasture vd-th rape pasture and \7ith
a succession of rye, clover, and rape; the econcmy of feeding corn on pasture;
comparison of pasture and dry lot; and a compariw n of a full feed and one-half
feed of corn to lambs on rape pasture.

The more definj.te results of these four experiments follov/s. Compared v,dth
bluegrass, rape gave 2.73% greater average daily gain in Experiment I. Rye, clover,
and rape compared v/ith bluegi-ass produced 19,79fo and 33«06/^ greater average daily
gain in Experiments II and III respectively. Rape is a valuable d forage cfor fat-
tening lambs. This is shov/n by the fact that during the time it was pastured, an
acre of rape produced as much gain as 5*04, 9,25, and 8<,19 acres of bluegrass in
Experiments I, II, and III respectively. Even if the bluegrass is given credit
for the gain produced during the entire time it t^s pastured, an acre of rape v/as
found to be equal to more than 3 acres of blusgrass. In Expe/'iment I an acre of
rape carried at the rate of 16^3 lambs for 131 days and produced at the rate of
241,8 pounds gain. Corn-fed lambs on pasture made larger daily gains and had a
higher market finish at the close, than lambs receiving no corn, and the increase
vvas usually greater when the corn v^s fed to lambs on bluegrass than V7hen fed to
lambs on rape or rye, clover, and rape. The economy of this practice v/ill depend
on the price of corn and market price of lambsc In the first tivo experiments, the
lambs in the dry lots made the largest average daily gain of any of the lots and
the cost of feed per 100 pounds of gain compared quite favorably with the gains
made on rape, the cheapest pasture,

Shropshire lambs fed one-half feed of corn on rape pasture gained 32»3a' more
and full-fed lambs gained 41,1^=, more than lambs that v/ere fed no corn on rape
pasture-" - kk, G. Kammlade,

^The first Oqrn and Alfal_fa Show in the county at Jonesboro \vas v/ell attended
in spite cf very bad roads and v/eather. Interest vras fine, especially in Lr«
Hackleman's clear explanation of root rot and the new type of corn. Union County
has l«ts of good corn this year, seme yields of 100 bu# per acre being made»
Tests on diseased and sound corn will be run this year on one or two farms. There
is also a lot tf fine alfalfa hay for sale in the county„" - Doerschuk, Union Go.

Democrat Corn Leads.- "Randolph County's special project at a district meet-
ing was reporting on the drouth and chinch bug resistance of *'Democrat'Corn,
Last yearns \vork shov/ed it to lead 12 other varieties from two to sixteen bushels
per acre. This result is borne out by the experience of several hundred farmers.
This work v/ill be -continued in cooperation with the state and in addition some
T/ork on corn r«ci'^rot will be added, also an effort made to standardize this
variety of corn." - McV/illiaas, Randolph County.

Give Farmers* Experiences. '^^ "liVe are putting on a "Grow More Legume" campaign.
Each week every nev/spapcr in the tv/o counties contains experiences of several
farmers as to the value of clovers. Our slogan is to have every acre of small
grain seeded with clovers," - Fuller, Marshall-Putnam County,

The School Lunch by Mary Pack, Specialist in Child Feeding, is the latest
bulletin in the Extension Series, This 24-page bulletin gives practical and
specific idpas concerning the selection of food, method of preparation, hot dishes
for rur^iq. schools and other factors.

A scries of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. IV

V;hat Makes

March 2, 1920.

No. 9

Legupe

Seeds

Geminate

"Seeds need OXYGEN for respiration while in storage, but nedd
far more oxygen during the active process of germination, Liany
samples are drov<ned in the attempt to start gro^rth by use of exces»
sive moisture, vifhile it is true that the seed often takes several
times its weight in water at the beginning of germination and can
stand a large supply at this point, yet at no time should oxygen
be shut out entirely by too much moisture. This will help to ex-
plain why seeds sometimes rot on the germinator and in v/ater logged
soils.
For most legume seeds like the clovers a TEL'PEIUTURE of about 70^ F. should
give good germination. Soybeans and cowpeas need a little higher temperature for
best results - say from 75 to 80° F. Within limits, the higher temperature vdll
hasten the germination.

The only other condition necessary for germination is WATER. Legume seeds
in general are peculiar in that many of them have a hard seed coat which \rill not
readily permit the passage of ViS-ter. Red clover, alsike clover, soybeans, and
cowpeas all have on the average less than 10^ hard seeds, vi/hite clover and alfalfa
rank a little higher with from 10 to 15%*. For hard seeds, sv/eet clover stands
in a class by itself, the average being about 5C^«

Hard seeds cannot geminate for lack of moisture. Anything that will render
the seed coat permeable to ivater will increase the germination. Early seeding
will increase the grov/th of hard seeds due to the action of frost, kachine hulling
increases the germination o-ver hand hulling by cracking the outer hull. Fanning
and screening will also scratch the seed coat to scane extent. By running sv;6^
clover se^d which germinated only AOfo, thru a machine called the scarifier, the
germination v/as increased to 85%; twice thru increased it to 95/^» It pays to
scarify all sweet clover seed that contains a high percent of hard seeds," •
John Pieper.

"The Scarifier was invented by Professor Hughes of Iowa. It was designed to
rupture the seed coat by blowing the seeds against a sandpaper surface. The
machine is manufactured by P. E. Jensen of Nevada, Io?/a, and costs vlOO, for the
small size and up to 025O. for larger sizes, depending upon the capacity, At-
tempts are being made by the Crop Extension Division to interest an Illinois firm
in the manufacture of this machine at a lower price. Blue prints of the Ames
Hulling and Scarifying Machine may be had by writing to Iowa Agricultural College,
at Ames, Iowa. Several seed firms in Illinois have consented to scarify seed
at a cost of from 500 to Ol.OO per bushel. This cost, together with the trans-
portation charges both ways, makes it doubtful of recomi.icndation xmless there
is 20^ or more of hard seeds in the sample." - John Pieper,

"The greatest satisfaction in life is to do good work". - Hubbard,

Vol. IV

Page 2

No. 9

"Spraying; for Scale. It is important, at this time of year, when we arc plan-
ning spring spraying demonstrations for scale control, that we know the difference
between the three scales most conmonly found on fruit trees in this state.

The San Jose scale is by far the most destructive. A badly infested tree
appears much as if it v/ere sprinkled with Vira.ter and then dusted lightly vd.th wood
ashes. The individual scales are rounded, v/ith a raised cone or nipple-'like
elevation in the center, and are sooty gray in color. Under a hand lens they have
much the appearance of little mountains, or more truly, minute volcanoes. The
raised cone in the center is about the same color as the rest of the scale» This
insect passes the winter as a partly grown yellov/ish insect underneath the waxy
scale*

The next most injurious scale which is common in this state is the oystef-*
shell» This scale is brov/n, crinkly in appearance, and in fact is almost exactly
like half of a miniature oyster shell* There are two kinds of this scale, one
occurring on certain shade trees, particularly ash, poplar, and lilac; the
other on apple. This scale is seldom abundant enough to be destructive south
of Peoria and Galesbiirg.

The third of these scales is the scurfy, v/hich is grayish white, flattened,
-- lying close to the bark of the tree, and sanewhat triangular in outline v/ith a
rounded base. If this scale is carefully raised with the point of a pin, a nim-
ber of Very minute, brilliant red, eggs will be seen. This is the least in-
jurious scale of the three.

The San Jose scale can best be controlled by spraying during the coming six
weeks, using either the commercial liquid lime sulfur, (testing 33® Baune), add-
ing one gallon to eight gallons of water; or the dry lime sulfur at a strength
of at least 15 pounds to 50 gallons of water. The oyster shell and scurfy scales,
both of which pass the winter in the egg stage, are more difficult to control.
Fairly satisfactory control may be had by spraying with the same strength line
sulfur as used for the San Jose scale," - W, P- Flint.

"The ^grow more legume' campaign is taking v/ell with Richland County farmers.
It certainly is encouraging to see how freely they are leaving redtop out of
their cropping system. A very large acreage of legumes v/ill be grown this year.."-
Piper, Richland County,

"Our farmers are planting a great deal more sweet clover this year than they
ever did before. It seems as though nearly every farm bureau member is going
to plant seme," - Tate, iaonroe County.

"Sweet Clover Hay is Bundles. - Sweet Clover cut for hay with a binder and
bound in small bundles is shov/ing up fine in the mow. The leaves are all there.
The biindles were shocked in the field to cure." - Price, Kendall Co,

Plow under stalks early. - "Very good work was done as early as Monday,
February 14, plowing under corn stalks, without discing them. Experience here
has shown that stalks plowed under so early begin rotting projptly in the spring,
and do not interfere with corn cultivation. Some spring wheat was sovred on
February 17." - Robbins, DeV/itt County*

New State Club Leader. - Mr, James H. Baldwin, formerly of the State Office,
has come back into the work to take the place made vacant by the resignation of
Dr. J. H. Greene. Mr. Baldwin's appointment as State Leader in Junior Extension
took effect on February 1st. His many friends will welcome him back.

Vol. IV

Page 3

No, 9

Come on vdth your egg records. Boysj "In regard to egg records, I want to
say that Monroe Coxinty has some records that are not bad, Mr. C, T» Huf ford, our
assistant adviser^ has six pullets which have averaged 26 eggs a week since the
first of November, and they laid 32 eggs each week for the last two v/eeks." -
Tate, Monroe County,

If you were a_ farmer in Stark County Or Knox County, Illinoist and you did
not happen to be at hone v/hen the adviser called to make a farm visit, you would
find a card at your door, bearing the name of' the Farm Bureau » and dow^n in the
lov/er corner in smaller letters, the name of the adviser. Do you leave your card?
If not, why not? It may sound "niigh falutin" at first thought but it is only
good iJUsiness principle it seems to us. Adviser Brown of Stark County says, "I
expect to leave one whenever I make a farm call and find the farmer away from
hcsae". Bracker, Marchant and Arnett, of Knox County, tell us they expect to use
their farm bureau cards ;*en they find the farmer a^my from home, but they will
make fiirther use of them by writing down on the back of such a card any notation
or recccinendation they wish to leave with a farmer when they do find him home*
How do you like the idea? - Atwood* ~*"

Branch Office days successful, "The last four weeks, I hare been spending
Saturday afternoon at points away frcsn Robinson^ These branch office visits
have proved very successful thus far. Lost of the time at these branch offices
has been taken up recently with discussion of seed corn situation, Lany of our
farmers are beginning to appreciate the seriousness of diseased com," ^ Logan,
Crawford County,

Iowa 103 Oats, l^or Sale, ""iVe have a considerable quantity of lovva 103 Seed
Oats which were shipped in from reliable sources last year. Our men are holding
these at 65s^ per bushel in the bin, Vife also have a number of our farmers who
have the Red Texas that have been North a year or two. These are also offered
at 65$*»" - Kendall, Morgan County,

Alfalfa Hay,- "A good supply of No» 1, No, 2, and "standard alfalfa hay
for sale and shipment" says Chas, E« Cassel, County Agent, Garden City, Kansas,
••The hay will be inspected v/hen loaded by the county agent. It will sell from
$13,50 to 016,00 a ton, (depending oa the quality) F,0,B. cars Garden City,
Kansas. If you are interested write Or, Cassel directs

LaSalle County Farm Bureau has employed Mr, Wj_ jau EcLaughlin as assistant in
livestock work in that county. Mr, McLaughlin is a graduate of the University of
Illinois. He is already at work.

Macoupin Country Farm Bureau has decided to employ Mr, G, E, Metz^er as as-
sociate farm adviser in that county. Mr. Metzger was for several years county
agent in Indiana and is at present agriculturist for a bank at Elkhart, Indiana,
Mr» ketzger expects to take up his work in Macoupin County about March 10,

We seemed to have Overlooked stating that Mr. E, A, Carncross, formerly
assistant farm adviser in McHenry County, has been employed by the DuPage County
Agricultural Improvement Association, to succeed Mr« Heaton as Farm Adviser in
that county, Mr, Carncross took up his work in DuPage County on February 1.

"Trifles make perfection, but perfection is not a trifle."

A scries of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. IV

Inoculation

March 9, I92I.

No. 10

Legumes

"The purpose of inoculating legumes is to insure the legume
crop a supply of atmospheric nitrogen whenever it is needed. Fev/
soils furnish the legumes all the nitrogen they can utilize to
profit v/ithout inoculation. Alfalfa and sv/eet clover sometime
fail on soil that grov/s satisfactorily corn, oats, and wheat crops,
because of a nitrogen shortage due to lack of inoculation.
Alfalfa and sweet clover bacteria, v/hich are identical for inoculation, and
co?/pea bacteria, are often present along the roadsides where svreet clover and
partridge peas are growing, but absent from the adjecent cultivated fields be-
cause of bad soil conditions^

Inoculation is cheaply and successfully performed if soil is selected from
a field v/here the legume in question has grown and produced nodules. Dig the
soil to a depth of six inches. Avoid taking it from fields shov.dng diseased
plants. Make a mud with water if coil is of heavy type and smear it over seed.
Allow seed to dry and plant soon. The quantity of soil should be at least two
quarts per bushel of seed and the more soil used per fixed amount of waterp the
□ore bacteria will be added.

Soil for inoculation should be stored in a cool place. It should not be
dried by artificial heat. In warm storage, the nitrate content becomes so high
that the nodule bacteria are reduced in efficiency. Seed coated v/ith infected
soil is safely left on top of snov/ or soil surface in early spring. Nodule
bacteria endure in field soils according to the presence or absence of lijjej
phosphorus, and the occasional growing of the legume in question. The inoculation
of legumes means richer crops and larger yields." - A. L. ti/hxting.

yyeipht rates and alfalfa hay. - With an increase in freight rates of approx-
imately 35 percent on August 26, 1920, shipments of alfalfa hay to Illinois from
Idaho, Montana, Colorado, and other distant western points were almost completely
cut off, and as a result railroads were forced to grant temporary reduced rates
to terminal markets. Even with this reduction, it costs about $13r per ion to
ship alfalfa hay from these points to Chicago and this special rate expires
April 30, 1921. Altho the burden of high freight rates falls first upon the
producer, the consumer must ultimately bear a share of the expense by paying higher
prices for hay,

A year ago when oats were selling at 900 i" Chicago, and corn at ^1„50, it
may have been more profitable for dairymen to grow these feeds and to buy alfalfa
hay at §37.» but now the price of oats has declined 49 percent and corn 57 per-
cent. Alfalfa hay, however, retarded by high freight rates has declined only
35 percent. As a result, many dairymen v/ho have been buyxng alfalfa hay are
going to find its production profitable, even if they have to buy some corn and
oats." - H, A. Ross.

Vol. IV

Page 2

No. 10

You Tell Us. - If you like the legume series or if you don't. Hov; are we
to know if you just keep still? Are these items too technical or not technical
enough? Can you clip them bodily for use in your Farm Bureau Nev/s sheet? Vl/hat
other phases of the subject do you v/ish discussed? u/e are winding up for the
rest of the ysar. u/rite "Ye Ed - Extension Messenger,"

Sweet CJover for Pigs.- "During the first year sweet clover v/ill furnish
as much pasture for pigs as any crop that can be grown- Pigs do not eat it as •
readily to begin with as alfalfa or clover, when sown at oat-sowing time it
is ready to pasture before the first of June and will furnish good feed all
sxasner. In growing pigs experimentally, the results on sweet clover are nearly
as good the first year as on alfalfa or clover.

The second year, however, it is not as good a pasture crop, because it
grows away from the hogs so rapidly^ It can be pastured during its second year
as early as in April somstrjne, taring many pigs on it, but by Jsine it has grovm
away from them and is good for little other than shade for the rest of the summer.

When cattle are turned into the field, p^ gs are able to make greater use of
it since the gro\7th is nearer the ground. Sweet clever has been u?ed with some
success by discing the seed into a poor sod of blusgrass early in- the spring.
Sweet clover is inferior to alfalfa, clover, or rape, as a hog pasture where
they can all be grown." - Jonn B. Rice.

"Specimens for Vetei'inarv Biasnos_i3_j_ II:^ *L£ i*~ ^^'^ year over 4000 specjjnens
v/ere subnixted to the La'^oi-aL-nry ci .Ar.imal Pathology of the University for diagno-
sis. The material received for examination to date this year has exhausted the
funds for this work, but is being maintained temporariJ.y on a ]pay basis^ {fee sent
with specimen).

A bacteriological examination of affected animals or tissues of affected
animals can be accepted by parcel post or express pref^id when accompanied with
si>l. to cover the expense of the material usedo If tha examination costs more
the sender v/ill be advised. Tests for hog cholera virus will be madg for y5«.
or v7. Directions for collecting and shipping specimens v/ill be sent t-j veter-
inarians upon request. Tho history of each outbreak, together with the post
mortem findings and provi.-jional diagnosis of the veterinarian, are requested Vidth
each sample." - Dr. Robert Graham, Anxmal Pathology Division.

"££'.££.'iIS?APJl .^?iil'2ii2 Fa.gii Advisers- and Smith -Hughe £ Teachers., A number of
Smith-Kiighes teachers in the state are having pupils keep far:ii accounts on their
h$Sie farmso Several of the teachers have expressed a willingness to extend the
v/ork of supervising farm acco'.-nting among the farm?^r3 in their cojimyci t:^e?,. Kr«
Colvin believes in encouraging this kind of work. Naturally some te~.cnors may
hesitate to start this kina of work unless their cocperatiou is invited by the
Farm Advisers. Have you inviced the cooperation oi the Smith-Hughes teachers
3n your coxinty?" - E. Rauchenstein.

Heller Nev Advi ser Cook County. - ioT. L. L, Heller has been employed to
succeed Mr. Durst as Farm Adviser in Cook Covaity, He was brought up on a dairy,
truck and general farm near liarietta, Ohic, graduated from Ohio State Uiiiversity,
spent four years with Bureau of iJjiimal Industry, U,. S„ •Oepartment cf Agriculture,
and 16 months in the a:-my, and has bean assistant se,;retary ^f- the National Wool
Grov/er*9 Association since January 1919» Mr, Heller took up \7ork Ivlarcn 7 in
Cook County.

Vol. IV

Page 3

Farmers want Legume e. "W© are placing sotri« orders for sweet clover, and a
good many men are asking for information about soy beans. We are making an ef-
fort to promote the grov/ing of beans in corn, both for silage and for hogging
down," - Madden, Sangamon County.

Timber Soils have Twice the Clover.- wCoraraunity meetings have shown approx«-
imately 15% of the total farm bureau membership in attendance. It is interest-
ing to note from the surveys that the timber soils (yell6w-gray silt loam) had
more than double the clover acreage of the prairie soils." - Fuller, Marshall-
Putnam Co-
Good Community Meetings. - "A number of ccmmunity meetings have been held re-
cently. vVe are indeed pleased with the interest shown in these meetings, inmost
places there being more people present than could be aceommodated comfortably.
Besides a talk by seme representative of the Illinois Agricultural Association,
there were discussions on the good road proposition, marketing of milk and general
farm topics. Corn diseases were studied in actual germination tests. Rag doll
germinations were craapared with original ears of corn showing disease and disease
free conditions. Good eats has been one of the important features of these meet-
ings," - Edgerton, Rock Island County,

"What do you iffetnt the Farm Bureau to do for your ComiEunity!'* This question
was answered by the farmers of Pulaski County* Soil Improvement Trvas the one big
thing wanted by at least 90J^ of the members. Dairying and fruit growing -vied wit
good roads for second place. Improved marketing was insisted on by sob©*" - East-
man, Pulaski County.

Just Now, - In a recent weekly report, Mr. Bliss reports briefly under the
heading - "The principal matters now occupying my attention". We like the idea.
Such a statement once a month or perhaps even oftener, would keep us much better
informed regarding the work and enables us to render better service to the ad-
viser. Who v/ill be the next one to try it? - G. N, Coffey,

"The wage scale varies widely. - Probably the majority of men will be hired
at about $40. with sane as low as 035» and a few at $60, Host of these, however,
were hired last fall. There is no scarcity of farm labor at the present time*" -
Madden, Sangamon County.

Why a County Program! - "I believe it is a good policy for every Farm Burea
to have a 'program of work* and to state that program in the monthly letter. This
program should give the policies of the bureau and the chief things it hopes to a<
complish within the coming year. I have stated something of a program in our
letter and a great many members have expressed their faith in it, and the good
that will be done if we can accomplish some of the things it stands for, V7e, as
county agents, can be very busy for a year and not have much done when we view ou;
work from the standpoint of a constructive program if we do not have a vrell plann<
outline to f'Sllow," - Eyman, Jersey County,

A Big Single Order.- "One of our big farmers is an enthusiast for sweet
clover, we recently ordered for him, 77 bushels of white blossom biennial scari-
fied sweet clover seed. This is the largest single order for sv/eet clover we
have ever placed." - Kendall, Morgan Co.

Senator Arthur Capper of Kansas advises - "Preserve - Conserve",

"Slije Wxtmstmt ^^ss^nge

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. IV

March 16, 1921.

No, 11

Legumes Need

Phosphates.

A fev/ of the

"whys"

"The majority of Illinois soils are deficient in both phos-
phorous and nitrogen. The nitrogen deficiency does not apply to
legumes because of their ability to utilize th^t in the atmosphere.
This makes phosphorus the limiting element for legume groi/vth where
the lime requirement has been satisfied.
Legumes are valuable as soil improvers because of their ability by means of
associated bacteria to fix atmospheric nitrogen^ A large healthy, well fed legtJae
plant will fix more nitrogen than one, the growth of v.'hich is retarded by defici-
encies in plant food elements other than nitrogen, simply because more nitrogen
is needed to provide for the extra grov/th* Hence, an abundant phosphate supply may
be directly responsible for obtaining larger quantities of nitrogen,

A legume green manure increases the available phosphorus in the soil for
subsequent crops not only by the solvent action upon mineral phosphates of com-
pounds produced during its decay, but also by feeding upon the mineral phosphate
itself, thus converting the phosphorus of the minerals into organic forms in its
own tissues. In returning such green manures to the soil the organic phosphorus
is quickly oxidized into suitable condition for plant use» Plenty of phosphate for
the legume green manure means more available phosphorus for the next crop*

Legumes as a group contain nearly twice as much phosphorus as non-legumas.
This may explain in part their demand for abundant supplies of this element. Host
legumes require also large amounts of calcium- Truog, of the V7isconsin Experiment
Station^has conducted studj,es v/hich indicate a rather close relationship between
the demand of plants for calcium and for phosphrous. It is possible that the
high calciim content of legumes ig in part responsible for their ability to get
phosphorus from relatively insoluble mineral phosphates such as phosphate rock,"
E» E, Deturk,

"Cow Peas as a Green IJanure Cover Cron for Southern Illinois Orchards.

good

green manure cover crop for southern Illinois orchards should possess the follov/-
ing qualifications: It must be adapted to the climate* It nust be planted,
according to circumstances, frcm the twentieth of June to the first of August and
must, therefore, make its principal gro"vrth during the hot v;eather of mid-sumner
and early fall. It must be capable of germination in relatively hot weather and
often in comparatively dry coil.

Among the different cover crops which are available as combinations of green
manure and cover crop, none are ideal, but cow peas ccme more nearly being satis-
factory than any other thus far tested .for southern Illinois orchards. This crop
is v/ell adapted to the climate. It makes a profuse and rapid grov/th during hot
i: weather. Its broad leaves sh^de the ground quickly when the plants are young
1 and later it makes a mat of gro?rth that covers the groimd very completely. It is
:; not ideal for the prevention of soil iTashing because the plant, of course, is
;i killed with the first severe frost but the stems and roots aid considerably in

Vol. IV Page 2 No. 11

holding the soil where the orchards are not located on too steep slopes.

In experiments in a large corcmercial apple orchard at Neoga, Illinois, where
the trees were 12 years old at the beginning of the experiment and are now
19 years old, and large enough to require from one-half to two-thirds of all the
ground area, a cover crop of cov/ peas has been as effective in increasing pro-
duction as applications of stable manure and sodiun nitrate. In peach orchards,
however, cover crops of cow peas have been detrj-mental to tree growth and pro*
duction unless the ground wa.s fertilized with potassium or nitrogen, or combin-
ations of potassi'jm and nitrogen in the form of stable manure or commercial
fertilizers.

Cow peas should be sov/n in apple orchards following early season cultivations
from the twentieth of June to the first of July, and in peach orchards, if used
at all, from the fifteenth to the tv/entieth of July, as the peach makes more
grov/th late in the season than the apple, and requires, therefore, later cultiva-
tion. The amount to be sown per acre is one bushel*" - B. S. Pickett,

VgrniUon

Landlords
and

"*I1ie most advanced step taken by any farm organization in devel-
oping landlord-tena.nt relations in the direction of permanent agricul-
ture*, is the way I v/ould label the project of the Vermilion County
Faro Bureau. The 12 points in the recommendations adopted at Danville
on IJarch 10 open the \7ay for results that should be of great value.
They project action on the follo;7ing lines:

Te rants
Elaze Uew
Trail

l.Co-operative farm business planning 8. Roug?;ages to be fed and returned to

2. Co-operative fertilizing the land

3. Longer tenures and less shifting 9, Extension of legume area to 2C or

4,Less bidding of one tenant for a farm 2% of cultivated area

'built up* by anott-rr 10, Adoption of Illinois system of per-

5.Pronotion of livestock farming by stock- manenfc agriculture

share leasing. ll.Pemanent bureau committee on land

6. Adequate building equipment for tenant's tenure

home and type of faming, 12,A landlord-tenant demonstration farm

7»Better care of premises by tens.nts tour this s\mimer

Seme of these objects can be attained by bureau action in the near future.
Others will respond only to mcst persistent harasering over a period of years.

The methods employed in the Vermilivon County activities are v/orth widespread
study. The most suggestive of these methods are:

1. The first meetings were t\7ins, one for texiants and the other for landlords
the next morning. Expression v.'as unembarrassed and cross fire impossible.

2. The joint canmittee was supplied with the kernels of suggestions taken
down by stenographers at the separate meetings. This committee of three landlords
and three tenants had about six weeks in v;hich to perfect its report,

3. The report of the joint committee v/as referred to a special meeting of
the biireau for adoption. Adoption was unanimous, according to a rule that pre-
vailed thruout,

4. All discussion was kept impersonal, and on a high constructive plane.
The interests of both groups over a long period pf time were made the bull's eye
of the project.

The conference differed from others I have attended in that it \7as not a
•flash in the pan* affair, the subject v/as not exhausted, but on the contrary,
first steps have been taken, and the foundation laid for progress in the future.
The country can well afford to watch Vermilion County as it follows up this ex-
cellent work," - C. L. Stewart, Office of Farm Management, U.S.D.A.

Vol^ IV

Page 33

No. 11

"i/Vhat a Livestock Organization Can Do,- At the recent annual meeting of the
McLean County Swine Breeders Assocxation the secretary reported that during the
past year their organization had held one local swine show and six combination
swine sales. Approximately 200 entries were listed in the swine show classes.
In the six sales 259 head of pure bred hogs were sold which brought a total of
$19»799.00, or an average of $76»50 per head. Two of these sales were Durocs,
two Hampshires and one ach of Poland Chinas and Chester 1/i^ites. Considering the
fact that two of these sales were boar sales held last fall and that the expense
of selling was small, the prices received for these animals were very satisfactory

The program decided upon for the coming year includes another show of
breeding animals and also a barrow show. Brood sow and boar sales will also be
held and m«re attention will be given to pig club work. Meetings of this sort to
discuss the work accomplished and to outline a future program of work should be
held by every livestock breeders association." - W. H» Smith*

Kendall County Program of Work Committee recommends the following tie*' Pi'ojects
1. Soil improvement campaign with attention to (a) greater acreage of legunes;
(b) storage and use of limestone and phosphate. 2. Road improvement, 3. Study of
tenancy problem in county, 4, Organization of livestock shipping associations.

The following projects now under v;ay will be continued; 1. Buying agency,
particularly to obtain high class seeds. 2, Mutual Fire and Tornado Insurance.
3. Corn Root Rot Demonstrations,

Reaching the Members. "As our tabular report shows we are holding a number
of meetings. These meetings are of two types, evening and all-day meetings. At
the evening meetings we Jiave tried to bring in an outside speaker and always try
to take the Farm Bureau Quartet, necessarily subject matter of these meetings
has to deal largely with publicity concerning County, State, and National Farm
Bureau ivork; it is a soi-t of morale builder and general all around pep session,
and in every case we have been able to follow the night meetings with an all-day
meeting. The plan carried out so far has been a big ccmmunity dinner v/ith the
afternoon turned over to round table discussion, question box, etc. We believe
we are accoaplishing a great deal in this publicity work." - Edgerton, Rock Isal
Island County,

Good Meetin>;s. - There seems to be an increasing interest in our meetings
at the rural school houses. We had at least one hundred present at a meeting
in one of our one-room school houses," - G, F, Baumeister, Stephenson Co,

"Cern«-shelling bees were held at Bushnell, iiarch 3, and at Adair, March 5.
A carload of corn for European Relief v/ill be shipped from each of these points
and it is probably that two more carloads will be shipped from the county. "-
R. C. Doneghue, McDonough Co«

12. an^ £l vo"r members, want alfalfa hay?. - "The Finney County Farm Bureau,
Garden City, Kansas, can furnish 50 cars of No, 1 excellent leafy alfalfa hay,
125 cars of standard and 200 cars of No, 2 alfalfa hay, prices for the best
about $12* a ton, F.O.B. Garden City. Freight rates are only 47^ per hundred
to FChicago and similar eastern points." - Chas. E. Cassel, County Agent,

J, Frank Ziogler, who has been Assistant Advisor in Macon County for the
year, has resigned that position to takee charge of the "l^rncr Farms" i
iegler will live in Clinton, Illinois,

past

BeWitt County.

Mr,

% ^xt

mston

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. IV

March 23, 1921.

No. 12

pip wing Under
Larp:e Amounts

Green Crops

"Crops planted after large amotints of green crops have been
plowed under are somotimos injured. The four conditions recog-
nized as causing injury are given below,

1, If the green crop is allowed to grow too long, it may rob
the succeeding crop of noisture.

2« Large amounts of green materials or dry materials when not
properly compacted after plowing under are liable to prevent the crop from Abs-
taining sufficient moisture from the layers of the soil,

3» Certain crops undergo an acid fermentation, v/hich, altho temporary, per**
sists sufficiently long to seriously injure the crop grovrth. Rye quite frequent-
ly undergoes this kind of a fermentation. Green legumes, when plowed under in
Jarge amounts,, may undergo this kind of decomposition,

4. Plovring under green and dry crops nay cause an excessive ammonia accumu-
lation \vhich, like the acid fermentation, is temporary, but again, it also per-*
sists sufficiently Jong to bo a most, serioue cause of injury to gerniinating seed-
lings.

How may these causes of injury be avoided? The most important considera-*
tion in this respect is to plov; the material under as early as possible* A period
of seven to ten days should elapse betv/een plowing under green materials and the
time of planting. Disking the green crop makes possible the preparation of a
better seed bed, viiherc a green crop has been allowed to grov/ too long, clipping

before plowing \7ill retard the rate of decomposition. Green sv/eet clover should
be plowed under v/hen not over 12 to 16 inches high if a crop is to be planted in
7 to 14 days thereafter," ^ A. L, V±iting,

"Securing a Stand of Alfalfa on Blow Sand, - The folloT^idng method -has been
used successfully in Henderson County in securing a stand of alfalfa on blov/ sand.
First about 4 tons of limestone per acre is applied; this is sufficient for 4
to 6 years. Second, two successive green crops of soybeans are turned underj
this is to supply the much needed organic matter. Third, early in the spring of
the third year about 2 pecks of v/inter rye is drilled in, and v;hen this rye is about
about 4 inches high about 20 pounds of alfalfa seed is drilled in. The rye pre-
vents injury to the alfalfa by blowing sand. The rye must be clipped later in
the season. On sand of this type the greatest difficulty is to get a stand. After
a stand is secured it \7ill remain indefiriitely. Some stands there have been in
existence 10 to 12 years and still giving good results." - H.G.LI.Jacbtfon

"The Kendall County Clover-Seed Growers' Association v/as formed at a meeting
last evening. This organization states, in its constitution the follov/ing: *Tho
object of this association shall be to procure for seeding, to produce, and to
market a superior grade of clover seed,^ The men particularly interested are

°^^ interested in producing alsike clover seed, and they are confined mostly to
"ae ;^.ag^2h^2aJLj:-££3£ej_J£en^JJ^_County«

Vol* IV

Page 2

No. 12

"Spray Schedule for the Fam Orchard, Not all farmers vri.ll find it convenient
to apply the full mjmber of sprays recommended for conEercial orchards. Exclusive
of the dormant spray, the maxicun number of sprays for southern section is eight;
the minimun is three, viz., the calyx spray, to be applied when two-thirds of the
petals have fallen, using lime sulfur, one gallon of liquid or four pounds of
dry and one pound of arsenate of lead powder in 50 gallons of Viater; the three
weeks spray to be applied three weeks after the calyx spray, using exactly the
same materials and quantities; the ten weeks spray should be applied approximately
ten weeks after the calyx spray using only lime and powdered arsenate of lead.
One pound of arsenate of lead must be combined v7ith two pounds burnt lime, but if
bxornt lime cannot be secured, use four pounds of hydrated line.

The maximum number of sprays recommended for the central and northern sections
is six; the minimum is three, as indicated under the southern section.

Dry pov/dered arsenate of lead should be purchased in the largest size contain-
ers possible to reduce the price. It does not deteriorate upon exposure to air
and may therefore be distributed in small paper parcels. The price should not
exceed 20p per pound in 200^ drums and not greater than 300 in 257?^ -packages.

Dry lime sulfur should be bought in containers which will not be broken except
by the user. The price in lOOjf cans varies from ^ to lOg- cents in less than car
lots. Both arsenate of lead and dry lime sulfur can be purchased from:

Sherwin-ti/illiams Go,, Cleveland, St, Louis, Chicago,

Martin Senour Co., Cliicago,

The Glidden Co., Chicago.

Voonegut Hdw. Co,, Indianapolis,

Meyer Bros. Drug Co., St, Louis.

Dow Chemical Co., Liidlani, Mich,
Arsenate of lead can be purchased from any chemical company, e,g, , Grasselli,
Corona, Rex, Devoe, Raynolds, etc," - W. S. Brock,

Movie Films at Farm Meetings, - "During the Farmers' Institute we used seven
reels of notion pictures, furiiished by the Department of Agriculture, which
proved very valuable in explairdng the Fam Bureau and Home Bxireau work. The
scenarios tactfully presented Farm Bureau propaganda along v/ith human interest
plots. The film, "The Happier ¥ay" showed how the school boy in arithjnetic prob-
lem figured the miles his mother walked in carrying in vmter during a year's time.
With the assistance of the Heme Adviser and the Farm Adviser this culminated in a
modern water system being installed in the home. The two reels "A liatter of
Form" showed the method of conducting a sewing school under the leadership of the
Home Adviser, which aroused the interest of the whole ccmnunity, even to the most
stubborn. The films in question were staged in Bozeman, L'ontana, under actual
Farm Bureau conditions that will be applicable anyvyherc. Any one interested
should correspond with F. i/i'. Perkins, Assistant in Charge of Uotion Pictures,
Department of Agriculture, kfashington, D, G, v/here a more detailed explanatiCC
of the films can be secured." - Fuller, L^rshall-Putiiam Co^,

A Boy's Ag Short Course, - "as are planning a 6 day shortcourse for boys be-
tv/sen l2 and 18 years of age to be given d\iring the spring vacation Larch 21-26,
Each school district v/ill be allov/ed to send two delegates if they choose to do so.
The y.L.C.A, is cooperating by furnishing sleeping quarters and feeding the boys,
v»e expect to concentrate the work on three or four subjects. A charge of §10,
will cover all expense. Wo expect at least 100 boys at this school and believe
we can give them some worthwhile ideas," - G, F, Baumeister, Stephenson Co,

Vol. r/

Page 3

No. 12

we want YOU to speak up too. - H. B. Piper v/rites us, "I v/ould like to see a
nice article in the Extension Lesscnger at an early date on feeding baby chicks."
This was assigned to hi/'. K. Smith, Departmental Adviser in Animal Husbandry, and
he roconmends the following iten, so here goes, Piper- Nov/ let's hear from some
other advisers. - Yc Ed,

How to Handle Chicken Babies. - "Chicks should receive their first feed when
about 60 hours old. This nay be a soft feed, something that v/ill not tax any
digestive organs. I have used -./ith success the following mash: Eight parts flaked
hcainy, 4 parts rolled oats, 1 part each cf bran and middlings. Thisiis mixed
^vith boiling sv/eet milk and fed three times a day for the first four v/ceks. A
good commercial chick-grov/ing mash may also be fed with success.

Be careful not to overfeed. The heaviest feed should be given at night so the
chicks can go to sleep v/ith full crops to last them thru the night. After the
chicks are given free range they should have cracked corn or a mixture cf cracked
corn and wheat, v;hich can be fed by hand or from an automatic feeder. As they
learn to operate these feeders they are fed less mash, and the hominy and middlings
are omitted and the rolled oats increased. For chicks three months old and older
I use a large quantity of sprouted oats as a soft feed." - Chas, A. Simmonds,
American Poultry Journal,

A Scrub Bull Funeral, -"One of the most impressive and inspiring funerals ever
held in Waupaca County occurred on V/ednesday, July 28, vrhe n the Bear Creek Cow
Testing Association commemorated the passing of the scrub bull in its vicinity,
T-'/enty-tv/o automobiles followed the likeness of such a bull from Bear Creek to
Chain-0'Lo.kes v/here it v^as dumped -overboard with due ceremony. The cov/ tester and
fiVQ other young men acted as pall bearers, v/hilc 'Chub'Reissler, a prominent
Hoistcin breeder, officiated as undertaker. Tho casket -.vas lowered v/ith beautiful
;boqu6ts of *bull thistles' presented by members of the Association. Remarks of
tribute V7ore made by Ton O'Connor, in view of the deceased having so long resisted
the inevitable coming of the pure bred sire, Tiie procession was interrupted by
stops at farms where registered bulls shold places of profound respect and high
esteem. It was a long hot trip, and the place on the County Agent's Ford v/hcrc
the speedometer should bo, registered around 3 25 miles. The members of the As-
sociation have voted in favor of capital punishment are already looking for a
victim for next year's excursion." - James H, Dance, County Agent, Waupaca Co. Vds,

Fifty- five out of a possible 8C blanks regarding the district conferences
wore returned. The southern districc took first place v/ith 16, and the south-
.vestcrn followed closely v/ith 15. The other three had 8 each. Who said southern
Illinois was slov/T - G» U. C,

Jcfforson County Secures Advisers- Mr. Ecriram Abnoy has been employed by the
Tcffcrson County Farm Bureau as Farm Advise- in that ccunty. He began work Llarch
'-5* Mr. Abncy is a graduate of the University of Illinois, He viB.s brought up on
I fam in Saline County and has spent most of his time since graduation operating
L farm in that county. He did seme -jork as an official tester for the dairy dc-
>artmcnt of the Urdversity of Illinois, and v.us for a little norc than a year
sinployod on a large livestock farm in Leo County,

E. G, Thiem has been employed as assistant adviser in White sr.de County, and
111 take up his v/ork there about Juno 15. lir. Thien is nov/ a Senior in the
ollcge of Agriculture, University of Illinois, and \vlll graduate in June of this

■

Vol. IV

% ^xt

ensum

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA, ILLINOIS

Larch 30, 1921.

Find YOUR Place

in the PROGRAii of the

FARL BURE^.U

No. 13

Here's a slogan. Vi/ill it stimulate action? Let's try it? G.N.C,

Legumes,

"It is generally recognized that the best way to add organic

A Source of matter and nitrogen to the soil is to turn under legumes. The ne'*

Soil Organic cessity of returning a part or all of the top groivth of the legumes

Matter in the regular rotation is not universally admitted; however, in

_^ view of the fact that our soils appear to be gradually becoming

more difficult to work, due to the gradiial depletion of their organic-matter ccn»
tent, it would seem to be the wise course to take advantage (>f every practical s
source of organic matter.

A heavy spring growth of clrver can be turned under for corn with but little
dahger of insufficient decomposition prior to planting. Green legumes decay very
rapidly and thus the danger of an unfavorable physical effect is quickly removeilj
and at the same time the e-Ssential h nutrients which are locked up in the tissues
of the legiane are made available for the young corn plants. vVhen a sweet clover
seed crop is removed, leaving a heavy grov/th of well-matured stems and branches,
late fall plowing is probably preferable as it gives a longer time in the spring
for the more resistent material to decay.

Just v/hat the ultimate physical effect of turning leguminous green manures, or
failing to do so, will be, cannot be stated v/ith very much assu-anca. The iviinne-
sota Station found at the end of a 22-year period, a pD.ot v/hich had grown corn con-
tinuously contained 3,39 percent of organic matter in the surface 12 inches, while
an adjacent plot v/hich had produced 5 crops of clover together v/ith the grain
crops, and had received rj? tons of manure per acre, contained 4.7^ percent of or-
ganic matter, a difference of 1,37 percent. This work and also certain other v/ork
indicates that a very material and fairly rap.id increase in the organic matter con-
tent of soils can be brought about by returning a reasonable amount of top growth,
or its equivalent, in addition to that returned by the roots when a good rotation
is practiced." - R. S, Smith, Prof^ of Soil Physics, U, of I,

Furnishing the Boys a^ Sow to Start '^:.th„ - "we have made arrangements vTith the
Fair Association v;hereby they are placing with one boy in each township, a sow
which he will caref or, raise the litter and show at the Fair. The Association
chooses three pigs rem the litter as its pay for the sow, theremainder then being
the property ©f the boy. We expect th.'.s to create a lot of interest in pig club
work and in the Fair. We have no diff:.culty in placing the sov;s as we have more

^^^^j^^^^^^^^Snyder. Ogle Co.

Vol. IV

Page 2

No. 13

Vets Vifant to Cooror^^© with Fam Bureau. "The Veterinary Organization of this
and adjoining countioi; held a meeting at Carlinville v/hich they invited the ad-
viers and Executive Conmittee of the Hiaccnpin County Farm Bureau to attend. It
seemed from a discussion v/nich followed that the veterinarians are making an
honest effort to be of greater assistance to the farmers* They are plan'^ing to
take up some special work along the eradication of poultry diseases, and enlisted
the support of the Farm Bureau officers and advisers in this work." - Rusk,
Macoupin Co»

^)iZ ^®Y.§^ ^132. D^Ji* " '"^^e calves for the Baby Beef Club v/ere distributed
March I9. Thirty hoys and girls have beg'm the contest from 'Calfville to Beef-
tovm* with a determxnatr.on to win. Twelve Shorthorn, nine Hereford, and rine
Aberdeen Angus calves are entered in this feeding contest, a committee of three
breeders, one from each of the above named breedSj located the calves of their
respective breed, foi these members who asked for help« These breeders were very
anxious that the mombery '3xp/*e£sirg a preference for their respective breed should
begin the congest with gcod j.t--i::,vidua.ls in o-^der that they could make a creditable
shewing of thi breed ai -t-hc- f^.ll s-hows. The result of !.his interest is: excellent
qualified calves with x-my breed type have been di^:tr:".buted at Toasonable prices.
The beys and girl? are c.jl.-.ghted vrlth the calves secured for them. Feeis are
cheap,, and the prospects fur a successful beginning in Calf Glab viiork is bright*"
Bunn, iu'.;,Donough Covnty,

£i.fl .Corn is_ St^ljL Rqllijig ?ji Jl.li^iois Cojinties. - "Two carloads already
shipped, and ■':l-.ree --nor-i bej.i^g made up'V livingr.^-or. Co. "G.' ft corn will likely
total b ca'-locds,. ■''e'.ri.nee Commuujty alone •: ort :«■-■' but --^s 2 ?oads and money to buy
a thirds Lishop Hill ■J.^^iiiuvlty -vith 90 member i: g.^ve IfOO b.ishels of corn and 06O."
Henry Co,- "Tne wee";: tarcn 14.19 was Farmers'- G.iifc Corn w'eek« Fvepcrts indicate
that alfficst three carloads V7ere dom.ted." ~ Hancock (;;.» •• "3ver 35(^0 br.?hels of
gift corn have been xonded into cars and theie r..re pTOTPerto of more..''' ~ Knox Co%
"Two c-ai s of. gilt cc^rn J.caded this week. Tne local private elevator handled the
corn, a local shellernan donated the sheller and the lalr-.es of the conmunity served
free l^ii^th^to all who assisted wf.th the corn., '• ~ Iroq'iois Co*

I'l^^ii^'i^ i^-§£"'^£* - '^^^ State of Illinois has reprinted the Eighteenth and
Twenty""-.hivd 'ev^tiiTof the Il.lino;"s 3tate F.rt d^cI cgi-t , wh-..ch, taken t-j!,;ei,her,
constitute e. monograph cf insects injuricis to Indian Corn. They oonia'.r- 425
pages of tejrt, exclueive of cables cf tontenis and indfxos, and a^-t illustrated
by 334 black and T.hite figwes and ui ght oclorea pl?"cDS., Applvontio.Vj ^rom those
who havs not; rec^^-'.vvd fne iirbt edriious of these reports (pri-VJei iu ^"^7^ and

1905 rejpsf.tively) .vhcul'd be addressed to S. A^ ForbeSj Chier.
Survey, TJrbana, JlDlinoir,

Kabura.l Histcry

Makins; the Old Laclinery Go Po^nd.- "Cur Farm Implement Repair and Exchange
H'eek, February 21 to zCrri^s^^ii-fhi s'.'.pplying most of t.ie menbers with second .
hand machinery sufficient cc handle Irii^ ye-i>'V,; work. V'.>?t cf them declare that
they v/ill not need to buy any+.hing new this year." «• Rcbbins, jjev/j.tt Co.

"Here are two mrn who want some honest to goodness h?,rd work on a farm in the
middle west, accord ng to hr, vb., a. Lloyd, U.5-.P.^. Cn,^. is «K, E. Cox, Ballston,
Va, He is 25 years old, har, had 5 years experience in g-neral farming, mostly
truck farming and has a general knov/ledga cf tjactors, I'-e ether i.s Eugene C
Bouton, age 23, of Ballrton, Va. . who has had abov-t 8 years' experience in general

r - t -wt

riPage 3a

farm work. Both of these young men vvere in the Signal Corps in France for nore
than a year, and one was wounded in the service, but not physically incapacitated
for labor. They both say v/ages are not a matter of primary consideration. vVrite
these men dire*t if you can help them," - G* N. Coffey

Trend in Commodity Prices (Continued). A review of v,-holesale price move<-
ments in I92O shows that the year was remarkable for the extremely high levels
reached in the early months and the violent declines that followed in late summer
and fall.

From January to May the trend in most comoodity prices was steadily upv/ard,
the general level in the latter month being the peak for all commodities. In this
month they v/ere 1A% above the level prevai^Jng at the clos^ of 19^9 and 172fo
above the 1913 level, A slight reactr'.on to^k place in June followed later by radi-
cal d9cl^nes that brought the December level down to a point approximately 30/a
below that of Mrty and only &y% above the prewar '.evel^

Vi/hen certain commod:=.tie& are considered LCay to December^ 1920, the violent
declines exDorienced are even nore striJiing, Vi'hereas farm products as a v;hole
dropped 41^ '?/', 1:0m the Liay I'evo:'.^ corn dropped 6'/^, oa-^s j6»i>%., cotton 63,4^,
sugar ()H, -'fooX 54o5/^, chj-.ime cali shoe leather j.-fo^ print cloth 64.2/^, wheat 38«4/^,
top hogs 44^^j, feeder cactjj 25% and it^t cat-tie iy;C«

Other .-adical decreases were lurrxioe coke t':.ao% from August to December,
Bessemer pig iron 26*8/^ froT September to DuzHv.b^?-. , steel billets 30,4^ from July
to Decemoer, and pig tin A'}^o.'. *.rom Apr:! vo Der.jrabar.

In Vlke manner, after sp"-!^? C" z'-iunsr^ bvil:3{.ng brick decreased ^2%, Douglas
fir l'jmt)3r 56^., red cedar Gbingies 54.7/«, linoccd oil 55.J-/o, and turpentine 69, 3f
(U«S» Buveaa cT Labor Statist ;.os„ )

The fc-i^owj.ng index nc.-.-bers are supplementary to those appearing in this
publiccticn previ oV'Sly. I'ata In t}ie vari.ou'; grr>ups of oommodities are available
oni.y vp -^hrn January 1921,- Tie figures for tLe separate farm products have been
ca?.culatTd up •'o and thrw the first vi/eek of Larch.

0.he3e I'iga'^es show that v;heat has stood the market decl3.nes much better
relat3t73iy than have the oxher common farm products, whereas wheat is still 80/t
above the prevrar level, corn is only ^%, oats 17/o, top hogs 5?=» feeder cattle 9/^,
and fat cattle 29^ above the I9I3 level.

INDEX IJUIvSEP.S OF VJHOIESALE PRICES
Fran Oct, 1920 to Llarch I92I by Groups of Commodities - 1913 price a 100

Yr* All Farm Corn Vi/heat Oats Food Clothes Lletal Lmtr,. Hcuse Top 1200-Stkr*

and Com Prod etc. & Cloth & Met<. & Eldg Fva-n. Hogs 150C^ and

Mo« mod. ucts in;A Pr.jrlus.Mat' ]-;=» r^-ods stee^' Fdrs

192c

Oc-l;- 225

182

169

23A

1^5

204
J?2

25V

].3'i

31^

3n i''7 211

12D

,N©v. 20 i
Dec. 189"
AVfc,

1920 243
1921
Jan, 177

165
144

218

136

140
126"

235
115

21-
"192

r- > A

J ; 0

d ' '■'"

3o9 143 2C7j.

I'C^

220

^-:''l

;f6

346 107 IT 9

107

263
192

21^

2:6

■jr)'^

.186

306

366 165 190

130

123

If 2

PO8

152

239

283 102 140

104

Feb,

105

173

1-3

■'

104 117

100

Miir.

XSX.WK

107

:bo

W-.

io> 109

109

F, F.

Elliott

, ASSt

.Farm 0rg.& lugt,,!].

of 1.

A. series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

VoaSi IV April 6, 1921, No. 14

Feeding "To dctormino tho rolativo value of alfalfa and timothy hay as

Tost dairy feed, sixteen cows, producing on the average about 30 pounds

Alfalfa of milk per day, were divided into two even lots. One lot was fed
and 10 pounds of alfalfa and the other 10 pounds of timothy hay per cow

Timothy per day, the retraining portion of the ration being the same for both
Hay" lots. After the first test the cows ivhich had been fed timothy were

changed to alfalfa, and those which had been fed alfalfa ^'erc changed
to timothy. The records show that the ccv/s produced about 10 percent more milk
on alfalfa than on timothy hay. The difference in production was Q}^ pounds of
milk increase in favor of each ton of alfalfa hay over a ton of timothy.

According to these results, when milk is selling for *^3*00 a hundred
pounds, alfalfa hay is worth C'25«00 a ton more than timothy as feed for dairy
cows. Since timothy hay will yield about l|- tons per acre and alfalfa over 3^
tons, we seo sonething of the increased earning power of an acre of alfalfa
over an aero of timothy.

Besides the greater return in milk, the condition of the cows counts for
much. At the end of each period the cows fed alfalfa hay were in much better
condition than these fed timothy. The timothy, altho of good quality, v/as
not palatable, and the cows recoiving it lost in flesh and were in poor condi*
tion generally. Where cov7S are fed timothy hay for an entire wxntcr, the
ration must be supplemented \7ith high-priced protein feeds, or the cows will
be in an unthrifty condition in the spring. On the other hand, govts fed alfalfa
are nearly aluays sleek and thrifty." - W, J. Frascr, Prof, of Dairy Farming,
U. of I.

Use of Fertilizers Slumps,- "The application of limestone and phosphate
has practically dv.dndled to nothing on account of the high prices of same and
the increased freight rates and low value of Farm Products, However, large
quantities of clover seed has been sovm, probably a larger acreage than has been
sown any year the last decade, due to the fact that v/o h^ve had enormous sur-
pluses on hand which cost the farmers $3 and 04 for threshing and which they
feel they would rather sow than sell for C>10 a bushel. Quite a bit of this

[cloversecd was sov;n early and is upnow.

Interest in sweet clover and soy beans is increasing, A fair amount of

[eweet clover seed has been ordered and planted, one san in the southern part

jof the county planting 130 acres. We are at the present time putting on a cam-
paign for the use of more soybeans planted v/ith the corn and believe that it

[iwill result in a large acreage this year." - Kercher, Pike County,

"Our four fje Ids of alfalfa have come thru the winter in fine shape. Many
bf the farmers living near those fields are very enthusiastic about alfalfa and
lire planning to *try a patch* this fall." - McGhoe, Johnson Co,

Vol, IV

page 2

Ho. 14

Craamercial luixc-d Feeds for Pi^'^s, - '•T/ie feeding tests at the Iowa Station
(1918-20) vi/ould indicate that most of the commercial mixed feeds are less valu-
able, pound for pound than corn, when fed according to the directions of the
respective manufacturing concerns.

In 32 lots of 5 pigs each, where 16 different mixed feeds were used, the
average feeding value of the feeds ¥/as $21»96 per ton when the corn and tankage
in the check lots -was charged at $,,70 per bushel ((25 per ton) and v^60 per ton,
respectively. The check lots receiving corn and tankage averaged 1,36 poimds
gain daily per pig, whereas the mixed feed lots averaged 1«22 pounds. The
former lots required 379 pounds of corn and 38 pounds of tankage to produce ICO
pounds of gain. The latter lots required 176 pounds of corn, 270 pounds of
nixed feeds, and 5»5 pounds of tankage to produce the same amount of ^in. In
10 lots, the mixed feeds were worth more than $25 Per ton, in 6 lots more than
s;30, and in 1 lot more than the value of oilmeal, Oilmeal is more expensive
thjan tankage, skim-milk or pasture as a protein supplement.

However, only a few of these feeds meet the requirement of the question of
a good supplement for corn since they are so lo?/ in protein. It is only the
occasional one that has more than 20 percent protein and a good many have about
the same amount as middlings. Many of these feeds contain as much crude fiber
as bran or oats which are objected to on account of their bulk. True it is, that
at times it is better to use scrae of them than feed corn alone, but why not use
instead some of our well known supplements which are not only cheaper but higher
in protein as v/ell." - John B. Rice, Associate in nn, Husb« , U, of I.

Eight Gents a Hundredweight. - "The Strong^urst Shipping Association held a
meeting at the Farm Bureau Office, Considerable dissatisfaction was expressed
over the fact that the present shipper had been receiving 10 cents per cv/t, com-
mission. The officers threshed the matter out pretty thoroly and finally cade
arrangements v/ith the same shipper to handle the work for eight cents for the
coming year." - F, L, Bane, Henderson Co,

iwvr ue Have ':j'inety, - "The 90th Farm Bureau in Illinois was organized March
29. Cumberland County claims the honor, Geo. Holsapple is President and Fred
i„cCandlish of Toledo is Secretary." - Spitler,

Let. :^ocal Interests Handle Buying. - "It is the intention of the farm bureau
to do all of the commercial part of its work thru local associations, i.ost of
o\ar seed this year has been handled thru a local dealer. The dealer handles
the kind and grade of seed recommended by the farm adviser, and sells at a IC^
profit. The buyer knows the kind of seed, its cost and the dealer's commission,
ufe have found this very satisfactory," -- licGhee, Johnson Co,

Spell it with an '^,", .- "The word 'adviser' is so frequently misspelled by
farm advisers, by I, A*.. A». employees, and by other people connected with farm
bureau work, that I mm wondering if a line or two in the Lessenger calling atten-
tion to the correct spelling of the v/ord might not be worth while." - Brown,
Stark County,

Several years ago at the U, of I, a committee carefully investigated the
merits of the two spellings and a decision ?a.s reached that in Illinois at least,
the spelling should be adviser - "e" instead of "0".

Vol. IV

Page 3

No. 14

The Clover Seed Pool has handled about I6OO bushels of clover seed which is
now practically all sold. This seed was all run over our new cleaner with the
exception of one lot. The tine of the Advisers has been almost completely taken
up in the past 60 days in handling the seed project, v/e have secured for about
50 members from 500 to a Ol- more for their seed than they would ordinarily have
received, i/fc have cleaned up and distributed the clover seed for approx.ijnately
200 farmers in the county, and v/e have also tested their seed to do away with the
noxious weeds. This service ViQS given to each of these farmers, which alone will
pay the entire cost of the project and added to this there is an increased interest
for better seeds, a more wholesome fear of noxious weeds and realization of the
great loss encountered each year from the use of poor seed. VVe think the clover
seed pool has paid well." - uVells, Viarrcn County,

Potash Shale in Illinois will furnish a source of potassium needed in peaty
lands and possibly on many, other long-cropped soils. Read the new 28 page bul-
letin No. 233, which is just coming cff the press of the U. of I. Experiment
Station, if you want to know the details of what, where, when, and hov;. Address
the Agr, Exp. Station, Urbana, 111,

Circular 212 - "A Spray Schedule for all fruits has just been revised and
each adviser should have copies. Address Agri* Exp» Station,

Effingham County now has a new adviser. J. L. Gardner, v/ho has been mamgoi'
of the "Vralhut Grove Farm" near Virginia, Ills, for the past 8 years, took up
his duties as Farm Adviser in Effingham on April 1. Mr, Gardner graduated
from the University of Illinois in I9II and has been in \irork of actual farm opera-
tion since that time. He takes the position vacated by H. J. Ruckcr.

It seems we h^ve forgotten to mention H. W. ?Hy. who began v/ork as assistant
adviser in "Cook County on January 1 of this year, lir. Day was for 2 years in-
structor in olericulture at the University of Illinois where he graduated in 1917-
He is permanently located at the branch office of the Cook County Farm Bureau at
Blue Island, Illinois,

New Home Bureau Advisers,- Liiss Helen Schouten. graduate of Iowa State Col-
lege, who has been teaching Home Economics in Denison High School is now Home
Adviser in Lercer County.

Hiss Anna 01 sen has succeeded Liss Edna Truman as Home Adviser in Kankakee
Countys iJiss Olsen is a graduate of the University of Chicago and has been a
Home Advisor in Iowa since 191?.

Hiss Fmrna DnWitt a graduate of the University of Illinois, is now Home Ad-
viser in Vermilicn County. She comes to us from North Dakota, whore she v/as
Couirty Home Demonstration Agent for three years.

Llss Zelmu. Lonroe, a gradu-ite of Wellesly College and Illinois Vi/eslcyan,
is now Home Adviser in LaSalle County. For the past year and a half iliss Lonroe
has been Homo Demonstration Agent in Niagara County, Nev/ York,

Coles County organized a Home Bureau on January 15 with 373 members at a
membership fee of C-5- a year. This is the first Illinois County to begin a Home
Bureau .nn a $5. fee. It will no doubt be a regular custom in the near future,
as several old counties arc reorganizing on that basis, because they have found
it an absolute necessity for good work.

■BB

^t jxi

mstmt

A series of brief" notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol, IV

SuHirer Le flumes

April 13, 1921*

No. 15

"It has long been the policy of the Experiment Station to
substitute soybeans for clover, v/hen the clover fails to show a
satisfactory stand in the spring. This practice has been very
successful in maintaining a legume crop in the rotation where
otherwise there would be none. Mediun Yellow soybeans are usually seeded as a
clover substitute, as this variety will mature sufficiently early so that the
beans rtay be removed from the Land in time to seed fall wheat. If hay is needed,
this plan gives a fair crop of soybean hay. On four experiment fields located in
the corn belt as a two year average, un-orsated land has yielded about 1-g- tons of
hay, while land receiving complete treatment 'organic matter-limestone-rock*-
phosphate) yielded 2 tens of hay. In southern I.Minois the untreated land yields
about 3/4 tons of hay while the treated land yields 1^ tons hay per acre. The
soybean seed yields are of more valt^e than are the hay yields. On the four ex*
periffient fields in the corr:be3.t untreated land averages 15 bushels beans per
acre, v/hxle the treated land averages 20 bushels per acre. In southern Illinois
the untreated land averaged about 4 bushels per acre, while the treated land
avei-aged 125- bushels beans per acre. In the south part of the state cov/peas
have been used as a substituief or clover. This crop is fairly satisfactory
and does well on unlimed ijoils, but on limed land, soybeans are far superior to
the cowpea," - H, J. Snider, in cJiarge of E.xp. Fields, U. of !►

"Greatest J^oss i^n _f£"Ae Crop due to the Codling-Moth. - The very ^ild weather
of the past winter has been exoremely favorable to the overwdntering larvae of the
codling-rmoth, More than the us'jal ni'mber of these worms have survived and will
produce moths this spring. This is important to every one in the state who
owns an orchard, whether large or small, and if these worms are not controlled,
it will be impossible to hariest a crop of good fruit. Remember, the most im-
portant spray for the codJing-Tnoth is the one given at the time two-thirds of the
petals have fallen. Do net, under any consideration, omit this spray this season,
Upe 1 lb. arsenate of lead, 2 lbs, fresh liiae, l|- gals, ccnmercial lime sulfur
or 3^ lbs. dry lime sulfur, 50 gals, water," - W. P. Flint, Entomologist, U. of I>

"Freeze Created M^ch l^amage in Illinois, - Most of the Farm Bureau reports
this week have carried a story of damage to fruit or crops or both as a result
cf the recent frosts, freezes, and inclement v/eather. In seme sections, practi-
c:^ lly all the fruit is gone, while in others it is believed some apples are
still alive. In many counties the cats was "nipped" but is coming on again,
However, seme farmer sresowed oats without waiting to see if the injured crop
uld recover, Wheat, alfalfa, sweet clover and old red clover show "burned"
leaves and tops* New seedings of red clover v/ere generally killed and had to
Le reseeded. It is fortunate that a large supply of red clover seed was at
hand." *- Ye Ed.

Vol. IV

Page 2

No. 15

"Le^umincug V^ver Crop in the Small Fruit Plantation. «■ The use of cover

crops, especially legumes, is comparatively rare in the small fruit plantation.
This may be due to the short life of the plantation and the difficulties involved
in managing a cover crop.

There are several reasons peculiar to small fruit culture, however, for the
more general adaption of cover cropping. Small fruits demand for best returns,
a moderately fertile soil of considerable moisture holding capacity* the moisture
must be available fairly near the surface because of the comparatively shallow
root systems of the small fruits. Again, the ripening season of the small fruits
comes during the hot summer months, A liberal amount of the common plant food
elements, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, usually provided for by the addi«
tion of chemical fertilizers and stable manure-, is needed close by aiad really
available, A soil well filled with h'imus, therefore, is the first requisite.
If the humus content ccmes about from a leguminous cover crop, previously turned
under, several purposes are served with the same operation.

Unless the plantation is sittated on a slope^ clean tillage should ordinarily
be practiced from the time the ground is first workable in spring until about the
first of July, each season, A crop of cow peas may then be sown and harrowed in
with the last cultivation^ The cow peas are allowed to make as much growth as
may be iu fall, then worked under the follo?/ing spring. In more northern sections,
Vetch or clover may be i'S8c\„ Tnese crops must be worked in at the first oppor>»
tunity in sprjLng before they establish themselves and partake of the natureof
weeds." f A, S* Colby, Asst. Frof. of Pomology, U«> of I,

Weevil get s Clover,- "The weevil, together with the recent freeze, killed
many fields of clover in the county, Vi/here the clover was pastured close last
fall it stands a much better show. Practically all the clover is dead in fields
where there was any growth or trash remaining thru the winter. About the only
reason we can see for this is that the weevil was harbored wherever there was
any growth remaining. Perhaps 50/^ of last spring's seeding of clover is killed, "-
Eyman, Jersey Co,

A Corn Root Rot Test in Each Township,- "The main work of the past week
has been the assembling of 12 lOO ear lets of corn to be used in a root rot demon-
ctration, one to each township^. The plan of our root rot work is as follows;
(l) Let the farmer plant 20 rows out of his ovm bulk seed,
{2) JNext to this plant the disease free corn out of his 100 ears that
are being tested.
(3) Then one round with the planter of very badly diseased corn,
(4) Next to this about eight rov/s of Funk's I76-A Strain,
This fall we intend to call Township meetings at these fields and let the
farmers themselves harvest and weigh 100 hills out of 1-2-3- and 4, At the same
time a seed corn picking demonstration will be given.

As we see it, these demonstrations ought to bring out the following poiiitsj
First, a comparison of (1) and (2) will show the farmer that planting
disease free seed out of his own corn is much superior to his regular seed corn.

Second, a comparison of the yield of (3) against the yields of (2) and (4)
will show what sort of a toil Root Rot is taking," - Edgerton, Rock Island Co,

_ Know the Other Fellow, - "One hundred farmers and members of the Community
Commercial Club of Albion rubbed elbows at a banquet held in Albion April 5*
We believe that in an agricultural community like this such functions will bring
the business mai of the city and farmer together where each may become more

riiiii

i + V,

^^^^^thQr

*s problems." - J. C, Spitler.

■ 1 ,-.^^-.

Vni rv

No, 15

Do Ycu Know Take-All vlhen You See It? Because a small patch of 'Take-All*
has been identified in one wheat field 6 miles northwest of Lincoln in Login
County and because it is again present uaong the susceptible varieties of v/heat
in the experimental plots in iiiadison County where a varietal test is being con-
ducted, lir, George H, Dungan has deemed it advisable to call the attention of
all advisers to the appearance and synptcKS of both Flag Smut and Take-All,
Accordingly, a poster and a description shewing and describing these diseases is
being sent to all county advisers* Mr, Punr^an X3 in charge of plant disease
work at the University and he is also cooi'erating with the U, Se D, A, in helping
to control these wheat diseapes in thoir imipi.ent stages. He says the immune
and resistent varieties of wheat presont tho bast methods of control. Turkey
Red, Red Wave and Red May are inamie and Pultz, FuD.caster and IVinter Fife are
resistent, while other common varieties seem to be more or less eusceptible.

"Shall We Plant Soy Beans in t_he Corn Field for Hogging Down? -Pigs to be used
for hogging dovm crops can be carried thyu ihe sicner on good pasture vrLthout any
protein supplement. These 80 to 125 pound pjgs cun then be turned into the field
planted to corn and scy beans and carried to a marketable weight without the use
of a large amount of high priced, high protein feeds. It is in this role that
soy beans have been most popi.'lar in the corn belt=.

Soy beans either drilled or checked in the corn, generally reduce the corn
yield to about the extent of the yield of soy beans. The exact amount that the
corn yield is reduced varies with the season, (This statement is based on data
furnished by the Department of Ag-'onony) , To illustrate; If ycircorn yield is
50 bushels per acre v/hen corn al«ne is grown, you could expect 44 to 45 bushels of
corn in case you had a yield of 5 bushels of beans to the acre. The advantages
gained in feeding value is the difference between 5 to 7 bushels of soy beans
and an equal number of bushels of corn. Soy beans have a feeding value of lOfo
more than corn, when soy beans are used as a protein supplement.

Planted in the corn, soybeans help to balance the hog ration but do not caa-
pletely replace the tantoifca. For best results, a small amount of tankage should
be fed in addition to the beans. An acre of corn in v/hich a good stand of rape
has been secured, is approximately equivalent in feeding value to an acre of
corn and soybeans planted together. Corn and soybeans in the field do not give
as satisfactory results as corn in the field v/ith tankage in addition, both from
standpoint of rapidity and economy of gains.

The feeding value of soy beans is of course not the only consideration which
will determine whether or not they are to be grown," - R. J. Laible, Asst. in
Hog Production, U, of I,>

'Ware the Tree Agent, - "Fruit tree agents are apparently numerous in the
state at this time. Some of them are honest and represent reliable nurserioS|
but because of the tremendous losses incurred in the past by planting stock pur-
chased from *peddlers*, it is a much better practice to order direct from a re-
liable nursery, Me|ny of these agents are salesmen par-excellence aQ evidenced
by the fact that they often fool even some old horticulturists v/ho should know
better. Let none be deluded by beautiful pictures and extravagant claims,"-
W, S, Brock, Dept, Specialist in Horticulture, U, of I,

Scarcity of Horse S^ires^ - "Farmers are taking an interest this year in rais-
ing more horses, but they "discover that scaracely any good sires are available.
Reports indicate that this condition is general thruout the state. Probably
horse breeding will increase very slowly on this account and so the men who are
fortunate enough to raise good horses at the present time may expect good prices."
Robbins, DeWitt Co.

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. IV

April 20, 1921.

No, 16

Snow! The 17th of April with trees in leaf, gardens up, and lawns ready for
the second visit of the lawn moweri Can you believe it? Oh, what a gorgeous
color schemei "Ain't nature beautiful??

What is the Damage? A study of the injury done to Illinois fruits by the
freezes of March 28, 29»- and April 10 and 11 is quite accurately siamnarized as
follows; "The commercial crop of peaches and pears is a total failure. The com-
aercial crop of apples for the state will not exceed 15 percent^ (90% or more
of the commercial apple crop being produced south of a line drawn thru Urbana),
Plums and cherries are a total loss, while, except for the extreme southern portion,
grapes are probably not seriously injured. The early apples in the Ozark section
are reported from 80 to 95 percent killed. Late apples in the same section are
a trifle better. Both early and late apples in Clay, Richland, and Marion counties
are nearly a total loss. The reports from the western Illinois section, compris-
ing the Illinois and Mississippi River section, are contradictory, but would
seem to indicate that there might be as much as 20 percent of a crop. It is cer-
tain that in one or two places within this area there is less than $% of a crop,
so that it will require a few more days to determine the exact extent of the loss.
The northern third of the state does not produce a large ccmmercial crop of apples,
tut the damage to fruit generally was much greater in the western part, in Adams
:.nd adjacent counties, than in the central and eastern sections. Tree fruits
t[eaerally in northern Illinois are reported safe. As this is being written the
damage do'he by the freeze of April 17 and I8 cannot be determined accurately, but
early examination and reports from four sections indicate that the damage is
slight," - W. S. Brock, Extension Specialist in Horticulture, U* of I,

Uses

of the

Soybean

"Fev/ crops have the possibility of ivider utilization than soybeans.
They are little used in this country as human food, but in the orient
they constitute an important part of the diet - secoiad only to rice vath
vrfiich because of their high protein content, they make an excellent
combination. The substitution of soybean oil for about one- fourth of
the linseed oil in paint and varnishes is becoming quite common in this
Further, employment of soy oil in thfj manufacture of soaps, lard and but-

Country,

ter substitutes, explosives, linoleum, and vegetable oils has made necessary the

importation of approximately three hundred million pounds of soybean oil each year

from China and Japan, In addition to the oil many thousands of bushels of beans

are received annually from these countries. The United States produced in 1919

only about l/lOO as many seed beans as wis represented by her importations of soy

oil.

In Illinois the principal uses of soybeans are as forage for livestock, soil
improvement, and a seed crop. As hay soybeans are ccmmonly consideredequivalent
to alfalfa and sli^tly superior to red clover. VThen used as pasture they are

Vol. IV

Pige 2

No. 16

commonly grown with corn for hogging or sheeping down. They have been used to
some extent as silage. Best results have been obtained when they were mixed
with corn inthe proportion of one part of beans to two or three parts of corn.
Soybeans have not always given satisfactory results as a soiling crop, altho
some experienced men recommend them for this purpose. The use of the threshed
beans as a concentrate in livestock feeding has great possibilities. The cake,
after the oil has been expressed, is as valuable as the whole bean for this
purpose. Itie oil from one bushel of beans is v/orth more than |1* according
to the oil values of I9I9." - George H. Dungan, Assoc, in Crop Prod« U. of I,

Beg Pardon. In the last issue of the Messenger a mistake occurred in Mr,
Flint's formula for codling moth spray. Instead of 1|- gal. craunercial lime
sulfur it should read 1:|- gal.

Ask "Sid" How He Gets Others to Work. Shelling corn from Demonstration plots
for instance.. His recipe sounds something like this. "Have a pair of O'alls in
the closet so 'Rastus*, the janitor will be tempted. Then accuse the poor
but promise to keep him out of jail if he v/ill man a corn shellerl - You tell
*em corn, you're the kerne II

"Value of Soybeans as a Hog Feed, On the basis of results obtained by the
Ohio, Purdue, Kentucky, and Ill.mois experiment stations, in tests involving
more than 2C0 pigs, we conclude thnt ground soy beans have a feeding value of
|46. per ton when 60% protein tankage sells at 07O« Per ton, or, soybeans have a
feeding value of $1»38 Per bushel when corn sells at 0*75 per bushel. V/hen com-
pared to oil meal, soybeans are v/orth $46«. 00 per ton v/hen oil meal sells for
^40o. per ton. On the percentage basis soybeans have a feeding value of about
"0% more than corn, 1A% more than linseed oil meal and 65% of the feeding value
of tankageo Soybeans must be ground if their full value is to be realized.

Even tho the quality of the protein contained in soy beans is excellent from
the nutritive standpoint, we find that soybeans are unpalatable and hogs will not
eat enough of them to balance their ration v/hen corn and soybeans are self fed.
A small amoiint of tankage should bo fed lyith soybeans to secure the best results.
Soybeans, when fed with corn, produce less rapid gains than tankage but produce
more rapid gains than linseed oil meal," ~ R« J, Laible, Asst, in Hog Production,
U. of I.

"Mixed Feed Prices. The Iowa feeding trials with mixed feeds for hogs have
given us a good basis for determining the value of some of our common brands of
commercial feeds. Compared to the check lots of corn and tankage (corn §,70 per
bu, , tankage !">60 per ton) nine of the better feeds have a feeding value of §25»75
per ton. These same feeds having an average of 17/^ protein, have been quoted
this month at an average prire of $4-2.- per ton. Are mixed feeds worth the price
at these figures?" - R„ J, Laible,

Order Lime in Groups,- "Two cars of limestone totaling 85 tons were divided
among 10 of our members, each of whom wiJ.l nse it in getting a start with alfalfa
or sweet clovor. vfe are gi^r.ng special attention to this method of introductin.-;
limestone this year. With l.'.mestone prices so high, compared with farm crops,
it is difficult to get many men to take a car-load the first time they undertake
to try limestone." - Robbins, De^ifitt Co.

Vol. IV

Page 3

No- 16

Potato Troubles to be Solved. "At a joint meeting of the Farm Bureau and the
Truck Grower's Association at Blue Island, April 2, the calendar of work -was
discussed and plans made for two complete potato growing and spraying demonstra-
tions for the coming season in Worth Township, Members present stated it would
be v7orth hundreds of thousands of dollars, if some means of controlling potato
diseases and insects could be devised that would make profitable potato growing
possible in Cook County*" - L. L, Heller, Cook Co«

"The last order _of certified northern grown seed potatoes have arrived,
making a total of 370 bushels. Studies to date indicate an increase in yield
of 15 to 20 bushels an acre from the use of certified potatoes as compared with
ordinary potatoes. Seme accurate figures will be compiled on this subject from
the trials this year. These potatoes have been distributed to 77 farmers," <»
Tillman, St. Clair County,

Movie Film Taken of Gift Corn,- "The Illinois Agricultural Association made
arrangements with the Venard Studio of Peoria to take moving pictures of the Gift
Corn shelling demonstration at Frinceville, 111. Arrangements were made with
the School Board for the school band pupils to march in parade formation from
the school house to the sheller. Enroute to the sheller each school child wag
given an armful of corn. This corn was dropped into the sheller by the children.
Pictures were taken of the leading of the corn, of the corn being dumped into the
elevator and of the car with \he signs on it. These signs were 24- feet long
eiad 3 feet wide and bore the following legend: *Gift Corn for Starving Europe
and China from Princeville, Peoria County, Illinois.' A total of 1423 bushels
of corn were donated in that section of the county," - Hedgcock, Perria Co.

"The gift corn project disclosed some interesting features, other than that
the farmers of Marshall-Futnam counties gave the equivalent of 5»550 bushels of
corn. One township with whom we held a committee meeting gathered over 1200
bushels. A carefully planned organization was formulated and 53 farmers gave
donations in this one township. The other townships were handled by the town-
ship directors. This all goes to show that to obtain results personal solicita-
tion and contact is essential. The newspaper support is a great help with any
undertaking of the Farm Bureau, The newspapers are publishing the list of do-
laators in their near-by toi,mships. The largest single donation was 200 bushels."
Fuller, iilarshxill-Putnam Co.

"A soybean variety test v/has been arranged on the farm of A» G, Schcenaman,
Hilyard Township, About a dozen different varieties of soybeans will be planted
side by side so that v/e may have occasion to compare character of the beans and
their adaptability to soil and climatic conditions in this particular section
of the county, We are desirous of finding the best beans to use v/ith corn for
ensilage or hogging off purposes," - Rusk, Macoupin Co.

Tazewell Threshermen set prices, - "At a recent meeting, representatives of
the Tazewell County Farm Bureau and the Tazewell County Threshcrmen*s Associa-
tion failed to get together on threshing prices for the ccming season. The
Threshermen* s Association presented a schedule of prices as follows: 3i^ for oats,
60 for wheat, 80 for rye and 40 for barley. The consensus of opinion at farm
community meetings was to the effect that 2g-0 for oats and 5s^ for wheat would
b© more fair as a readjustment schedule. It is hoped that an agreement may
be reached at a later meeting." - Starr, Tazewell Co.

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILUNOIS-URBANA, ILLINOIS

vol. IV

April 27, 1921.

No. 17

Soybean

Varieties

Characteristics

"Soybeans will be seeded on more acres in Illinois during
this season than ever before. This increase v/ill be somewhat
I toore generally distributed than formerly. Previous increases v/ere
quite largely confined to "The Corn Belt", This year will see
soybeans used throughout southern Illinois ""I jany farmers along
the Wisconsin line are beginning to get their seed, many of them
for their first crop*

Vl/hile the soybean is perfectly capable of giving a good
account of itself under all these conditions the choice of a variety, especially
the first year, f/ill determine in large measure v/hether the grower will be a soy-
bean advocate or not. There are scores of varieties and types of soybeans, but
we need mention only a few of the more important ones. The following varieties
are all quite common and are widely grown in Illinois* An additional list of less
common but nevertheless important varieties ^vill appear next week.

Early Varieties
Ito San, also known as Medium Early Yellow, is the most common and perhaps one
of the best early varieties. This variety has short erect bushy plants w*iich
nature in 100 days. The lower seed pods often touch the ground making harvesting
without loss of seed difficult. This variety is adapted to northern Illinois,
also to central Illinois, where late planting is necessary or v/here an early
maturing bean is wanted for hogging off with early corn. The Ito San is too short
and too woody for a good hay bean.

The A<. K,i3 a widely grown medium early maturing bean v/hich has made an
excellent yield of seed and works well where a bean is wanted to produce an
early seed crop. This variety works well v/here a bean is vented to produce a
seed crop and yet mature in time to seed wheat. The Ito San was too early for
this purpose in the central portion of the state and the Mongol was too late*
The A, K. seems to hold its seed better than the Ito San, therefore, is better
as a pasturing bean. It is fair as a hay bean, its stems only medium size and
it produces an average amount of foliage*

Medium Maturity^
The Mongol is the most widely grown and perhaps one of the best all purpose
beans available. This variety is essentially the same as, and is undoubtedly a
strain of, the Medium- Yellow, Another variety or strain probably from the same
original variety is the Hollybrook. These strains are all yellow seeded, bushy,
erect, medium sized plants which bear the pods well up off the ground and hold
the seeds well. These varieties are excellent for all purposes in central and
southern Illinois and good for hay and silage in the north sections*

The Ebony, also called Black Beauty, is perhaps the most commonly gro?m black
seeded bean in the state. This variety has erect, stout bushy plants that bear
abundant leaves, many branches and have only medium sized stems. The yield of
seed is fair but usually not quite as much as Mongol, This is an excellent bean

Vol, IV

Page 2;

No. 17

for hay and for pasture, especially where it is to be pastured off with sheep
in the corn.

The Peking, another black seeded sort, is more conanonly grown in Illinois
under the name Sable, It is also sometimes called Royal, This has much the
same maturity as the Ebony, but grows taller and more slender. Plants have a
slight tendency to twine. This variety is a fair yielder of Seed, but its
best use is as a hay, silage, and pasture bean,

Ohio 9035 is a selection produced at the Ohio Experiment Station which has
proven quite valuable in Illinois, The seeds vary from an olive to a cinnamon
brown and are rather large and quite uniform. This bean generally matures from
two to five days before the Mongol, producing as a rule, slightly less seed.
This variety is erect, bushy,, medium leafy and has rather coarse woody stems*
The seed is borne well up off the ground, thus facilitating harvesting for seed.
It is perhaps best adapted for seed, silage, or pzsturage*" (To be concluded next
issue) - J, C. Hackleman, Dept, Specialist in Crops, U, of I,

"Best Time to Clip Clover for Seed, Yield, and Feed.- Whether the yield of
clover seed is large or small depends very largely upon the abundance or scarcity
of certain species of insects. Clover blossoms are almost entirely dependent
upon insects for fertilization. In some seasons the greater part of the seed is
destroyed by other classes of insects which feed upon it. The best yields of
clover seed are secured only when the plants come in bloom at such a time that
large numbers of the pollinating insects are present in the field to fertilize
the blossoms, and the seed will mature when the insects which destroy it are not
nanerous.

There is a good deal of conflicting data with regard to the best time for
cutting or clipping the first crop of clover so that a maximum yield of seed will
be produced in the second crop* During the past two seasons work has been carried
on- at the University farm by the Agronomy Department and Natural History Survey
cooperating to get more data on this point. The results of the two year*s v/ork
have shown that if only a single six-inch clipping is to be given, this should
be done v/hen about lOjC to 15% of the clover heads are showing pink. Experi-
mental work conducted elsewhere, and the results of farmers* tests, show that
sometimes at least a double clipping is preferable to a single clipping. If
this is done, the first clipping should be made about tv/o weeks before the
clover heads show the pink> and again about three v/eeks later.

If the clover is grown only for a hay crop, the best yields of hay, and
like?/ise the best quality for feeding, may be obtained by cutting v/hen the clover
is just past full bloom, the first heads beginning to turn brown. Earlier cutting
tends to reduce the yield of hay somewhat. It is also more difficult to make a
good quality of hay from these earlier cuttings because of the soft sappy condi-
tion of the plants. Where a seed crop is considered essential, however, some
sacrifice on quantity of hay can probably be made with profit." - W, P. Flint,
Chief Field Entomologist, and J. C. Hackleman, Crop Specialist, U. of I,

Give *em the Gasl - "One feature of the work this week was a demonstration
in gassing woodchucks with a hose attached to the automobile exhaust. Out of
about tv/enty holes v/hich were gassed, the ovmer reports that none of the wood-
chucks appeared. The number present in the field before the operation leaves
no doubt as to the efficiency of the work*" - Price, Kendall Co,

Vol. IV

Page 3

No. 17

Echoes from Centra lia Conference, "We were very much pleased ;vith the practi
cal turn of the District Conference at Centralia. We were especially pl^.sed
with the feature of having the Executive Committee members attend. The secretary
of the Madison County Farm Bureau was given a broader vision of his work and a
suggestion of what the other farm bureaus are doing and has come back with more
enthusiasm for the Farm Bureau than he has had for some time. The only suggestion
that wecan oak© would be that the specialist be given full time to discuss his
project rather than just go over it in a hurried manner as it has been done."-
Raut, Madison County

"I attended the conference at Centralia with six executive committeemen.. The
ccarmitteemen all believed that it was a profitable meeting for them, and I am
sure it was a good meeting for the advisers. The executive committeemen v/ere so
enthusiastic about it, they voted to attend all the sectional meetings in this
district. Of course, it is not so hard for our committeemen to attend as it is
for some other sections of the district." - Blackburn, Marion Co»

"The Centralia Conference was one of the few very best conferences I have
ever attended. It seems to have got down to business on a very well selected
program better than ever before." - Piper, Richland County.

'*As en echo of the Centralia meeting, or perhaps more correctly an effect,
will say that I feel greatly benefitted and I am sure that Mr, Lingenfelter, our
president can- report the samer," - Wheeler, Lawrence Co.

"Our conference at Centralia this week seemed to me to be better than usual.
The advisers seem to get closer together in discussing their problems," - McGhee,
Johnson Co,

Reports from the other conferences are just coming in. • "The idea of
having Farm Bureau officers attend the district conference is a very good one,
it seems to me. I am very sorry that none of our executive committee were present,
I would suggest a letter from your office to at least the president and secre-
tary of the different executive committees, telling them of the interesting
meeting we had at this time, and also of the unanimous vote of those present
at this meeting to hold a similar meeting in the fall." - Dickenson, Cass Co,

"Potato Production Studies"- S>jould the farmer increase or decrease the
acreage of potatoes because of the large production last year? An extended
study of this subject has been made and the results compiled. Any adviser in-
terested may get a copy from H.C.MeCase, Farm Economist, In Charge Farm Manage-
ment Demonstrations, State Relations Service, Washington, DrC,

"Ten Soybean Demonstrations have been arranged for the various parts of the
county. About 8 or 10 varieties w^.ll be included in each demonstration. We
wish to get the farmers familiar with the leading varieties, and to study the
adaptability to this locality of the varieties grown in other sections of the
state," •• Richards, Kane Co»

Plenty of Men. - "We have had plenty of good hired men coming in at c30
to §35 a month for single men and 035 to $40 fcr good married men. Our people are
only hiring the best ones," - Rcbbins, DoWitt Co.

Will Test the Democrats "Twenty- five or thirty of our farmers have ordered
Democrat seed corn. We will have practically every corinunity in the county try-
ing out this variety this spring. If the bugs are numerous we v/ill be able to
give this corn a first class test in this latitude,"- E» M, Phillips, Greene Co,

A scries of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILUNOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol, IV

Clipping

May 4, I92I,

No. 18

Svy-figt

Clover

"The experience of the Crop Production Division with clipping
sweet clover diites back to 1915. That year the first considerable
area was grown. The clover was cut June 1, at v/hich time it was tall
and rank. Flower buds were beginning to show, but none v/ere yet in
bloom. No special attempt was made to cut the clover high. The clover
was practically all killed. Where the stand was thin and the stems
branched and somewhat recunbent some of the plants survived.

In 1916, the clover was agiin curt on June 1. This time special shoes were
attached to the mower whereby the sickle-bsr was raised about eight inches fr«iii

ithe ground. Again the clover was practically killed. A second crop vp^s cut for
seed, but the crop \7as so scant that it was considered useless to thrash ^b.
In 1917, a detailed study was made of the best height and time at which to
cut sweet clover. The clover vras cut first on Ifay 23» at the heights of six,
eight and ten inches. Approximately one-half of the six inch stubble^ one-third
of the eight inch stubble and one-fifth of the ten inch stubble was killed. The
second cutting was made on Hay 26, at a height of ten inches* One- fourth of the
clover vci-s killed. The third cutting was aade Llay 29, at the height of ten inches
and one-third of the clover was killed. The last cutting was made June 7, at the
height of ten and fourteen inches. Practically all the clover \?as killed.

The first cutting in I918 was made on May 23* The clover was cut at the
heights of six, eight, and ten inches. On Kay 27 and 29» and on June 3 and 7
other cuttings were made at the height of ten inches. The clover was practically

I all killed in all instances except where the stand ve.s thin and stems recumbent.
The same experiment was repeated in 1919 v/ith practically the same results*
In 1920, the date of cutting was regulated by the height and maturity of
the clover. The first ciittings v;ere made sis, eight, and ten inches hi^ when the
clover was eighteen to tv/enty-four inches in height. The second cutting was
made ten inches high when the clover had reached the height of twenty-four to
; thirty inches. The third cutting was made when the first blossoms were appearing.

This last cutting practically killed the clover. The clover cut at the earlier
- stages of maturity survived and made very good second growth.

Sweet clover is grovm in the rotation at Fairfield, It is ujually cut for
hay about June 1, at ;vhich time the first blossoms are appearing. It is always
completely killed," - R, W. Stark, Asst, in Crop Production, U, of I,

Soybean Varieties, (continued frcm last week)

"The list of varieties mentioned last week included most of the older, more
commonly grown ones. There are new varities and selections coming before us
each year which may or nay not prove of value. It does not seem advisable to
try out a new variety merely because it is highly advertised nor because it does
well in some distant section of the country.

Vol. IV

Page 2

No. 18.

The following rumed v:irieties are somewhat uncommon in Illinois, altho most
of them have been grown by a fev/ farmers in an experimental way in a number of
counties in the state.

Early Varieties.

The Manchu. a promising new yellow seeded variety, matures in about the sane
time as the Ito San. This variety is adapted to northern Illinois as a seed
producer. The Lanchu is also a very promising early maturing bean for central
Illinois- This variety may prove superior to some of our other Early and Medium
Early beans in central Illinois where a seed bean is needed. It makes greater
growth of forage, sets the pods somev/hat higher from the ground and is usually
considered superior to the Ito San as a hay bean.

The Vi/isconsin Black is an early producing black seeded bean which is especially
good in V/isconsin, liinnesota, and Michigan, as a seed producer. This variety is
good to grow in northern Illinois as a seed bean, also as a bean to hog down with
extra early corn such as Northwestern Dent and Golden Glow. This variety makes
a fair growth of forage, holds its leaves fairly well and carries the seed pods
high enough off of the ground to facilitate harvesting the seed crop.

The Black Ev^ebrow is another early maturing variety which is good for both
seed and forage^ This variety has much the same nr.turity as the I.Ianchu, perhaps
not so early as the Wisconsin Black, The Black Eyebrow is perhaps best used for
forage, hay or pasture in the northern section of the state. The seed is black
with a brovm saddle and black seed scar. This var^.ety would be satisfactory iu
the central section of Illinois with a very early corn for hogging down,

1^.^-?%^?! l£i£ Va r ieties J
3512, Haberlandt is perhaps the best knov/n medium late variety in the state.
It is adapted as a seed producer to soutiern Iljlnois but in favorable seasons
mat'n-es a seed orcp at Urbana, This variety is quite bushy and has a rather coarse
stem. The seed is yellow with a deep brown seed scar. This variety nay be used
as pasture in central and northern Illinois and is fairly good to grov/ with corn
for the si].o»

IIll .^iD^JSlf also the Wilson Five, which is a selection, is an excellent hay,
pastu:''e and s:,Tage bean especially in the southern half of the state. This variety
xrill matvre a crop at Urbana frequently but is too late to be considered entirely
eatisfactoi-ya The il^ilson is a black seeded bean which has a very fine stem,
abundance of leaf and has a distinct tendency to tv/drl or vine at the top. This
variety, especially selection five, is a good seed producer as well as a good hay
and silage bean,

5!^, Z?Jl£i.£i£;. ■^^ another fine stemmed, abundant leafed sort which has a tend-
ency to twine, ""his varioty has been proving quite satisfactory in southern Illi-
nois as a good quality hay bean. The Virginia has a rather small, somewhat flat-
tened brown sep.d v/ith a brov/n seed scar. This variety is perhaps best for hay,
pasture and si].age. It has a distir..ct tendency to twine as was mentioned for
the Wilf^cn^ This vario+y is gi±r.ing favor very rapidly in southern Illinois.
Another point regarding the perforniance of this bean is the fact that it seems

to hold its leaves unu3UD.lly v/elx and its seed exceptionally \jq11 also.
Hackleman, Dept. Specialist in Crcps, U. of i.

," — J. C.

Wint Soy Beans?" "7.Tie Edgar County Seed Association. Paris, Illinois, has c
splendid stock of Edgar Counby gr'cvni s.jy beans, cf following varieties: Early
Bro'.Tn, Medium yello\7j T.^ongj;', Holly irro^V, and A. K,; p>-icR £4,, CO a bushel. In-
oculated soil free - write the association if you are interested," - Edgar Co,
Seed Association,

Vol. IV

Page 3

No. 18

District Conferences - "I.iany of the advisers have commented very favorably
in their weekly reports upon the recent district conference. A number have said
they thought these conferences were the most helpful they had ever attended. All
but six of the advisers and nost of the assistants as well, as cany executive coa-
mitteemen attended. The presence of the Executive Conmitteemen added very nater-
ially to the success of the meetings and they expressed themselves unanimously in
favor of attending future conferences." - G, N, Coffey, State Leader.

Experiment Field Day Great.- The high point of the v/eek»s work vas the Field
Day at Unionville. In spite of the busy season 35 farmers and farmer's wives
from Pulaski County jumped into their Fords, stepped on the gas, and arrived at
Unionville Soil Experiment Field in plenty of time to hear Dr. Bauer's good
talk on Soil Fertilr.ty. The other talks v/ere also enjoyed and the plots care-
fully inspected. Our farmers v/ere rauch impressed by the results shown by the
various treatments including that of the sweet clover and lime treatments. The
absence of the sweet clover on the unlimed plot immediately adjacent to the fine
stand ott the limed plot was a lesson not soon to be forgotten. These field days
will mean much to our farmers. »e will work up a larger bunch for the next one,
though considering the long tiresome ride of ^0 milss over the hills, it \7-s not
bad," - Eastman, Pul_ski Co,

"Over 200 faruers from Johnson, Pulaski, liassac and Pope counties attended
the Experiment Field meeting at Unionville in Liassac County, April I9, The
value of soil treatment wis v/ell demonstrated. The difference between treatd
and untreated soils was shown to be the difference between complete failure and
success. I heard some of the farmers remark that Dr. Bauer made one of the test
talks on soil fertility that they ever heard." - licGhee, Johnson Co,

"Fifty farmers braved the rain and mud to meet at the Ev^ing Experiment Field
on Friday afternoon, IVe had a good meeting in spite of adverse V7eather. The
hard jjioad meeting in Mt» Vernon attracted quite a number of our farmers too." -
deV/erff, Franklin Co,

Another New County Beginning work. - 0. M, McCSiee has resigned as farm ad-
viser in Johnson County and is taking up a similar position in Liassac Co, His
new address is tietropolisy Illinois,

L^. J. G, licCc
iCeed Mr, McGhee

11, a graduate of the Oklahoma Agricultural College will suc-
s Farm Adviser in Johnson County. Kis address v/ill be Vienna, 111,

L"r. W, E* VVatkins resigned April 15 from his position as Farm Adviser in Lake
County. ViS^tkins began work L&.rch 1, 1917, and leaves the county to engage in
farming in northern Michigan,

Ag Students >fa nt Farm J o'q s . There are a number of students in the College
of Agriculture, U. of I. who want to work on farms this summer. Some have had
considerable farm experience; others want to get farm experience. They will
be ready to go to V7ork about Ji-ne 1- Can you help get the boys and the jobs
together? Write directly to W, H, Young, College of Agriculture, for specific
informati-on.

nThe Farmers* Automobile Insurance Association started operation on April 1
with 325 applications." - Starr, Tazewell Co,

A scries of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

Vol. IV

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS
May ii, 1921.

NO, 19.

Hay
The
Practical
Vfey

Curing "W*ien ire first learned about alfalfa as a hay crop, v/e were

alfalfa told how to produce a hay of excellent quality that would keep its

green color and hold the leaves, by putting it in neat cocks and
covering each with a canvas cover, weighted at the corners.

Since that earlier day, many farmers have included alfalfa in
their regular cropping system. This has necessitated a more practi-
cal way of curing the hay. The canvas cover SE.y is too slow.
One of the most practical ways is to mow the hay down in the afternoon or
on a cloudy day. This permits of wilting without biir^jlag. By the middle of the
nex± i. forenoon usuelly, the hay can be raked into windrows with the side-delivery
rake. This permits the air to circulate thru the wilted hay and further cure it
without burning and excessive bleaching.

In a few hours, these windrows v/ill be sufficiently wilted and cured to per-
mit loading. In fact, the loading often begins before raking is finished. The
regular hay loader can then be used and ivith a force of men and three rack wagons
the hay can be taken up in a steady stream, hauled to the barn and mowed away.
There will be no loss of time in superfluous handling and little loss of leaves
or color. A ten acre field of 20 loads can be cleaned up in a day except for
the mowing.

This applies more particularly to late July and August cuttings. The earlier
cuttings often require three to four days in curing, and modifications must be
made accordingly. For instance, the hay may be turned over in the windrow once
or twice with the side delivery to insure an even curing. One soon learns to
judge the necessary treatment." - C. A. Atwood, Asst- State Leader, U« of I.

Latest News on Seed Certification. - "The Farm Crops Conmittee of the Farm
Advisers met at the University vVednesday, Lay 4, to complete the firal plans for
the seed certification work, preparatory to launching the movement at the time of
the Advisers* ConfereKce in June.

Several things of special importance grew out of this meeting. A number
of these points have provoked questions frcm the advisers since the initial plans
of certification were mailed cut.

The most noteworthy points brought out at this last meeting of the Committee
were:

First: Final date for receiving applications for small grain certification
is set forward to June 1»

Second; No minimum number of applicants required per county in order to
secure this service. It \ms emphasized, however, that special effort should be
nade to secure more than one before asking for this service*

Third; All applications must come thru farm bureau office in order that
they may be certified as farm bureau members. Application forms are now ready
and will be sent to any farm bureau interested. Other forms which are to be
j^,preye,d^ain,4.,r9a:Ay in.,case an adviser wants a get»

Vol. IV

Page 2

No, 19

Fourth: Wheat, Oats, Corn, and Soybeans are the crops to be certified.

Fifth: The varieties of small grains idiich were approved for certification
are:

Wheat: Turkey, Kanred, Turkey 10-110, and Fulcaster.

Oats: Iowa 103, lowar, and Silvermine

Sixth: The coomittee desires to anphasize the fact that pure seed 'showing
breeding and type due to a number of years of selection* nay be certified under
the 'approvsed* classification. This enables any good farmer who has pur© seed
grain of the approved varieties to have his field inspected for certification,"*
J, C^ Hackleman, Ext, Specialist in Crops, U« of I»

"Poultry Losses in Illinois Apiproxijaated ^3,000.000 in 1920, - Experienced
and successful poultry keepers are experiencing some serious losses in various
localities in the state. It appears that the perplexing problems of poultry
pathology require the services of trained veterinarians. Avian tuberculosis,
cholera, white diarrhea, roup and a variety of para.sitie infestations have been
repeatedly reported. lAst year 2^ of the poultry specimens submitted to the
laboratory of Animal Pathology proved to be tubercular in character* The meat
of tubercular chickens is unwholesome; the eggs may be contaminated with tuber-
cle bacillus, while the potential danger of spreading the disease to other animals
on the farm cannot be disregarded. Tubercular chickens may indicate the presence
of tubercular cattle or swine. Poultry diseases are discussed in Farmers'
Bulletin 957, 0# S. Department of Agriculture, ISfeshington, D.C." - Dr. Robert
I Graham, Prof, of Animal Pathology, U. of I.

"Avian Botulism Type A,, is responsible far One Type of So-Called Limberneck
in Chickens in Illinois. As a result of certain bacteriological studies in
sporadic outbreaks of so-called Limberneck in poultry, the relation of one type
of this disease to B. botulinus type A has apparently been established. A. limited
number of reprints of a technical nature are available for distribution. Address
requests to Laboratory of Animal Pathology, Ch.ampaign-Urbana, Illinois," - Dr.
Robert Graham.

Hessian Fly not Serious.'- "The peculiar weather conditions of the spring

1 have, on the whole, been very unfavorable to the development of the spring brood
of the Hessian fly. T^ie sudden changes from warm to cold periods experienced
during the early jart of Ai>r±l prevented this brood of the fly depositing its
annual number of eggs in the wheat.

I Examinatt#M made during the past three weeks, and reports of conditiona in

adjoining states, show that the spring brood of the fly will cause much less
damage than usual; in fiaot, that it will not be abundant enough tc be noticeable
in most localities." - W.^ P. Flint, Chief Field Entcmologist, U. of 1.

His Conscience Hurts - Does Yours! At the district meeting in Aurora I
came hcaae with the conscience stricken feeling that I should have been more
1 careful in getting in my weekly report, I will now make a strenuous attempt
to see that these reports get to you each week." - Farm Adviser County.

"Hats off to you for fessin* up. It surely does help a lot to get reports
in Monday's mail and find them filled out. We hope all cf you will tell us seme
of the good things you are doing. IZake your report read like a letter. A blank
front page ia like a blank check - it don*t get us anything," - G. N. Coffey,

Vol. IV

Page 3

No. 19

"Hot Weather Live Stock Shipping Instructions, Especially Hogs. « Due to the
hot weather, the usual losses to live stock, especially hogs, are enormous. By
following these suggestions as nearly as possible, all or at least a part of the
damage can be eliminated:

(1) Haul or drive your hogs to the shipping station in ample time to al-
low them to become rested and cool before loading.

(2) TiShen ordering a car for loading hogs, insist upon a clean one bedded
with sand, clay, or earth*

(3) Wet thoroughly the bedding and interior of car before loading.

(4) Give only a small feed of grain before shipping. Heavy feed means
more body heat generated.

(5) Load not more than one hour before the train is to depart.

(6) Load slowly and carefully. Avoid excitement and do not beat or bruise
the animals.

(7) Load not to exceed 14,000 lbs. fat hogs and 16,000 stock hogs in a
standard 36-ft car during war weather.

(8) Have water applied to the bedding in the caap at available points
immediately after the train stops,

(9) Use ice on floor of car whenever possible, three blocks to a car,
(10) Report inattention or neglect promptly to the Superintendent of the

Division on which your shipment originates.
(11) Never throw water directly upon the hogs after they become heated.
Instead, run it on the fleer of car under the hogs." - W. H, Smith,
Ext. Specialist in Animal Husbandry, U. of I.

'"Kie Rotary Club of Mt, Carmel entertained some fifty farmers at a banquet
last week and from the first gong that announced dinner to the last word seme
four hours later, it was one big whirlwind of fun and good talks. Each rotarian
was assigned special farmers to entertain. Songs and exhibition dancing by
daughters and sons of Rotarians were features, John Dyer of Vincennes made the
address of the evening - a real live v/ire talk of straight facts about the present
agricultural situation. The event was a grand success." - Fisher, Vabash Co,

A trip to Springfield was made by farmer dele^tions from about 60 counties
to urge their respective legislators to support the Senate Bills 283 and 284,
favoring grain marketing controls Quite an impression nias created by this support.

•

Mr, Cm E, Wieelock, who was adviser in Jersey County nearly twoyears, leaving
the work there to take up farming Feb. 1, 1920, is coming back to join the ranks.
He has just accepted the position as Farm Mviser in Lake County and v/ill begin
work in about two weeks.

Rock Phosphate in Sacks. - Fulton County Farm Bureau believes it pays toehip
in part of its rock phosphate in sacks. This permits more farmers to buy small
amounts of this fertilizer and try it for themselves. The sacks are of heavy
cotton duck, like cement sacks and hold 70 lbs, of phosphate. Each sack is marked
with the name of the Fulton County Farm Bureau and can bo used many times.

Summer Visits to University and Crop Fields. - "If you arc planning to have
a party frcm your county visit the University before July 15 i kindly communicate
pronptly with W, H, Young, College of Agriculture. Already 21 counties have
signed up to be here during June, Vife should know now if you are coming." - W, H«
Young.

■

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol, IV

LEGWES

May 18, 1921.

No, 20

for the

SILO

"There may be times, under certain conditions, that it is ad-
visable to make silage frcm legumes. When conditions are such that
legumes may be satisfactorily cured into hay there is nothing to be
gained frcm putting them in the silo. If good silage is to be nade
frcm legumes, in addition to observing the ccmmon rules for making
silage, it is necessary to have a dry matter content of approximately
40 percent. This may be obtained by allowing the crops to reach the proper matur-
ity or by allov/ing seme moisture to evaporate.

About the proper time tc put legumes into the silo is as follows: soy bean
plants should show signs of maturity. The pods should begin to turn yellow*
One-half the clover blossoms should be brown. Sv/eet clover may be cut in the first
blocm and allowed to lie in the field four to six hours before putting it into
the silo or it may be allowed to reach a more mature stage. Alfalfa can seldom
bo allowed to reach the proper maturity and it will, therefore, be necessary to
a Hot/ the crop to dry out seme after being cut.

Under ordinary conditions it is advisable tc cure legumes into hay»" - C. S,
Rhode, Extension Specialist in E&iry Husbandry, U, of I,

"Sunflowers _for Silage.- Fran all indications the chinch bugs will be worse
this- year than last. The dairymen in the chinch bug infested areas stand a good
chance to be v/ith empty silos this coming winter if they depend on corn to fill
them. Under southern Illinois conditions the sunilov/er, when properly managed,
makes a good silage and v/here good sunflov/cr silage has been properly fed, satis-
factory results have been obtained, n^'ould it not be a good p]an for the dairy-
men to plan to fill their silos with sunflowers as a safeguard a^inst the bugs?"
C, S, Rhode.

"Chinch bugs have been flying the jjast week j There are very few sections
where there are not enough bugs to take practically all the corn if the season
is favorable to bugs, and dry v/eathor. The wheat is very rank and if we have
moist weather at the right time it would help in making conditions favorable for
disease to bugs. Not anything like as great an acreage of corn will be put out
this year as last," - Eyman, Jersey Co,

"The publicity given ^ Democrat^ corn in re^rd to its chinch bug and drouth
resisting qualities has resulted in practically all of the available supply of
seed being distributed J; 0 chinch bug infested districts," - Mcilfilliams, Randolph Co,

A Show Window at all Odo.^, "Our office is on the second floor and we do not
have a show \7ind0w, IVe have br.rrov/ed space in the show windov/ of the City Natif^n-
al Bank to exhibit samples of corn which v;e expect to use en the ohinch byg plots.
We have also prepared an exhibit explaining corn root rDt." - Thomas, Jackson Co,

Vol. IV

Page 2

No, 20

"j^ardstovjn Melon Grovrer* s Assccifition ccmpleted the
May 6, with a membership of more than a hLsnared. The mel
divided into three coiircunities and seven directors electe
coimnunity. These directors have pov/er to hire a canager,
ness of the association for the first year. One of the p
done will be the grading of melons according to size, and
tion for graded melons on the marlcst. If fruit is short
fall, get in touch v/ith the Beardsxcvm Melon Growers' Ass
choice watermelons," - Dickenson, Cass Co,

ir organization Friday,
on growers' region was
d representing each

and conduct the busi-
rincipal things to be

establishing a reputa-
in your locality this
ociation for a car of

VVill Try Hubam Clover on Sand, - "In cooperation with E. G. Lewis of Media,
re are carrying on an experJinent with Hubam Clover on the sand land in the west
part of the county, we have a scall plot which was put in this past week using
-lime, acid phosphate, and lime and acid phosphate with a check on each plot. We
are hoping that the results will be satisfactory because the farmers on the sand
land surely need some leguse that will stick*" - Bane, Henderson Co,

Soy Bean Campaign^ "During the past three months we have been urging the
farmers to plant soy beans for ensilage, hogging off, pasture and seed purposes*
We have during the past six v/eeks assisted farmers in securing more than 500
bushels of soy bean seed to be used mostly v;ith corn for silage or hogging down
piirposes. V/e are now extending our campaign in an effort to get a large acreage
of soy beans to be used for seed and soil fertility purposes." - iietzger, Macoupin
County.

"Soybean Day. The orders for soybeans were divided amongst the soybean grow-
ers in the county, with instructions to bring the orders properly labeled to a
store room arranged by the Farm Bureau, The purchasers were all notified that
they could get their soybeans on Saturday by ccming to the farm bureau office.
By having a special day for this distribution, it not only creates considerable
interest, but tends to clean up the seed business at one fell swoop," - Kendall,
Morgan County.

"F our thougnd acres of cow£ea£ v/ill be sown in Jersey County this year.
There will be i2i the neighborhood of seven hundred acres of soy beans planted.
This is far more peas +han v/e ever have planted before and not more than 150 acres
of beans v/ere ever grown here before* *Morc Legumes- is our motto. We are push-
ing hard our campaign for 10 acres of alfalfa on every farm." - Eyman, Jersey Co,

"£S£2S County farmers are taking anunusual interest in the matter of good
seed corn this cpri.ng. A number of the older farmers in the county have re-
marked that they never knoew of the time v/hen so much interest was n-anifested."
Bracker, Knox Co,

"Threshing Prices in DeWitt County are hufag agreed upon betv/een throshermen
and farmers at 2 and 2^ 0 for cats and 5f^ -or wheat." - Robbins, DeWitt Co,

"T\fo and one-half cents fcr cats and five cents for wheat was the firal
ccmprcnised threshing price agreed upon in Douglas Count y= The thrashcrmen
wanted three and six cents and the farmer two and four," - Garrett, Doi'.glas Cc,

"Telegrams! By all means, send University ^Glo^rarr.^ to Champaign, not
lUrbara, if you wish us to get them prcmptly." - Signed. Everybody at U. of I.

Vol. IV

Page 3

No, 20

Be an Qppie, not a Pessi. "In spite of business discouragement and unfavor-
able weather, nearly every farm bureau member I have seen recently is deter-
mined to succeed this year ty economy of operation and careful management* It is
wonderful to see the high appreciation these men express of the Farm Bureau,
even at a time v/hen pessimism and discouragosent are to be expected." - Robbins,
DeWitt County.

Likes Handbook. "We are indeed very proud of our handbook. Really, I be-
lieve it is as good as if I had done it myself. I don't know where I could
criticize it. It certainly ia a valuable asset to the work in this county. The
office assistant has already issued an ultimatum that it shall not leave the
office." - Piper, Richland County.

"The Limestone Demonstjration Meeting which was held at the GriggiSTi lie-Perry
plant was a great success. F. A» Gougler, Farm Adviser, Quincy, Illinois, with
geveral carloads of farmers, A. E. Davidson, Farm Adviser in Brown County with
a good big dele^tion, and G. E, Gentle frcm Schuyler County with two carloads
of farmers were present, in addition to H. H. Annstrong of the State Association
and R, F. McFaddin, Assistant Editor of the Prairie Farmer. Our plant at this
point is in full operation and is capable of turning out about 35 to 40 tons on
a nine hour run. Everything was in full operation on the day of the demonstra»»
tion and between three and four hundred tons of limestone was on the ground, and
available for inspection.*^ - Kercher, Pike Co.

"T»B» Free" • Maintains Milk Price. - Local city dairymen, as a means of re-
taining the retail price of milk, have tested their herds for tuberculosis and
are advertising milk frcm tuberculosis free herds. The idea has taken well with
the city trade," - H, B. Piper, Richland County.

Local Shipping Associations Unitef"A meeting of the six shipping associations
was held recently and a county association formed. The sinking funds were merged.
There will be no county manager. The local shippers will receive ten cents per
cwt. This is not too much for a man to put in sane time and render efficient
Service." <- Hughes, Menard Co»

"Moving pictures are formj.ng a part of each evening program and are respon-
sible for an increased attendance at night meetings. We're not turning over
farm bureau (taetings into cinema shows, but the movies bring 'em out and then
we have a chance to talk limestone, phosphate, legumes and cow testing," - Heller,
Cook Co»

Two more eonties organize.- "Gallatin and Pope counties held permanent
or^nization meetings on May 13 and 14. Both of these counties put on joint
membership campaigns with the I. A. A. Only eight counties in Illinois are now
without farm bureau or^nizations." - J. C. Spitler

Edgjar County Employs Enos Waters as Farm Adviser. - Mr, H&ters graduated
frcm the U, of I, in 191'*f then farmd for several years near Carlinville. The
past three years he has been teaching agriculture at Blackburn College, had
charge of the college farm and also continued general management of his own
Jann near Carlinville. Mr. Vfeters expects to take up the work in Edgar County
by July 1, or sooner if possible.

A scries of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. IV

May 25, 1921.

No. 21

Sweet Clover Hay
-Time to Cut-

"There are tv/o seasons of the year during which, under
favorable conditions, sv/eet clover may be cut for hay. The
first is in the autumn of the same year the seed was sown and
the second is in the following spring. This latter period is
Yield when perhaps most sweet clover in Illinois is cut for hay. The

clover should be cut when frcm 24 to 30 inches high and before
Quality the buds appear. If allowed to go longer, the stems beccne so

coarse and woody that stock will uaste a considerable portion
of it.
If it is desired subsequently to obtain a seed crop, it is necessary to cut
the hay as high as possible, otherwise the clover will be killed. For this pur-
pose special shoes should be attached to the sickle-bar, whereby the clover iray
be cut 8 to 10 inches above the ground. With a good stand, a yield of from l-^-
tons of air-dry hay may be expected. The average yield on the Agronomy plots at
Urbana during the last five years amounted to 1^ tons per acre. At Fairfield,
where a shorter stubble i,Tas left the yield was 1 l/3 tons per acre.

On rich soils, it is scmetimes possible to secure an excellent crop of hay
the first season. This is particularly true when abundant rains occur after the
Removal of the small grain crop with which the clover ivas sown. Cut at this
season of the year, the stems are fine and there is large proportion of leaves. It
is considered advisable to delay this cutting until after the crown buds have been
formed. There seems to be no necessity for leaving a high stubble. On the Agroncmy
plots at Urbana, yields of frcm 1^ tons to over 2 tons per acre of excellent hay
have been obtained.

Sweet Clover hay, especially that cut in the spring is difficult to cure. At
that season, the latter part of May or the first part of June, rains are of fre-
quent occurrence. Moreover, the stems are so large and succulent that they cure
slov/ly. The leaves, however, dry quickly and shatter easily when handled. In
order to prevent the loss of leaves, some aut; orities reccmmend raking the hay
when only partially cured. It is then put into tall narrow shocks where it is
allowed to stand 8 or 10 days to complete the curing process. it has been the
experience of the Crops Division that sweet clover shocks are liable to take water
seriously, resulting in the ruin of the hay. Better results have been obtained by
allowing the hay to cure in the swath. It is then raked into the window while
still damp with the dew and when sufficiently dry loaded directly onto the ■eagon
with as little handling as possible.

It has frequently been stated that stock will not eat sweet clover hay. Ex-
perience has shown that after they acquire the taste for it, all kinds of stock
'relish it and thrive. Numerous chemical analyses have shown that in composition
it compares favorably with alfalfa, while feeding experimBnts have demonstrated it
to be nearly as -valuable.

Vol. IV

Page 2

No. 21

A partial analysis of sweet clover hay cut on the Agronomy plots Oct- 6, 1920
showed that it contained 18.5 percent of protein, A sample taken one month later
from a portion of the field remaining uncut contained 4 percent less. The differ-
ence may perhaps be explained by the dropping of a portion of the leaves, by
leaching due to October rains and by trarplocation of the various constituents
of the plant to the roots preparatory to the winter," - Robert W, Stark, Ass*t,
in Crop Production, U. of I,

"Control of Cucumber Beetle. Ohio Experiment Station has done extensive work
in the control of the little black and yellow striped insect which attackg . cu-
cumbers, squashes, melons and pumpkins, Chio finds the best remedy is a mixture
of one part powdered calcium arsenate and twenty parts by wei^it of gypsum or land
plaster dusted upon the plants, so as to thoroly coat the surface of the leaves.
Plants should be kept coated as long as beetles are abundant, Illinois soil and
climatic conditions may sligjitly vary the results of this treatment." - W, P.
Flint, Entomologist, U. of I,

Every fruit grower in the state has been circularized by the Mason Drug and
Chemical Company of Hancock, Maryland, setting forth the merits of certain insect-
icides such as Borercide, Insectifuge, and others. We do not know anything about
this canpany but we do know it is not advisable to recommend any insecticide or
fungicide until it has been proven worthy. The same circular offers paradichloro-
benzene which is being tested out experimentally by nearly every experiment sta-
tion, but none have yet recommended its use. Fruit growers will be happier if
they allow the Experiment Station to test out these and similar ccmpounds before
ordering," - Vif. S, Brock.

To Control Potato Lea f Hopper. - "Arrangements have been completed for
spraying demonstrations for control of the potato leaf hopper that has reduced
Cook County's potato crop from 1,000,000 bushels to unimportant quantities.
High power sprayers that will develop 250 lbs, pressure and produce a fine mist
will be used. The common sprayers used for biting insects are unavailing," -
Heller, Cook Co,

Bobbins Emphasi?.eg Local Demonstrations, - Believing that there is Immeasur-
able value in local demonstrations, Aaviser E, T. Robtine of DeWitt County has
arranged for demonstrations as follows: Soybean Test of a dozen lading ^aricties,
Potato Demonstrations en 10 farms in 10 townships with certified Michigan Seed,
Oats Demonstration of an acre each of lov;a 103$ lowar and New Victory varieties,
and a Chinch Bug Meeting and Demonstration in the center of chinch bug territory.
Many other advisers are following a somewhat similar plan.

Nitrogen in the nitrate form must be available in considerable amounts
for large crops, especially corn. That sv/eet clover is premier in the production
of nitrate nitrogen for the corn crop is clearly shown in Illinois Exp. Station's
new Bulletin No. 233 » about to ccme off the press. The bulletin is i/n-itten by
A, L, Whiting and T. E, Richmond of the Illinois Station, after extensive ex-
periments on five soil fields. This Bulletin virill be distributed direct to our
entire mailing list of 33,000 residents of Illinois, Advisers can get office
copies on request.

Soybeans For Sale.- "E, E. Click, Morrisonville, 111. has 650 bu. A. K. and
150 bu. Early Brown Soybeans for sale © $3«25 to 03»5O depending upon amount. "-
.J» C, Hackleman, ^___^ ,

Vol, III Page 3 No, 21

"It ain't the farms or memberships

Or funds that they can pay.
But close cooperation

That helps to v/in the day,

"It ain't the individual

Or the Bureau as a whole.
But the everlasting team work
Of every blocaain' soul."

— G.NfC. - ufith apology to Kipling,

"Bar the Chinch Bug" v/ill be the slogan in the chinch bug area at harvest
time, "Preparedness" is the slogan now, for now is the time to lay in a supply
of the materials needed to erect barriers. Later on you may have to buck a^inst
a shortage or worry over detained transportation,

"Seed Corn in this section of the state does not seem to be as good as it
should be considering the weather conditions of last Ball, We are having a great
demand for seed corn. The fact is that I don't know a seed house in the northern
part of the state that has any seed corn left in stock," - Roberts, DeKalb Co,

_A Novel Idea has been vvorked out by JoDaviess County for their envelops.
Down in the lower left hand corner of each envelop is printed the follov/ing;
Adopt a System en Your Farm
Plan: A Crop Rotation
19 21: Apply Limestone
1922: Grow Legumes
1923: Use Phosphate.

Getting Them Out is the Idea,- "Iho says you can't get a well attended
farmers meeting in the busy work seasono We have had an evening meeting every
evening for the past 12 days. Our smallest attenctence has been 20, the largest
150, averaging for the 12 meetings $&^o Small trouble to get them out when we
use the movie machine. You can present any subject desired if you get them out,
see?" - Center, McLean Co,

Cunberland .County has employed Mr. Chas. B, Price as Farm Adviser, and he
will probably take up nis new work on July 1, with office at Toledo, Illinois,
Mr, Price was reared on a farm in Johnson County, was graduated in Agriculture
at the U, of I,, and has been teaching Agriculture since graduation. He is leav-
ing a position as Smith-Hughes teacher at Blue Island, Illinois,

Montgomery Resigns,- John T, Uontgcmery has resigned his position asFarm
Adviser in Kenry County. John didn't tell us v/lmt he is going tc do, so we
can*t announce it. We are very sorry to Icse Mi~. Montganery frcm Henry County,
as he has been one of the leaders -in his section of the state and his big, op-
timistic smile has cheered us up many a time. We wish him unlimited success in
his new work.

Of Course You Read Dean Davenport's article on "Banks and Profiteering" in
the May 7 issue of The Country Gentleman. If perchance you did not see it, better
hunt it up yet. It is a splendid ;discussion on the financial and loan situation
frcm both the viev/point of the farmer and the banker.

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Fjcpcriment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. IV

Nitrate

June 1, 1921.

No. 22

Production

for
Sv/cot Clover

„J

"YiJhen plowed under green for corn. Sweet Clover offers the
most premising indications that the prcblcm of supplying a cheap
source of available nitrof^en (nitrate), for farm crops can be solved.
Bulletin 2.33 of the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station just
issued sets forth the merits of sweet clover in its ability to con-
serve the nitrate of the soil, to add nitrogen to the soil, and by
its rapid decccposition, when plowed under, to produce nitrate in
ample amounts and at the proper time for the corn crop*
Results obtained from fields in northern, central, and southern Illinois, and
representing the brov/n silt loan and the gray silt loam on tight clay, where swsret
clover seeded in wheat has been plov/ed under in the spring of the second year for
corn, are presented showing the influence of this practice on the nitrate content
of the soil«

Corn occupied all the plots concerned in the study. The large nitrate require-
ment of this crop made it desirable to study the effect of the sv/eet clover treat-
ment in its presence. It iras found that the plots on v/hich sv/ect clover was grov/-
ing in the spring contained more nitrate than untreated soil or manured soil,
and that within three or four weeks after the sweet clover was plov/ed under, the
nitrate content of the soil vras inmost cases doubled and continued to increase
in spite of the fact that the corn crop was utilizing considerable nitrate on these
plots. The critical period in the gro'.vth of corn usually occurs bctv7een Jane 25
and Ijly 15, v/hen the greatest demand for nitrate occurs. It is shov/n by the
study that sv/ecf clover may bo roliod upon to furnish sufficient nitrate nitrogen
for the corn crop, and that it properly meets the critical feeding period above
mentioned. The results v/ere as out standing on gray silt loam as on the brown silt
loam.

The height, green weight, dry weight and nitrogen content of the swoet clovor
at about the time it ^las plov/ed for corn are also reported in connection v/ith these
studies. From the data on the nitrate content cf the soil and the nitrogen con-
tent of the sv/ect clover tops, it is clear that a material addition of nitrogen
Bias made to the soil, from the air, thru the growing of the clover.

The information contairiCd in this bu-lletin deals directly with a vital factor
in crop production and proves the value of green sv/cet clover as a cheap source
of available nitrogen for corn. It emphasizes the importance of this crop in
well planned systems of soil improvement," - Dr. A» L, vi/hiting. Prof, of
Soil Biology, U. of I.

Liuch Democrat and Champion ^i_tr_ Pearl Gorn_ has been planted in Montgomery
County as a tost in chinch bug control. Adviser Snyder says the demand ivas greater
than the Farm Bureau was able to meet, Somo sunflov/ers for silage \7ill also be
grown by a number of farmers.

Vol. IV

Page 2

No, 22

"Tipburn in Potatoes due to Potato Leaf Hopper, The big striped Colorado
potato bug is not the only insect we have to fi^t on our potato vines. During
the last few years it has been found that the little green leaf hoppers are cap-
able of causing nearly as much damage. These little, light green, extremely
active insects, only about one eighth of an inch long by one third as wide, generally
make their appearance on potato vines in central Illinois about Jane first, and
two weeks later in the northern part of the state. They lay great numbers of
eggs, and in about 10 days the young hoppers hatch and begin sucking the plant
juice. In a short time the tips of the leaves turn brown and dry up, the \iiiole
plaiat soon being effected in the same manner.

These insects can be controlled by spraying the plants thoroly with Bordeaux
mixtur9 covering both the upper and under sides of the leaves. Apply the first
spray when the leafhoppere are first found on the potato leaves. Give at least
two later sprayings at ten day or two week intervals.

One cannot hope for a maximum yield of potatoes unless these insects are con-
trolled," - W» P. Flint, Entomologist, Illinois Ifetural History Survey, U. of I,

"Nitro-Bacter Soil Vaccinej What next? First we find "Mitro Bacter Ldquid
Fertilizer" much in-evidence and now it is a "soil vaccine"J A representative of
the "Ifetioml Nitr^-Bacter Corporation" dropped in the other day and under quiz
admitted-* You can get it in any barn yard*.

So we thought- $1.00 a quart is a pretty stiff price to pay for rainwater
and barnyard manure." - A, L, ihiting.

That Persigtant "Sett in* Hen". "A new method of breaking up broody hens has
come to my attention. It works 100^ in only a short time. The hens are placed in
a small coop which is suspended by a V7ire or chain from post or beam in the open.
The success of this method depends upon there being a gontlo brcezo ivhich causes
the coop to swing back and forth. The hens soon get dizzy from the motion and
their broodincss soon vanishes. Twenty-four hours usually effects a cure," -
Bolting, Shelby Co.

The Canada Thistlo on the Run, "The first two days of the week were spent V7ith
lir, E, W. Harrison of the Seed Inspection Dopartmont of the State Department of
Agriculture in going over the County and visiting the supervisors and Canada
Thistle commiesionors, Vifc found a very great interest in tho Camda 'Hiistlc,
Quack Grass, and Horse Nettle eradication campaign which wo arc putting on in co-
operation with tho County Board of Supervisors. A blank form is to be filled
out by the Canada Thistlo Commissioners for every farm in his tov/nship and signed
by tho owner or tenant. Those blanks v/ere put up in loose leaf noto book form
and sent out to the supervisors 1,1*10 gave them to the commissioners. We wore hap-
pily surprised to find every Thistle Commissioner who was on the job last year
very enthusiastic about this plan of locating different patches of thistles and
tho other woods as well. LIr, Harrison says that Bureau County leads all othor
counties in tho state in the interest shown in eradication of Canada thistles
and in the reports which our ccmmissioners have mado to his department," - Wilson,
Bureau Co,

"Tgvo ccannon lea f rust is affecting tho wheat to a great oxtont in the over-
flow sections of the Illinois rivor bottom. This area is also suffering serious
damage frcm fly,"- Eyman, Jbrsoy Co.

■ Mi

Vol. IV

Page 3

No. 22

After the Lea f Hopper. "A considerable portion of the week isast has been
spent in getting ready for potato spraying demonstrations. A high pressure machine
is necessary for controlling this leaf hoppsr pest and it is proving a problon to
procure a high pressure machine at a moderate price." - Heller, Cook Co,

Sheep Shearing. "Part of the time this week has been spent in arrangement
for a sheep sharing pool. An experienced man with a power machine was secured
and about 1,000 sheep have been listed in the pool." - Logan, Crawford Co,

"The Chinch Bug demonstration at Ospur onluay 19, drew together a crowdof
225 farmers. There were about 75 aittcmobiles. Every township in the county was
represented, Mr, V/. P« Flint wns here and gave an actial demonstration on one side
of a field of infested tiheat, shov/ing pot how to make barriers of all the differ-
ent kinds which are practical to use in fighting chinch bugs at harvest tine.
Everybody was much interested. There was such a big crowd an hour before the time
set for the demonstration that we started at that time and continued the discussion
and explanation for two hours. One nan said that if chinch bugs get into the
corn this year, it will not be the feult of the Fam Bureau," - Robbins, DeWitt Co.

"The new brood of chinch bugs be^n to hatch this week. Many of our farmers
who wouldn't burn last wint.er are getting worried now. Great interest was mani-
fested in chinchbug barriers at Friday* s demonstration. One hundred farmers
from various parts of the county attended the field meeting at Ewing yesterday
afternoon. That was an excellent turrxiut for such a busy time. The Illinois
System of Soil Improvement to promote efficient production vas the keynote of
Dr, Bauer's address. The need of chinchbug barriers and methods of construction
were ably demonstrated by Mr, Chandler." - deWerff, Franklin Co,

Bugs Like Oats Too, "Chinch bugs are showing numerously in the oats. Appar-
ently many have moved to the oats in the last week, because isheat is getting
so tall. Men ivho would not sow wheat last year because of chinch bugs now re-
gret that they did not follow my advice, and sow more wheat and less oats. Many
patches in some of the oat fields will be killed by the bugs." - Robbins, DeWitt Co,

"The corrugated £oller is being used on practically every corn field in
Mor^n County. The grounci has not worked very well this spring and this seems to
be about the only tool that our farmers can use at present. The men v/ho have
formerly used this tool say that it is decidedly profitable to roll corn.

More '.Vool This Year.- "Interest is being shovm in the wool pool, especially
as to \ihen the money will be received for last year's pool and also as to 1921
wool pool. I believe our farmers are going to pool their wool to a greater ex-
tent than last year, when they sent in about three times as much as the year pre-
vious." - Griffith, Lee County,

The corn root rot plot put in in cooperation with the Crops Division was
planted on Llonday. We have it near a prcminent road where just the fact of see-
ing folks planting corn by hand and hoe drew considerable curiosity and inquiry.
We are making use of that as an advcttising feature to get folks to watch what
happens later," - Brooks, leSalle Co,

% Jxt

mstmt

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILUNOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. IV

Alfalfa

J une 8, 1921.

No. 23

Cultivation

"Alfalfa hay making is now upon us. If you wish to maintain
your stand and the quality of your hay, get busy as soon as the
hay ia removed from the land and cultivate the soil thoroughly,
—————— Cultivation prevents a certain amount of evaporation, but core im-

portant still, it destroys the grass and weeds that quickly spring up in an al-
falfa field after the hay. is cut.

A number of implenents nay be used for the purpose* Fornerly the disk har-
row laas generally reconraended. It is nov/ realized that it possesses a certain
disadvantage in that the disks split the alfalfa crowns thereby permitting in-
fection and otherwise inj uring the vigor of the plants^ However, when used care-
fully, cultivation with the disa is preferable to no cultivation at all.

The spring tooth harrow and the alfalfa cultivator are better adapted for the
purpose since they thoroughly stir the surface of the soil without injury to the
alfalfa plants.

The alfalfa cultivator consists of a series of spike toothed wheels vi*iich
operate much after the izanner of the rotary hoe.

An experiment has been begun on the Experiment Station farm at Urbana, to
demonstrate the value of the spring toothed harrow and the alfalfa cultivator
compared with no cultivation. Insufficient data has been collected as yet to per-
mit making a statement of the results obtained," - Robert W. Stark, Asst. in Crop
Production, U. of I.

"The Corn Root Rot Experiraent Field in Cass Co. was planted Uay 23. Ten days
after planting, I took a small n'.imber oT farmers to the field to see if they could
notice the difference in disease free corn in this early stage of grov/th. I
found that they virere able to point out each row of diseased corn, because of the
narked difference of growth. The disease-free corn was larger and showed much
more rapid growth." - Dickenson, Cass Co.

Farmers Banguefe' Bankers. - "The feature of this week^s work was a dinner
Thursday evening, June 2, at \7hich time forty farmers had as their guests forty
bankers and the Farmers* Grain I/arketing Program was explained by Mr, Robert N.
Clarke, Chairnan of the Grain Marketing ComLiittee of the I. A, A. The president
of one of the Dinville banks in ccmmenting on the meeting stated that Mr, Clarke's
«?3iplai]ation was the most logical and forceful presentation of the subject that
he had ever haxrd. He stated that in his opinion the narketing plan was absolutely
sound and that he vias for it. Our idea in having the bankers to hear this talk
was to get them acquainted with the plan so that they could give an intelligent
opinion of it vihea asked to do so by their patrons. Everyone present was well
pleased with the meeting and I believe we did some good." - Lumbrick, Vermilion Co,

; vou IV

Page 2

No. 23

Sweet Clover Supreme for Jfest_ure, "Thirty-one head of cov/s and six brood
sows on fourteen acres of sweet clQV3r jHsture- That is a record of our treasurer,
.Ves Weiler* Lir, Seller infonns ue that he has always planned to have thirty acres
of cc«amon grass pasture for nine cov/s and his brood sows. On this basis, he is
getting as much pasture from 14 acres of sweet clover as he would have gotten
fron 90 acres of grass pasture. The best part of the story is the fact that the
8weet clover is growing av.ay froij his stock. In ny estimation, until this tine
the lA acres would have stood three nead per acre. This is likely to continue.
On this basis, the 14 acres is making as cuch jasture as 125 acres of grass.

Palmer Farms at Noble pastured 125 hogs, all ages, all year on 5 acres of
Sweet clover. The sweet clover has grown away from them. They have had three to
five cov/s pasturing on this lot during the past month and still the sweet clover
continues to grow faster than they eat it. In both instances the cattle and
hogs eat it well and are in fine condition." - Piper, Richland Co.

Sweet Clover Hay Fine. "ILay 25 I got a fine sample of sweet clover hay out
of the barn of 0. W, Green, who is having his first experience with the crop and
is handling it splerdidly. We have a large area of black clay loam land on \^ich
sweet clover does well without limestone or inoculation," - Robbins, DeWitt Co.

Boys Excel as Hog Raisers. W,b are very much pleased with the v.ay the pig club
work is coning on this year. In visiting the various swine breeders, the directors
at our various breed associations found and often remarked that the boys vAio are
entered in the Litter Club project are taking better care of their pigs than the
regular breeders, and that some of the winners in the futurity shov,rs this fall are
likely to be club boys. A good number of the boys arjj girls are starting in with
the single pig project June 1- Mr. Johnston has been atterding club meetings
in different parts of the coimty and reports very good interest among the boys and
girls enrolled." - Mosher, Woodford Co.

"Fourteen registered Jersey heifers shipped in frran Tennessee were given
out to the Boys» and G.irls^ Jersey Calf Club yesterday. This \ns the first calf
club of its kind ever crgarLized in this county. Never before in the history
of this county has that number of purebred dairy cattle been shipped in at one
time. ThQ interest in this prqj ect is very keen. The demand for calves exceeded
the supply which shows that Franklin County is saaking up to the possibility of
improving its livestock." - deiVerff, Franklin Co.

"]j3e Uore Uilk Campaigno A campaign to increase the consumption of milk,
particularly among the rural people, was put on thru the schools of the county.
A first, second and third prize \^s offered to the winners of each township. All
pupils in the 5th, 6th, and 7th and 8th grades were asked to write an essay on
••The Food Value of Liilk", A colored chart was sent to mch school in the county
showing the canparative food value of milk along with eggs, chicken, beef, etc."-
Kline, Boone Co.

"The Shippint^ Association has shipped 6 loads of livestock this v/eek and 10
last week. They have had a load of hogs top the market each week. This associa-
tion is one of the best things the Farm Bureau has or^nized and the farmers in
all parts of the county are v/ell pl»sed»" - Snyder, Montgomery Co%

"lova #10^ Cats were rapidly heading out on June 1. Chinch bugs v/ill
kill some of our late cats, so we expect the lovja 103»s to make a great record this
season." - Robbins, >eV/itt Co.

Vol. IV

Page 3

No. 23

I,aOvie Projector a Success> "We are strong for the Moving Picture Machine,
ufe haven't haid any trouble getting the rrowd. Grandfather likes the pictures,
father and mother like them and the children think they are great. The cocmunity
ueetings have been postponed now until la+er in the season when our folks are not
quite so busy and the ;veath8r isn't so ivarm. Taking the Deetmgs as a whole, we
feel they have been well worth while." - Edgerton, Rock Island Co.

it_s and Pictures Get Results^ "After an all day soil meeting in Lyons town-
ship, vi/ednesday. Lay 25, a night meeting was held in the loft of the dairy barn
at the Bobson farm. This being the hone of one of the largest dccredited herds in
Cook County it was appropriate to show film on the eradication of tuberculosis,
A crowd of 150 men and women, many of them from BuPage County^ came in thirty
machines. They v/ere interested in the program and er^ oyed the light refreshments
that followed. The relaxation on the part of the croT,7d that attended this semi-
holiday made the meeting more interesting and successful than where the men huriry
out of the fields or dairy barn to bolt their supper meal and make off to the meet-
ing place. Its easier to make a favorable impression and drive hosBeyour point
vJhen the crowd is feeling fine and good pictures and refreshments never fail to
mellow up a man," - Heller, Cook Co,

Dairvman in Knox to Study Situation, "The dairymen of this county have taken
things in their own h^nds, and with the help of the farm bureau, will make a milk
marketing survey in the county. They have located four or five wide-aivake men
in each township vjho will make a full report of the territory assigned to then.
..hen complete these reports vjxll show every milk producer in the county, the number
of ^llons of milk produced per day, and the amounts marketed as whole milk, sweet
cream or sour cream, daily. If conditions warrant or^nizing a Milk Producers'
Association or a selling organization, they will look fonrard for assistance from
the Illinois Agricultural Association i^rketing Department," - Bracker, Knox Co,

fe^r Blight Serious. 'Ikj*, Brock spent one day with me looking over some
orchards and we find some of the pear orchards are "becoming very much inj tired with
body blight. In fact, v/e recommended that 011c man piill up his six year pear-
orchard and plant to something like blight resistent apples. Evidently the
ground on which he has these was too rich for Keefer pears and it caused too much
grov/th." - Blackburn, karion Co.

"Twine Prices vary from 14 to l8fi. One of ovir dealers has contracted twine
to farm bureau members at 14;j at the car and to non-members I5ji« This is for
standard Deering Cricket-Proof t^vine. The Farm Bureau is trying to leave the
tv/ine business in the hands of dealers, and is advising farmers to buy v^ere they
can make the best buy," - Robbins, DeWitt Co.

Two New Counties Begin Work, tyhite County has employed Lir» E. W, Creighton
c.s farm adviser, iTith headquarters at Carmi, Since gradioating from the Uni-
versity of Illinois, Ivir. Creighton has been operating a large farm near Fair-
field, Illinois, and is chairman of the temporary organization that has secured
nearly enough Bsmbers to or^nize a Farm Bureau in ViSiyne County, The Vthite Co,
work will begin on or before June 15,

¥.. E. Hart who has been Farm Adviser in V/illiamson County since June 1, 19l8,
has moved to Glav County where he took up the Farm Bureau duties on J une 1, with
headqi^rters at Louisville,

% Jxt

eitstmt

A scries of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS
ViU IV June 15, 1921. NO. '•i'^

Soybean "Only a limited amount of information is available on the cul-

tivation of soybeans, but all authorities seem to agree that it is
Cultivation best to provide seme sort of tillage. The method of cultivation

depends sanewhat on the method of planting. When the soybean crop
is planted in rows 3 to Si" f^®'*' apart, it can be cultivated with a tv70-horse
shovel or blade cultivator. It should be cultivated two to four times, depend-
ing on the season and the condition of the land, and the cultivation should be
shallov/ and level. A level surface makes for convenience in harvesting.

If the rows are closer together than three feet, a one-horse implement
may be used. If the crop has been drilled or sown broadcast, the rotary hoe is
the best implement to use, although a weeder or even a harrow nay be utilized
with some degree of satisfaction if done in the middle of the day when the plants
are tough, A rotary hoe is especially good to break a surface crust Ts^iich may
form after a heavy rain. Such a crust must be broken, or the beans \7ill 'break
their necks* trying to get through.

Like cowpeas, soybeans should never be cultivated vAien there is dev; or
rain on the leaves or plants because affecting diseases (especially the *wilt')
which are stirred up from the soil, spread so much worse \ihen the plants are w^et,"
C. A. Atwood, Asst. State Leader.

"Spray Schedule for Second Brood Codling Loth.- Spraying for second brood
codling moth should be completed from Centralia south by July 1; J erseyville and
Effingham south to Centralia by July 5; Quincy and Urbana south to J erseyville
and Effingham by J uly 8; Princeton south to Quincy and Urbana by July 12; from
Princeton north by July I7.

First brood worms are more abundant than usual in most sections, and this
spray should not be emitted.

In all districts v/here bitter rot is not expected, one pound of dry (or two
pounds of paste) lead arsenate should be rcsabined v/ith tv/o pounds of freshly
slaked lump lime in each fifty gallons of spray. If lump limfi cannot be se-
cured, substitute four pounds of hydrated lime. In orchards in southern Illinois
where bitter ret has been prevalent, susceptible varieties should be sprayed
v/ith 3-4-50 Bord^ux combined with the lead arsenate. This should be repeated
at intervals of ten days until four applications have been made. E'O not use
lime sulfur at this season." - nT, S- Brock, Bejartmental Adviser, Dept. of Hort.

and W, P« Flint, Entcmologist , Itetural Histcry Survey.

Bank Collections a Succesa. - "uTe have turned in our sfccond year membership
checks and f»r the most part they are turnirig out very v.ftll. *K>, divided the checks
according to the banks on which they were dravm and presented th«ai personally. In
this -..ay they *re either jald or left at the banks until the person has funds suf-
fivii^rrt. to pay them. Of course scsae have died and some have iiirved av/ay and
channrsd their 'oanking business and this tan be checked up al30. It it very satis-

vol. IV

Page 2

No. 24

"Grasshoppers. Young grasshoppers have been hatching for the last two weeks,
and are now large enough so they can be readily seen if present in numbers to
Icause serious damage later. Look for them in clover, timothy, alfalfa, and along
Fthe roadsides. They may already have invaded soybean fields, and if so, should
[be poisoned at once, as it is difficult to kill in such fields later in the
season. Remember, seventeen grasshoppers per square yard when n^rly full grown
[will eat a ton of hay per day per forty acre field. Circular 5» of the Ifetural
History Survey, vAiich treats of methods of combating grasshoppers, has just been
revised and is ready for distribution," - W« P. Flint, Entonologist, Natural
History Survey.

County Swine Class at State Fairc- "County swine breeders associations have
an unusual opportunity of carrying out an important cooperative piece of work by
making a collection exhibit at the Illinois State Fair this year.

Present indications point to the fact that Illinois will have an exception-
ally strong show of hogs this year and that one of the important features will
be the county exhibits. These exhibits include ten animals of any age 0T,7ned and
exhibited by two or more members of a county organization. One of the pxirposes of
this class is to encourage the small breeders who do not have a full herd and
therefore, no exhibitor can ovm more than six animals in the county entiies.

Breeders who are planning to exhibit at the fairs and cane from counties
that do not have county organizations can enter their exhibits as representing
the Farm Bureau, or better still, they should form a county association at once.
No better reason for forming an association is necessary.

The liberal premiums offered in this class in addition to the regular and
other special praaiieas offered in the swine division should bring out an unusually
large number of entries. Let each breeder in the state see to it that his county
is represented in the special class. The following is the list of premiums of-
fered in the county class:

Duroc-J ersey, 10 animals

Poland China, 10 aninai-g

Berkshires, 10 animals
CChester Whites, 10 animals

Hampsliires, 10 aiiimals

Spotted Polands, 10 animals

Tamworth, 10 animals

--W. H, Snith, Extension Specialist, Animal Husbandry, U. of 1», and Supt of Swine,
Illinois State Fair,

Editor's Note: If there are any questions in regard to the exhibiting of livestock,
(any class) at the State Fair, Ur. Smith will be glad to furnish the information.
Write him direct.

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

040

^30

02O

"Let Gravity Help, "One of cur farmers living about 10 miles from a railrioad
station installed last year a local limestone crusher which he has operated v/ith
considerable success. He has recently hit upon a very good plan of reducing the
labor connected ?/ith grinding the limestone to a minimum- The rock is quarried
and broken into pieces of the right size at the top of a hill. The crusher is
installed about half Viay down the side of this incline. A platform of suitable
ffiz» and strength is built beside this machine to receive the rocks as they are
delivered from the quarry thru a chute by gravitation. The crushed rock frcm the
machine is delivered in a pile near the base of the hill so that loading into a
arv convenient," - Phillips, Greene Co.

Vol. IV Page 3 No. 24

A Ne\y Stadium is planned for the University of Illinois, ?*ich, when completed
will be the largest athletic plant of its kind in America and will cost more than
$2,000,000. It will eclipse in size the Yale Bov/l and the Harvard Stadium, and
will seat 75,000 spectators. Such an am-hitheatre is a necessity to relieve the
meager and crowded athletic facilities at the State University. For several years
spectators have been turned av^ay frcm big foot ''call games, but the climax was
reached last fall iii^en nearly 20,000 applications were refused tickets for the
championship game v/ith Ohio State University. The Stadium should be completed for
use during the season of 1924.

The Stadium id^ was conceived by George Huff, veteran director of athletics,
viien it became evident that Illinois could no longer hold a top place among western
colleges without providing ample accomncdations for the monster crov/ds. All other
conference schools have large fields. By looking ahead to the time when inter-
sectional ^mes will be the rule rather than the exception, Illinois authorities
feel that a mammoth concrete Stadiue v/ill properly fit this vital need,

Yale's great Bowl was originally built to seat 61,000 persoas, Harvard»s
Stadium 45,000, and Ohio State*s new Stadium 63,000, so the new home of Illinois
teams will be the largest in America.

"It is ho idle guess to prophesy that 75|000 persons will witness our games
in the future," says G. Huff, "for the interest and gro'/vth in athletics have ad-
vanced beyond all expectations. Aiid v/ith the hard roads program being rapidly
pushed, we must have the Stadium to accommodate the people of our state." - K.
W. Clark, Student Chainnan, Stadium Publicity Ccsumittee, U, of I.

First Counties Visit University Experiment Station. - With more than 150
farm folks from llontgomery'and bhrist-;^n Counties, Advisers Snyder and Kelley
opened the visiting season at the University Farm and Experiment Station. The
entire day, Thursday, June 9, xvas spent in visiting the Morrow and Davenport
plots, the South Farm, the Dairy Cattle, Si,7ine, Beef Cattle, Horses and Sheep,
Animal Pathology and Genetics Departments. Dr, Bauer, Dr. Yapp, Dr. Burlison
and Professor Coffey, assisted by heads of the division, explained the experi-
mental v/ork and results.

Now is the time to see the soils and crop ?/ork, jarticularly as the month
of June finds them at their best stages for observation. Future visiting dates
by counties are scheduled as follov/s:

June 16- Kendall (Md) June 24- i^con and vVhiteside (PK)

June 17- Kendall (PM) june 25- i^ill and »;/hiteside (Aii)

Also Farm advisers* meeting June 16-1?. June 27- McLean and Henry

June 20- Coles June 28- Marshall-Putnam and Clark

June 21- Peoria (PLi), Douglas and Liooro June 29- lioultrie and Bureau

Estate tenants June 30- Iroquois and Woodford
June 22- Peoria (AM), Dev/itt and Morgan
June 23- Grundy and Vermilion

— C. A. At wood, Asst. State Leader.

Mr. H. F. Crosby has been employed as Assistant Farm Adviser and Club Leader
in Edgar County. LIr. Crosby is a graduate of the U. of I. and has been teaching
agriculture in the Paris High School the past three years. He will begin his
nev/ work as soon as his teaching duties are completed.

Lime Order Large in Mas sac. - "We have contracted for 120 cars of limestone
at C2. 20 per ton delivered, and if the freight rate decreases we will gei the
benefit of the drop." - L'cGhee, I.iassac Co.

A scries of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

'^'^SlgfJi

mi.

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS
Vol. IV June 22, 1921* Hor"25

'^airy Vetch in Connection with Ve.'^etable Growings -Hairy vetch (vicia
villosa) may be sown as a catch crop iui^rioJ^ately following the harvesting of
any vegetables that mature early encvgn to er.w.bJe the land to be cleared by
Sept» 1st; or it may be sown at the lact cultivation in late tanatoes, late
sweet corn, or similar crops, Jt b?ars t'-anping well and is not injured during
the harvesting of the tcmatocs or s-.v-get corn, Zi the land is to be used for
early planting the next spi~ing, the cover crop of vetch should be plowed under
later in the fall so as not to de."'ay the prei:ara-*-?.on of the seed bed. If a
late planted crop is to be grown the next spring, the vetch should be allov/ed
to reimin throu^ the winter and to mal-re co.n-i durable grovrth in the spring be-
fore it is plowed under, A vetch covei crop mar.es the land more friable and
easily worked, an important item in vegetable production. It also stimulates
the growth of the succeeding vegotabla crop, S«u prising results with early
cabbage have been obtained by planting the cabba.ge on land Vihere vetch had been
sovm in the tomato crop the preceding year and plov/ed under late in the fall,"-
J. W, Lloyd, Chief in Olericulture, U, of I.

Legumes The corn crop produces an enormous amount of digestible nutrients

to_ per acre, but this is not fully utilized unless fed in connection v/ith

Bs larce some other feed to properly balance the ration. The cheapest and most

"corn practical feeds to balance corn in the ration are legumes. For this

purpose, an acre of alfalfa is worth practically ten acres of timothy.

On good land, corn, used for silage, and allalla vyill each produce from
tv70 to four times as much digestible n»^.trf snls per acre as any of the crops
commonly raised on the farm, and aV-or,-^ five tir'.es as much as blue grass pasture.
In addition to this, they form a p^lat^ble and we.ll~la]anced ration and con-
sidering the yield do not take an excessive amcur-t of l?bor»

iin average yield per acre of ~i2 tons of air-dry alfalfa hay and 11,66
tons of corn silage were obtained for six years on the tv/enty acre Dairy Demon-
stration. After shrinkage, this furnished a dairy cow with a ration of 16 pounds
of hay per day for 420 days and 40 pounds of corn silage for 460 days. Ten cows
fed for one year on corn silage and alfalfa hay virith the addition of only a
small amount of green soj.ling crops for a short time during the summer, but with-
out grain, produced an average of 82'^1 pounds of milk and 285 pounds of fat.
The good production of these coxis on a ration wa.thcut grain, and their sleek
condition at the end of the year speaks v/onders for the occncmy and efficiency
of these feeds in combination,

Tl-e cheapest and best feeds for cov/s are usually corn silage and alfalfa
hay, and cows should be fed to the limit of their capacity on these feeds be-
fore adding grain, inhere this is done, they will usually consume enou^i of
these feeds to produce about 20 pounds of milk per day which is more than the
average production of the cows in Illinois. However, v/hen cows are capable

Vol. IV Page 2 No, 25

of producing more than this, grain shou]d. be added, according to the milk flow,"
W. J, Fraser, Prof, of Dairy Farming, il--ij.versity of Illinois.

Pig Club Gets Parkers.. Thircyiive pui-e bred Poland^China sow pigs were
distributed today at lI\:ii\hysborQ to -^-hfi intivten.; of the pig club recently or'^an-
ized by the Jackson Ccun+y Po land- Oh.ina b'=;eirr*^ Association, It v.as a ver^
fine uniform lot of pigs and they were distributed with evident satisfaction to
all," - Thomas, Jackson Co,

Via nt Pi c ni c a t Pi xon , . "An effort lis being made to have the Illinois Asso-
ciation vote i.heir pic-;ic to be held at Lowell Park, near Cixon» Conditions
are ideal at the park for a big rrowd, and wi'^h v.he cocperat:.on of Whiteside and
Ogle Courties, and perhaps al.-^c '^teplie'^.sor'., ^•ar'-oll, and J oDfiviess Counties,
the picnic could be mads a gran:^ sv-cc" ss.. These counties are all willing to
cooperate and especially the xhree coui-.ties nearest to Lov/ell Park," - Griffith,
Lee County,

Conflicting Report s«- "A n'jmber of farmers planted some of Funk's sc«c» corn
which ;vas germinated for vigor and freedotr f?-ora aJ. ?ease. It has been interesting
to hear the reports of the farmers, S'-rne havo ^f.a-'.ed that -I.his corn, planted in
the same field, came up ahead of corn b.jcured fvcr: other sources and was nore
vigorous in its growths ■■'' fev, of the faT:i,e-'fi huv^ rep-r-'ted ihctt they could see
practically no difference, and two have Thczeht theav cvm cor a was doing better*
lliere is no question but that the fieldr pianted wi'th tbJs corn will be care-
fully watched this summer^ and. the husKing season v/ill bo av,Qited with more than
usual interest." - Bracker, Krnx Co^

"Set Prices for Harvest, iit the regular meeting of the Executive Committee
tho following v.agas v/ers £.:ggested as be.ing rea s enable j" For corn plowing, \;l,50
to O2»00 per day with board; for harver-iing, 03»OO per clay -with board. They
also suggested 2-2'9'- and 5,- as a fa.-r ';as":s ''or threshing. It might be well to
mention that we have tv/o threshermen on oui' Executive Committee," -■ Eane, Hender-
son County,

"Spraying PemonstratioPi. •> The third spray i;a.s applied to the Obic Hill
orchard where v/e have a ^p'-i.yir.g deTor.s I. ration* The crop does not look so well
after the J'lne drop, I&JxV of tho tree's v.-hj.ch had a good crop two weeks ago nov/
have only a fev/ scattering iruits, Ihese, ho'vever, look fairly well. There
has 'been considei-able injury by "vhe app"'e curculro, which dees not seem to have
been controlled by the ordinary appl:' ca-*: inrs of spray r::atcrial. In my round
over the oovnty, I f.inJ t;:at the cui-oul.xo };a s done ccniiiderable damage in
practically every or^ha'-d viiere ^tu-.L is tu be fovj^d tnis season.

Since the June drjp, I am fi).ti??fied that the apple crop in Calhioun County
v/ill not exceed ^%, My judgment would be nearer 3^ of a crop." • Allison,
Ca ]houn County,

Hopkin-B- Farm ^Shows Results. " "Hadi a trip to Hopkins' Farm and Odin Experi-
ment Station, Duf- to the busy season for the farmers very few of them ivere out.
Those attending, however, we^^e very much interested. The results on Dr, Hopkins'
farm certainly are convincing that it pays to use Dr. Hopkins' system of permanent
fertility," - Blackburn, L'arion County,

Vol* IV Page 3 No. 25

Clay County Starts Strong;, - •"Die work is starting off nicely, with a
number of community get -acquainted meetings being hold and more scheduled.
Good interest in the work is manifest, and I feel reasonably sure of fine co-
operation," - Hart, Clay County,

Received a Car-Load of Creosote for fighting chinch bugs and have orde* d
a second car. Bugs are already in some corn and much damage is done." - Smith,
Macon Co,

Form "Co-Og"Elevator.> • "I assisted at the orginization meeting of the stock-
holders of the Elburn Co-operative Company on the 8th. The company completed
its organization at this meeting by adopting a set of by-laws and the election
of a board of directors. This company is the result of the re-organization of
a straight stock company to form a cO'-operative ele'>/ator company. The change
vvas made readily as the stockholders of the old company V7ere favorable to the
change and the farmers subscribed readily for stock in the new ccmpany, " •
ftichards, Kane County,

"Grind Up Fences for Fertilizer, - JoDaviess County Farmers find that rock
fences are worth more spread over the field as a limestone dust than they are
as division lines. So they are lining up crushers along side the old-time rock
fence and presto - it is helping grow a crop of clover or alfalfa - regular
pay dust \7e»d say," • J . D, Bilsborrow, Asst, State Leader,

"Tenancy Project Makes Frogresst • One of the recccaaendations of the joint
landlord-tenant committee in Vermilion County last vdnter m.3 for a landlord-
tenant farm tour this summer.

Last Tuesday at a meeting of this committee tentative plans for such
a tour were outlined. The object of the tour will be to bring out the points
included in the recommendations submitted by the committee in their previous
report. Farms will be selected to demonstrate the following points:
1, Crop rotation and growing of legumes,
2» Co-operation in use of fertilizers,

3<. farms where livestock is j ointly owned by landlord and tenant,
4. Farms that are well equipped with buildings and fences.
Every farm selected for the tour will be a tenant farm. Emphasis vdll
be placed upon the fact that the recommendations of the Ccmnittee and the
practices upon the farms visited are practical and profitable to both temnt,
landlord, and land and that they can be put into operation with good results
on other farms,

Members of the Committee endorsed the plan and contributed many valuable
suggestions, A similar tour is planned for Kendall County," - Bilsborrow,
As St. State Leader*

Many Demonst rat ions, - "The Farm Bureau is fostering a number of demon-
strations in the county, such as testing out 13 different varieties of corn
for chinch bug resistance, testing diseased corn against disease- free, com-
paring the growth and yields of six varieties of oats, twelve varieties of
soy beans and two varieties of cow peas, and comparison of Michi^n grown late
seed potatoes a^inst our ordinary potatoes grown in this county," - Rusk,
Jiacoupin Co,

W^t Jxtmsum ^

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. rv June 29, 192l» No. 26

The "Experience has shown that a good seed bed is a most important

Alfalfa factor in obtaining a good stand of alfalfa. When alfalfa is to be
Seed sown in August or the first of September, ground which has previously

Bed grov/n wheat, oats, or barley, makes the best kind of seed bed. The

Important soil should be plowed soon after the grain crop is removed. It is

best to plow shallow about five inches deep. Our experiences has
been that cultiietion, just enough to keep down the weeds is sufficient. This
means usually, two double diskings and tv/o times over with the spike-toothed
harrow, once after each disking. It is best to cultivate alfalfa before the crop
is seeded, for then the weeds can be destroyed with less expense than after the
crop is up. Rolling has been frequently practiced but rainfall sometimes does
the rolling. In walking over a good a 1 fa 1 fa seed bed you will be reminded of
the feeling experienced in v.a Iking over a high priced, thick floor rug, " » Dr*
VV. L, Burlison, U, of I,

"The use of Vetch as a soil crop advocated by the Cook County Farm Bureau
last fall, has proven very successfulc In order to call farmers* attention to
the possibilities of this legxime, a noon-day field meeting ;ms tried in Elk Grove
tov/nship. Holding a meeting at this time was something of an experiment but
aembcrs could not attend an evening meeting held before dark, because of its
conflicting v/ith milking time. Thirty- five members in 15 machines came to this
proposed one-half hour meeting, which in reality lasted one and one-ha.lf hours,
and was successful from every standpoint," - Heller, Cook Co*

"Ensilage from Weeds, - Such a caption to a newspaper story, or as a slogan
for a demonstration tour would have been an innovation a few seasons ago, Friday
afternoon it was shown to be a profitable practice, during the sweet clover demon-
st ration tour held in this county-

A trip was arranged to the farm of Geo, Nimmo where seet clover silage has
been a regular thing for seven seasons. It is seldom that a tour excites ae
many questions and results in such enthusiasm as did this one. New uses for a
formerly 'Despised v/eed* were l^rned and the result of continued practice of the
Illinois System of Pernanent Fertility forcefully illustrated. The system has
some nev/ converts as a result of this tour. Our advice to other advisers is; *Go
thou and do like'.rise*, it*s worth while." - Center, McLean County,

"They Like Lovies. - Have been using motion picture machine in a number of
meetings lately and find it very effective in getting people to attend. Also,
it is a valuable method of teaching lessons." - Oathout, Champaign County,

Vol, IV page 2 No. 26

"Big Farmers* Day at Newton, - On June 24 there was assembled at Newton,
Illinois, (Jasper County) one of the largest gatherings of fanners ever brought
together to study the results of soil treatment and the growing of better crops
in southern Illinois, Twelve hundred farmers from about 20 counties, some cocing
from a distance of 150 miles, ^thered at the experiment station field in the
morning to study the results of soil treatment, both from the crops growing on the
field and from nuermous exhibits which were arranged for their study. On this
field, wheat was to be seen in which there were only two or three snail shocks to
the acre. Striking results on corn and sweet clover v/ere also observed. The
exhibits arranged on the field told the story of soil improvement in southern Illi-
nois on the Newton Experiment Field and on Dr, Hopkins' Poor Land Farm, liany imr
portant and valuable lessons in soil improvement and the grov/ing of better crops
were plainly shov/n by the field and the exhibits. After lunch the visitors as-
sembled at the Fair-Grounds v/here they listened to an excellent address on grain
marketing problems by R* N, Clarke, a director of the U. S. Grain Growers' Inc.
Following Mr, Clarke a number of l2-minute talks on the agricultural problems
and possibilities of southern Illinois were given by the departmental advisers or
their substitutes. Those taking part in this program were W, P« Flint, W* H,
Smith, B» S, Pickett, T, R, Lovett, and F, C, Bauer,

On the whole, this first Farmers' Day at Newton was very successful. There
were plenty of things for the farmers to see and they gave their undivided atten-
tion to the program. CTndoubtedly this type of meeting is a valuable means of
getting into closer touch with the farmers of the state," - F, C, Bauer, Extension
Specialist in Soils, U, of I,

"Cultivating Soys a Novel \my, - A Bond County farmer has a very novel way
of cultivating soybeans. He double ro\7s the beans with a 36 inch planter, thus
making the rows I8 inches apart. He then takes off the hind sweeps of a surface
cultivator, widens the wheels to cover three rov/s and cultivates one row at a
time. He has raised soybeans very successfully for several years," - Tarble^

"Visited the Corn Root Rot Plot in our tour and Ij", Gruneviald explained the
number of rows of disease and disease-free corn and the manner in which they were
planted and asked the crowd to see if they could distinguish between the two.
The men had no difficulty in selecting the 'sick' corn. Itfe are planning to have
some other meeting on this plot and the results look like they were showing up
pretty well," - Wells, infetrren Co •

"The diseased corn planted on the Corn Root Rot Demonstration Plot is show-
ing up decidedly as expected," - Price, Kendall County,

You Should See for Yourself. "The corn demonstration plot at Thorp's
Crossing, shows great differences between the diseased and healthy ccfn. Rows
from Scott Griffin's prize v/inning ears are especially strong and vigorous, more
than twice as large as corn from some other ears, " - Robbins, DeVi/'itt Co,

"The demonstration plots are showing up very good. In one case the Illinois
10-110 appears to be, at least, 10 bushels per acre superior to common \\rinter
wheat. The corn root rot demonstrations are causing a great deal of comment.
An auto tour is planned to include one of these demonstrations." -

Vol. IV Page 3 No. 26

"Kanred Vittieat is lookin'5 good ard v.ill apparantly be a superior yielder.
Some of the Michigan Red aocl: v/heat is l5f;r pro'^A.^ng and is rut;ting acre than
Turkey Red or Kanred wneat. The IlLunoisb; n o . 1 bearded sprrng wreat is showing
up good.

In comparison wit!, other oats the /itv'}^ "^^ ahead of our ccunonly used
Silvermine, Big Four and other cats .Ln I-.caa:..(j;-, Ic is abcvt five to seven days
later in heading than tiie lo.a lO.j oac?.. Sovp;.-al of ov:r irnn ,/;ill cut and thresh
two or more -warieties. (\ncludir7 xov.'ar)9 separately, wrAc'r. v/ill give us 3^eld
data. At present the lonar oats are shov/ing up very favorably*" - Longnire,
Grundy Co,

"County miry Herds at the State Fa^r, - From all indications there v/ill
be ten" cr more county'dafry he'rdl-'sit "th^ c"tate Fair this fall. Herds liave been
selected in Effingham, Lcrroe, La-;7rencc, Peoria, and Tazev/ell courrcies. Several
other counties are in liii .■.

This county herd claf^sification tvjll enable many snail breeders to exhibit
at the State Fair. One of the first requirement f in raking a good showing is
to select the her3 early.'- ~ €■. S. Rhode, Exc. Specialist, Dairy Husbandry, U.
of I.

"In the Lime-Li °:ht,- The pure-bred sire campaign put on by ilr, niatkins in
Like County last year f-.irnishcs the basis for the ler^ding article in the June l8
issue of the Country a£;-ir.ie::2an. This js an cxcel^.ent illustration of the ad-
vertising value of a Farn rfreau coiacsiitratinr; on a project so th^t people will
know of the good work which it is doiagr, " - Go N^ Coffey,

"The sheep shea.-in^: cool is proving satisfactory. The individualshearers
arc charging 25 y^' and not lujt rJ.shing any helPj. v/hile the shearing pool man is
doing the work for 20ji per head and furnishing one man," - Fuller, ].^rshall-
Futnam County.

Vifill Visit All Lilembers. - "A marked increase in the number of requests for
farti visits has been noticeable during the last two weeks. I am starting out
to visit each msmber who has not been previously visited and hope to get around
to all of them before the end of the year," - Srown, Stark C©,

Y/ill Or grani?q Selling Or <^p. m. zat ion.- "Farmers in the Mississippi bottoms at
lucClurc where there is a very lax^o acreage of alfalfa have decided to organize
a selling cr^^niL'ation, scmev;h^t similar to the fruit and vegetable grov/ers.
This iTill resul-K in three year contracts with the alfalfa growers, a competent
r^aiHger and mspecxor ivho 'jr.ll dexerraine the grades of loay, and each grower will
stand back of hi:-; hay, agi-eoing to the decision o: the inspector. In this way
disputes on the quality of hay will be easily adjusted, as the responsibility
will be upon the grower backed by his concraci. These farmers also have 200
acres of early potatoes v/hich -Lhey i/r'.erid "..■o market thru the same association.
This will take irjill of xhe bottoms tliat are devoted to alfalfa grov/ing. Pro-
gress along these lines is encouraging^" - Locrschi^k, Union Co,

Branch Office Days a S^cces^s. " "v/e find considerable interest developing
in our branch oiTlce days» ijhj.ie the men have all been busy, v/e have not had
large numbers come, but at the same time sufficient numbers have come to these
offices to rcake us feel justified in continuing these meetings." - Raut, lladison
County.,

A scries of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

Vnl. IV

UNIVERSITY OF

ILLIN'OIS
July bt

, URBANA, ILLINOIS

S9* 27

Alfalfa "Thoroly iKitured alfclfa seed is a deep, golden yellow, vVhen the

seed possesses a slightly greenish tinge it is frequently imnratura
&»^ . and possesses hard seed coats. Host of this seed, however, isrill ,grow»
Black or brov/nish shriveled alfalfa seed is poor in germination.
It is seed ?i^ich is dead and should be rejected. Use only new seed v/ith a high
germination test, not less than 85^° and free from weed seeds, especially noxious
kinds. Of a thousand samples examined the following table indicxites the species
of weed seeds present and their habits of growth.

Species

Habit

% oi Samp.

Species

Habit

/i of Samp,

in kvhich

in viihich

Growth

Each Occurred

Growth

Each Occurred

Green foxtail

Annual

27.0

Lridy's Finger

Annual

4,0

Yellow Foxtail

Annual

29-0

Pa spa lum

Perennia

1 1.9

Plantain

Perennial

Canada Thistle

Perennial 1,6

Crab grass

Lambs Quarter

Pig';/eed

Old Witch grass

Russian Thistle

Roquette

Dock

Rirnyard grass

Wild carrot

l/ow L^llow

iVhite Clover
Dotted Sen rt weed

or biennial 24,0

Annual 18,0

Annua 1 16« 0

Annual 19«5

Anniiai 11,0

Annual 7*0

Annual 5,0

Perennial 5*3

Annua 1 4, 3

Biennial 3«6
Annual or

biennia 1 3, 9

Perennial ^4
Annual or

Perennial 2.4

Spur Thistle Biennial 1,4

Red Clover Perennial ,9

Trefoil Anntal ,9

Rayed Knapweed Perennial ,9

Dodder Annual ,4

Yellow Toad Flax Perennial ,4

Pepper grass Annual ,4
Sheep Sorrel Annual or

Perennial- ,4

Self-heal Perennial ,4

Rugol's Plantain Perennial ,4
Italian Rye Annual or

Perer-nial .4

Red Top Perennial ,4

Oxeye Daisy Perennial ,4

Seeding Alfalfa, - "Numerous experiments have been conducted and many ob-
servations are on record dealing with the time of seeding alfalfci. Results of
these tests and observations stand for the most part in favor of fall seeding,
Sone of our best results are reported from seeds planted during the last ten
days of July and the first ten days in August. Later seeding in central and
northern Illinois than August is risky. On the DeKalb field good results have
been obtained by seeding in the spring from April 20 to Lay 20 with a light
companion crop of barley or. oats. Recommendations as to the amount per acre
vary' from 8 to 30 pounds. This staxion has had satisfactory results by using •-
15 pounds of high grade alfalfa seed per acre." - W. L, Burlison, Head, Dept, of
Agronomy, U, of I,

Vol. IV Page 2 No. 27

"Will the Chinch-Bug Eat Le.qumes? -" Look in the fields and seel Now is a
good time to call attention to the -ralue oi' j.oguiues as a chiiich^bug resistant
crop. Vi/here narrow strips of legumes were pLirted between the wheat or oats and
corn, they have not, of course, afforded any real protection as a barrier, but
the resistance of this crop to the b'.)g3 can never be better shov/n than at this
time. The legumes stand Lininjured^ where millions of chinch-bugs have gone
thru them, while adjoining fields of corn have been completely destroyed, "-
Flint, Entomologist Natural History Survey.

Creosote Holds *Em. - "Chinch bugs have been moving pretty rapidly in some
parts of the county the past week, The Farm Bureau has helped all farmers v/ho
were bothered v/ith bugs and desired oxur htlpo Creosote lines v/ere made in a num»
ber of fields with excellent results^

This is the first year that any effort has been made to control chinch bugs*
All farmers who tried creosote "are v/e^l satisfied v/ith their results." - Husted,
Scott County,

Farmers' Elevators Handle Cr^scte, - "L'ost of the time for the past two
■ weeks has been spent in our caiar;' •.^''^ against chinch-bugs. During this time and
the week previous we held demonitrr.tions in every locality in the county to
show farmers how to prepare chmoh-bug barz-iers. The attendance was good at
these meetings and the farmers seer, to -.-iko up to the need of being prepared to
fight the bugs, Vfe prevailed upor the Fsci-isrc;^ E3e\'ator at Bethany to get in
a car of creosote to use in fighting the ihinch-^bugs and we also got the 0, J*
Gauger Lumber Co, to get a car of creosote at Sullivan." - Higgins, iloultrie Co,

"Qi what _Vj.TIians . - We spent several days v/orking 7/ith the farmers in
chinch bug contnl. v.here creosote tar was used in tiiie the bugs were kept back
from the corn. The supply cf creosote tar is not sufficient to go around.
The bugs wilJ. soon b?gin to fly and nothing nore can be done. Numerous showers
have helped the ccrn but the v.'heat and oats liave suffered greatly from the bugs*
Alraady v/e have to encounter the argument that it will be necessary to quit
growr.ng v/heat to ocnfcroi chinch b^^gs, Lany of ovr farmers are planting soy
beans where t'.ie bugs have killed t.,ie oats. I believe it takes a general calamity
like this to aake our farmers realize t?iat it is necessary to fight bugs in
their v/inter quarters and also to grov/ crops that bugs do not feed upon." •
Belting, Shelby Co.

'•The JJe'Arton_J^i£]AJ:'££i'iP^ yesterday vjas the best fieldmeeting that it
has ever been ny pleasure to attend. The vx'^iccrs were well taken care of.
There were enough fi.eld men to escort the visit c-rs over the field in small
groups. Fourteen countien were rep? e sent ;;d making a total attendance of some
over a thousand. This county was reci'cTc-r.-. ':;d by r.Aarly one hundred. The suc-
cess of the meeting may largely be :,ttr-i.,.-Uvbd zc Lr. Eauor, who shov/ed keen
wisdom in handling it. One of ov.t local editc-? who \^as in attendance re-
marked that there were a hundred people v/ho v/anted to leave but would not for
fear they would miss something Pr. Eauer said." - Piper, Richland County,

Disease-Free Corn in t^e^Lea^d, - "I,:r, Shav/ spent one day with Jinuaie
Holbert's man in checking over ard measuring the corn upon the corn root plots.
By measuring they found that there was a great deal of difference between the
disease- free and diseased corn. The diseased corn vras naking a splendid
grov/th and showed a full stand," - Hedgcock, Peoria County.

Vol, IV Page 3 No. 27

A Place to Piny. - Illinois* new 02,000,000 Stadium, the largest recrea-
tional plarrt of its kind in America, should be ready for the foottall season
of 1924, At least, that is the hope of the authorities.

The contract for the architectural designs will be awarded within the next
ten days, and acceptance of final and definite plans for the structure should
be made by August 1, according to Robert Zuppke, famous football coach, and
member of the Stadium architectural committee. Present designs are only tenta-
tive and may not resemble the completed amphithtetre. Construction work on the
Stadium will start not later than next spring, following the raising of C^l, 500,000
which is expected to be pledged from alumni and people of the state in the cam-
paign this fall and winter,

A beautiful model of the Stadium, a replica of the horse-sho© Sbowl as it
will look when completed, will be exhibited at tho State Fair in Springfield in
August, Arrangements have been concluded with Hon. B, L, Davison, Director of
Agriculture,

The Stadium will probably be built on a 100-acre tract of land bordering
tho Illinois Central tracks, First Street and .oruory Avenue,

"Good Corn Prospects in Clinton County After All. - iuost of the whest is
cut and corn is at present showing better prospect for a crop than it ever has
shown here at this time of the year during the past three years. The number of
chinch bugs seems to be greatly reduced. If the parasite v/orks on the second
brood in proportion in the way that it worked on the first, the chinch bugs
should not prevent a good corn crop this year» " - Rehling, Clinton County,

"Clovers Put New Life in Soil* - We have a number of remarkable demonstra-
tions on wheat this year where sweet clover and red clover put new life into
a soil that has never amounted to anything since it was first cultivated," -
Rehling, Clinton County,

"Tuberculosis llust Go - The r.ovie helpst Good attendances are the rule at
our movies demonstrations. The pictures are enjoyed by the members and their
families, We are shov/ing the T, B. films "Out of the Shadows" with a view of
educating tho farmers to a point where we will be safe in putting on a county
veterinarian. A Rock Grove member had two sick cows. Lump jaw appeared to be
the trouble but we suspected T, B, They were brought in by the rendering works
and both proved tubercular - one a generalized case, I;iinquired of the family
doctor and found that two of the children have the disease. This is enough to
put us on to a T, B, clean up campaign," - Baumeister, Stephenson County,

Weed Control Project, -"If you did not get a copy of the weed control
project presented at the June conference by llr, -Albert C, Wilson, Chief Seed
Analyst, you can secure it by v/riting to him at Springfield, or to the Exten-
sion Service," - G,N.C,

Superfluous! » It is not necessary to accompany your weekly report with a
letter of submissal. Rather, spend that energy in giving us a good item about
some phase of your v/eek*s v/ork. Surely, just type said item on the narrative
side of report sheet. Send it promptly each Saturday morning to 1210 Spring-
field Ave., Urbana,

Can You Splice *Em? -"The splicing of broken hay ropes is a service offered
by the local bureau that- is being appreciated by farmers. Three ropes have been
spliced during the past week," - Brown, Stark County.

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol, IV

July 13, 1921*

NO. 28

Harvesting;

Sv/eet

Clover
Seed

"Since all of the plants in a sv/eet clover field do not ripen
at the same time it is often quite confusing to detennine just the
proper time to harvest sv/eet clover seed. The grower must use hiss
own best judgncnt and cut it ^/hcn the entire field seems tohhave
the most ripe seed. Unripe seed v/ill not ripen in the shock*
Several mechanisms for the pictia^tf sweet clover seed have been tried
out, but so far the bulk of the seed is ha'-vested with the grain binder* This
is a very difficult task especially when the plants are six to eight feet high»
The binder must be set as high as possible. The canvass must be well tacked
to the slate, jarticularly the elevator canvasses© I have found it advisable
to cover the edge of the upper elevator with an extra piece of canvass lappod
about three inches on both sides at the ends of the slats. This prevents the
sweet clover stems from wrapping around the slat ends*

The divider of a binder does not work very satisfactorily in sweet clover^
because it often fails to part the tangled stalks* You may experience some
difficulty in getting the first stalks to pass up the elevator. When once
started, however, the stalks in the elevator will tend to pull other stalks
on the plat form a long,

A box a foot v/ide and six inches deep should be placed at the point where
the platform canvass goes down and starts its return, A similar box should be
placed so it will catch the seed that falls through where the lower elevator
returns. Remove the bundle carrier and in its stead place a canvass hammock
seven feet long and two feet wide. Several wires, run from the lower edge of
the deck to the outside support of the hannock, will make the bundle clear this
hammock when being discharged. The best seed will be ^thered in these three
containers. In putting on these containers keep in mind the number of tines
they must be emptied. On a dry day these boxes may be filled in driving a
distance of one- fourth mile.

It is advisable to spread the seed under a shed or on a barn floor for
drying before bulking. The bundles may be shocked or left in the windrow until
dry. Then they should be threshed as soon as possible, for two rains will beat
off nearly all the seed," - Oscar H- Brenser, Farmer near Columbia, Illinois.

Edit or* s Note, - "We have asked Kr, 6pitler to tell us something abjuut
Mr, Brenser. Here is what he says - *A few years ago Mr, Bremser purchased a
worn out farm near Coluribia, Illinois, and by the use of limestone and legumes,
particularly sweet clover, has built the place up to where it is profitable.
He has worked on a oaehine for the harvesting of sweet clover and hopes to have
it perfected in the near future. He is a member of the Executive Committee of
the Monroe County Farm Bureau, *•♦

Beg Pardont - An error appeared 4n last week's messenger, page 2,
should have road "the diseasc-fre^ corn was making a splendid growth".

Item

Vol, IV

Page 2

No, 28,

"Standard Fruit Package 9«, - A speaker at tho Juno conference alluded to the
standard apple box as coijtaming less than one bushel. Illinois fruit growers do
not use the box for packing apples but in justice to the trade it should be stated
that the box which all of tTie box-apple producing regions are using neasures lOjX
ll-g-xlS inches inside neasurcnents, the product of these dinensions being 2173» 55
cubic inches or 23«13 cubic inches in excess of the U» S. bushel. This does not
take into account the •bulge.* which is present in all well packed containers. The
dimensions of the bushel oasket, which is extensively used in the middle west, are
established by the Federal Governr.ent and contain one bushel when packed level*
The dinensions of the standard apple barrel are also established by law as follows;
Length of stave, 28|- inches, diaEstev of head^ 17~l/8 inches, circunference at
bulge, 64 inches* Such a barrel holds three bushelsv ^i.'hen used for inter-state
shipnent, the contents of both the bushel basket and three-bushel barrel aust be
plainly carked on the outside of the container," - f/. S, Brock, Extension Special-
ist in Horticulture, U. of .u

''An Apple Grading:_jgw,> - Illinois Senate BiU No» 72 establishing grades for
apples grown and packed in Illinx-s goes into erfer.t Septenber 1, The full text
of this ]aw is being nailed to each adviser* Xn ef^'ect the law requires that
each barrel or basket containing app2.es offered for sale shall bear on the out-
side three things:

!_ The name and address of the grov/er*

2« The ffiirdmua size of the scaliest fruit in the package*
3» The correct naae of the varietyc
The other requirenent is that the app3,cs used in facing the package shall
be representative of the contents," - Brock.

"Pruning Brajnbles^ - The canes of raspberry, blackberry, and dewberry, which
have borne fruit snould be rcaoved;, if possible, at once. The troublesome disease
known as anthracnose is present on nearly all such canes and their removal will
aid materially in controlling not only anthracnose, but certain other diseases and
insects,

'■QlSil^ 3}^^. ^ disease which causes the leaves of brambles to curl and turn
a brilliant yellow is quite com'::;on etpecLally in old plantations. Rotation of
crops, digging out and burning are the only means of control*" - Brock*

Little TMngs Count y« Fie Id DemonBtjat i.ong^. - '^Many advisers conduct demon-
stration tours at this season of the year but only a few have reported holding
short field meetings* Perhaps we have not made use sufficiently of these snail
gatherings. Busy farmers might bo v/illing to spend 30 minutes to an hour at
a demonstration on a nearby farm who would not take an entire day off, much of
which would be spent in *eating dust', "vliho will be the next to try holding
some of those short field demonstrations and report the results to us?"- G.N.C*

Grasshoppers continue to do serious daijage to young clover,- Poisoning vrork
is not proving as effective as it should. Only in places where the "hoppers*
ware concentrated in si:a.ll patches at the finish of clover cutting has poison
shovm its real effectiveness," - Tillcan, 5t, Clair County,

The Grain &. Hay Show Premium list is ready for distribution, A $10,OCO
premium list is offered by The Chicago Board of Trade for grain, hay, and sira.ll
seeds^to be shown Nov, T.-'' "toDec* 3 at the International Live Stock Exposition,
Write B» He Heide, Union Stock Yards, Chicago, Illinois, for copy of premi'-m liSt»

Vol* IV Page 3 No, 28

Wheat threshing is in full blast, "Tho few days of hot woathor we had,
just when the v/heat was filling out, has caused a poor grade of wheat, IZoat
of tho wheat that has been sold only tests from 53 to 57 pounds, Tho price for
the new wheat ranges from 900 to $1«,05 per bushol. There are a few farners who
are getting 20 to 25 bushels per aero, but most of then are going way below
that," - Tate, Monroe County.

Wheat Poor, •- "Threshing is quite general over the county now. Wheat is
very poor as to quality, but oats are as a rule of better quality than was ox-
pectod. The Iowa 103*s arc again showing up much bettor than other varioties", -
Thonns, Jackson County,

"Thrashing is the order of the day with fow calls for farn visits. Wheat
yielding anywhere frou 14 yo 25 bushels nostly about 1? or I8 bushels. Luch
straw, but poorly filled." - Vi/heolorf Lav/ronco County.

"Threshing has begun in nost parts of tho county. Many yields are disap-
pointing running aroiind 12 bushels," - Eyi:a.nt jorscy County.

"Vilhoat threshing is well under way now. The roi chines have been running
for alnost a week. So far tho average has only been about 10 bushels per aero.
The price is v/orso than tho yield. The fa mors who are selling arc only getting
^1,00 per bushol for No, 2 wheat," - LcGhcOj liissac County,

"Threshing began this weeks Wheat yields are a bit disappointing running
fron 12 to 15 bushels," - dekVerffj Franlilin County,

Farners Appreciate SorvJ-ce^ - The chinch bugs have boon doing cousidor-
&bls dar:agc in tho south two-thirds of Piatt County. Conbincd with tho bugs
the hot weather is going to cut the yield of oats fron one-third to one-half»
\iJc have given up all other work to holp out with the chinch bug sitixition,
Miny farners are appreciating for tho first tine how the fam bureau can give
then service," - mtson, Piatt County,

Wool Moves in SP-to of T^ st JTea r ^ s Record, - A carload of wool wis loaded
June 27 at Kanoville consigiied by our sheep raisers to the Illinois Wool Pool,
There was a total of 16^432 pounds consigned in this car by 56 of our farners.
This anount mis 2^073 pounds noro than was shipped fron the sane point last
year, Th'Q balanco of the wool to bo pooled will be shipped by express, Tho -
above is evidonco that the wool pool is gaining ground in this county regard-
less of the delay in selling last year*s clip-" - Richards, Kane County,

"Two caponizing dononst rat ions wore given this week, with two noro scheduled
for next v/ccki. Considerable interest is shown in this work. Several had bo»-
cone interested in this work, thru a denonstration by Prof, Gilbert at the
Farnors' Institute; sono had purchased sets, but they lacked tho final norvo
and pcrsoml cncouragcnont necessary to go ahead with tho work," - Hart, Clay
County,

"Grind Own Linostone, - Wo had a Lincstone Pulverizing Dononstration at
Harry Rick^s Thursday afternoon. Most of the farners are very enthusiastic
over grinding the local linestono whiiih tests IO8/0 calciun carbonate equivalent, "-
Craig, B^itcsidG County,

You Will Want to Go, - "Plans arc already under way to make the I, A, A,
annual picnic at Dixon, Illinois, the best farners* picnic over hold in
Anorica, The date is Septenbor 3»" - Griffith, Loo County,

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Static.:- Workers nnf' the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBAXA, ILLINOIS

Vol. IV

Handling;

July 20, 1921.

No. 29

Soed
Cro£

"The Irrgcst 'raount of naturcd sv/eot clover seed is obtained
by cutting the crop when one-half to two-thirds of the seeds are
ripe. Harvesting at this stage of mturity, should be done v/hon the
norning dev/ is on or when the weather is dcnp, to reduce the loss from
shattering. Just as nuch seed cay bo secured by harvesting when one-
fourth to one-third of the seeds are ripe but the qtnlity of the seed
will not be so good in that it will shov7 less pluiapness and r^turity. Tho color
will bo a little better than with the riper seed*

Farcers depending on the hullings or straw for feed prefer to cut the seed
a little greon, probably when one-fourth to one-third of tho seeds are ripe*
At this stage tho plants are not so woody and it is not so difficult to got then
through the binder and the thresher.

An ordinary grain binder is used in harvesting and tho crop should be cut
just as high as possible to get all the branches containing seed,- vi/horo a high
stubble can be left grain saving boxes can be placed that will catch considerable
of tho seed that shatters^ especially ripe ssed„ The seedj leaves, bugs, and
trash that are caught in the grain saving boxes must bo spread out and stirrod
frequently to prevent spoiling of tho seed:, A grain saver (silvanized box) about
14 inches ¥/ide, 9 inches doop and 4 feet long L.ay be attached in the open spaco
to the right of tho bull ?/hcol just below the packersc FrcqvJiently two galvanized
iron sheets are bent and attached in such a nanner as to direct the shattering
grain to this grain savcr^ One shoci is attached so as to catch the shattering
grain from tho rollers whero the clover goes over to tho binder deckp The other
is attached about 'i^wo or three inches bolov? the lov/er edge of tho binder dock to
catch the shattering seed as the bundles arc kickod off« This seed is also
directed into tho grain saving boxe

Our nest successful asti producers prefer to shock' swoct clover in round
shocks of eight buiidlcs and a cap-., The cap causes the shocks to dry out sonc-
what slower and prevents unnecessary shattering caused by crickets and grass-
hopporso It is bost to leave the sweet clover s?iock thru at least a week of dry-
ing weather boforo hulling* If cut ripe a thresher is usually necessary before
putting the seed thru a huller, however, the less mxured stens of clover with
considerable sizo can be put thru the lirgc sized hullcr successfully, such as
the Bird soil No» 9»

After the swoct clover is harvested and fully dried out it should be threshed,
as every disturbance causes shattering of seod« Put canvasses on basket racks
and havo the ncn haul nediua sized loads to the hullor or thresher. This olLrdnatcs
the viaste of seed that is ordinr'.rily kicked and beaten out by the laan loadings
Every hulling also reduces the amount of weathering that taints the color of tho
seed," » F« E» Longnirc, Grundy County,

,~:ia;ag-T.r:-: . n. ""ttsv^jt^vs

Vol. IV page 2 No. 29

Alfalfa is one crop about which thorc is no conplaint at the present tino.
In the opinion of a nioaber of our average farners every nan ought to have at
least five acres of alfalfa on his fara." - Kendall, Morgan County,

More Alfalfa, - The price on lincstonc and the decreased buying power of
our farners is interfering seriously with our canpaign to sow alfalfa this fall,
Vif'o expect to ixiko this canpaign a part of our portmnent program until we get
ono-eighth of our tillable land to alfalfa." -• Eynan, Jersey County,

Sudan grass and sweet clover arc showing up as dependable crops for pasture,
especially in parts of the county that have been unusually dry. Sudan grass has
been cut for the first hay crop and indications are that the total of two or
three cuttings will anount up to a good yield of feed. Sweet clover pasture
is naintaining its reputation with mny of our farners. It is producing nore
pasture than any other clover or grass that they have." - Longnire, Grundy Co.

Over the Hills. - "On our agricultural tour following the Raleigh field
neoting one of the nost interesting things seen vms a five-acre piece of sweet
clover on the farn of one of our nenbers, Mr^ Earl Weaver, A stony hillside
was lined at the rate of ^k tons per acre in the spring of 1920 and seeded to
sweet clover. This year fron early spring until the present it has furnished
excellent pasturage for seven cows and their calves and fron 40 to 60 head of
hogs all the tino. Considering the a;jount of pasturage fiornished, Mr, iifoavcr
says this poor hillside has been worth as uuch to hin as any land which he owns,"
i/iihit chiiTch, Saline Count y.

Sweet Clover has nado a splendid start where it vias sov/n with oats or
wheat, this spring on blick clay loan soil. Many ncn declare that they will
sow it next spring on such locations," - Robbins, Dcy/itt County,

Pasture nixturos have proven successful. One of our farners seeded the
Denaroc nixturc a year ago and it is decidedly satisfactory. Another tried a
slightly different nixture with equal satisfactory results. I an inclined to
believe that we shall find a big increase in the use of these pasture oixtures
as tine goes on." • Kendall, liorgan County,

\iar on T. B. » "Our Executive Board has decided to cooperate with the
Bureau of A. I. in the omploynent of a County Veterinarian for the eradica-
tion of tuberculosis in Stephenson County, A connittec has been appointed
to work out the details, A large proposition of the purebred nen are already
testing but our grade nen will test if they have the opportunity. With nearly
50,000 head of cattle in the county we think this an inportant iTojoct to carry
out," - Bauneister, Stephenson County.

Going for a Perfect Score. - "I have been naking farn visits and have
visited alnost half of the nenbers* I an going to continue until I have
visited every nenbor. As nuch as possible, I an working the county by pro-
cincts, taking the nenber of the executive connittoo fron that precinct or
one of the bankers with no*" - McGhce, Massac County,

Alfalfa Hay. - George H, lioyor, County Agont, liidison, Nebraska, reports
300 tons of alfalfa hay for sale.

I .

Vol. IV Pago 3 No. 29

Eleven Essentials of a J^ational i£arkoting Program arc given by Dr.
George Livingston, Chief U, S, Bureau of Markets.

1. Establishment of National Standards for farn products.
2» To be effective, xiational standards nust be onforcod.
3« Proupt, accurate, and disinterested i:xi.rkot inforraation«

4, Dcvolopnont of foroign narkots for surpluses,

5. Efficient racthods of harvesting, storing, refrigerating, transporting,
and handling products,

6, Faraers cooperative narkoting organizations are a pcrmncnt oconomic
institution but their devclopnent nust be based upon sound economic laws.

7. Infornation on cost of narkoting and studies of narkoting ccthods
must furnish a basis for public inforiration and education as Viroll as point
the way to iaproveacnt.

8, Agriculture must be placed upon the nsanc basis as other industries
in our tariff laws.

9. A definite agricultural financial policy, including the nobilization
of the financial resources of the farn, providing of short tern credits, and
dovolopmcnt of warehousing facilities.

10« Adequate and there consideration of agricultural development in the
formation of future transportation policies,.

11, Potential monopolies of all kinds producing, handling, or manufactur-
ing farn products or farn supplies, should ijo subject to reasonable federal or
state regulation and supervision in order to insure a square deal to both
buyer and seller," -

Arny Vfagons for Farn Use. - The Farm Bureau unloaded last week 10 slight-
ly used army escort wagons for the use of farnorso Those wagons cost freight
and all, $41.l8j, and considering their condition as to wear wero an excellent
buy, A number of these wagons will be used for hauling milk thus being on the
road every day. As they have v/ido tires and fit in automobile tracks. Bond
County roads will be preo-ervod to no small extent by their introduction," -
Tarblo, Bond County.

Our Huban Sweet Clover is doing fine in most cases. Several snail plant-
ings are shovidng buds nearly ready to blossom. In a demonstration whore Huban
was seeded with early oats the Huban is nearly as tall as the oats and nearly
as fully developed as in plots where it was seeded in gcirdens separately and
cultivated^ One man v/ho has forty acres planted in rows has just finished
having it weeded and it is looking fine," ~ F, E» Longmirc, Grmidy Co,

Corn Disease Ploto - Looked over the fourteenth corn disease plot, located
in Hanover community. The corn averaged about shoulder high last week. The
corn on the diseased plot was from eight to ten inches less in hei^t," - Burns,
JoDiviess County.

"Will Eradicate Flag; Smut, - All of our farmers in the flae' smut region
are pleased with the decision of the State not to put on a r*E:tr:T ction quaran-
tine which would compel tljom to discontinue raising wheat, Vife believe that
our men will cooperate with us very nicely in the control of this disease. Wo
are taking steps at the present tine to locate the reconncnded resistant varieties
and also to make an ostimato of the amount of seed required in the territory,
V/c hope to be able to get this disease eradicated fron our county before it has
a chance to do any serious damage or to become permanently established." -
Raut, Madison County,

®lj^ ^xtm0um ^

A scries of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol, IV July 27, 1921- No. 3.0

Bejuye rating "Only a limited amount of information is available con»

cerning rejuvenating alfalfa fields. However, data and experience
Alfalfa of growers seemr to indicate that while considerable success is
had in reseeding spots or patches, it is not often that a stand
liea dows which is thin all over the field can be thickened by reseeding
without plowing it up, 'If sown in the fall, reseed early the
following spring, and if sown in the spring, reseed in the fall', is the advice
of those who venture an opinion.

Old alfalfa has a tendency to smother out any young plants that nay start.
Some have tried keeping old plants clipped, in order to give young plants a start.
This has not been found very successful. Corn growers' advice in regard to thick-
ening a poor stand of corn by replanting by hand, will invariably be to plant it
over again. The same advice can generally be follo^ved with profit in regard to
trying to thicken a stand of alfalfa.

Is your thin! stand due to lack of drainage, need of lime or inoculation; or
because of a faulty seed-bed or temporarily unfavorable weather or soil conditions;
or is it the treatment you have given the plant after you have a good stand? It
is not possible to formulate a rigid set of rules, but since alfalfa is such a
valuable plant why take any chancest It is best to control all factors^

It is generally conceded that late cutting reduces the vigor of the plants
and that growth the following spring will be less vigorous, A safe rule to fol-
low is that alfalfa should have from 4 to 8 inches of growth before the first
killing frost. Close or short mowing of the first cutting of a young field kills
a lot of alfalfa. In short, a close study by every alfalfa grower of all the
factors that are likely to lessen the vigor of the plant v/ill be worth while,,
for then it will probably not be necessary for him to worry about rejuvenating
his alfalfa. His first stand will be a good one," - V, Vaniman, Asst, State Leader,

Ch-ange of Poultry School Date, - "Because 'Farm Bureaus usually hold office
day on Saturday, the poultry school for county advisers to be held in the Live
Stock Pavilion at the University has been changed to ilonday, August 8, commencing
at nine o'clock A, LI, The purpose of this meeting is to give information along
the lines of poultry culling, poultry diseases, and poultry nana gement. All
county advisers are invited to attend this school and may feel free to bring
others from their counties who will assist in their poultry work," - W. H, Smith
The detailed program follows—

9 A, lu. Purpose of School W, H, Smith

9:15 Fundamentals in Poultry Culling Frank L, Piatt

10-12 Judging Fowls for Egg Production Farm Advisers

1 P, IvI, Poultry Disease Problems Dr, Robert Graham, U, of I,

1:45 Practice Judging

3 P* M, Caponizing Demonstration, Chas. H» wheatcraft, U, of I.

Vol. IV

Page 2

No. 30

"Perfontance of Varieties of Winter Wheat and Rye at Fairfield. This has
been a very satisfactory season for the production of wheat on the Crops Exper-
iment Field at Fairfield, Wayne County, Illinois, The yields produced this
year demonstrate very conclusively the possibilities of wheat growing on the
common prairie gray silt loam type of soil of southern Illinois,

The following is a list of the varieties of winter wheat and rye tested
and their yields:

Fulcaster

32.9

i/arvelous

31.8

Miracle

30.8

Trumbull

30.5

Jersey Fultz

29.8

Portage

29.2

Poole

29.1

Economy

28.5

Gladden

28.0

mini Chief

27,8

Gypsy

27.4

Nigger

27.3

Harvest King

27.3

Turkey Hybrid 509 27.2

Harvest Queen 27.2

Mediterranean 26,9

Rudy 26,2

Red Cross 26,2

Early Red Clawson 26,2
Dawson's Golden Cha ff 9-225 1S,2

Big Harvest Fultz ±7,7

Common Black Rye 31.1

V/isconsin Red Rye 23.6

Rosen Rye 16,1

Petkus Rye 17,8

The performance of the Trumbull, Portage and Gladden varieties are of
special interest because they are new wheats on this field and further because
they are pure line selection made by the Ohio Station, The Trumbull is a se-
lection from the Fultz, the Portage from the Poole and the Gladden from the
Gypsy. Each are said to be superior to the original variety in yield and in
certain other respects.

Rye has not proved a particularly promising crop on this field, although
occasionally excellent yields havebeen obtained, A strain of black rye of
unknown origin has constantly oiityielded the named ■varieties of better breeding,"
R, W, Stark, Asst, in Crop Production, U, of I,

V1Q.11 YOU Have a Stadium Seat? "Illinois' new memorial Stadium will cost
$2,000,000, of which the students in the mammoth campaign last spring have
already pledged 0700,000. It is hoped to raise at least 01,500,000 from alumni
in the campaign during the football season next fall. The individual student
average was !i^ll2 which more than doubled the minimum quota which had been set
by authorities before the campaign started. In addition to the enormous in-
dividial subscriptions, fraternities and sororities and other campus organiza-
tions purchased 87 memorial columns, each costing Ol,000, This subscription
is by far the largest ever recorded by students in American colleges.

The minimum quota from alumni has been set at vlOO, while the honor
quota is v200. The minimum donation entitles an alvimnus to an option on one
seat in the Stadium for ten years or two seats for five years, and as the
pledge increases the number of seats increases in the same ratio. For instance,
a ^200 pledge entitles the donator to two seats for ten years or four seats
for five years. By this method, every person who subscribes to the Stidium
fund will be assured of a seat to the largest football games of the future.

Those who buy columns are also entitled to seat options, A $1000 column
pledge entitles the donator to 20 seats for ten years or 40 seats for fiveyears.
This is an especially advantageous plan for organizations which have a number
of alumni returning every season for the homecoming game. The alumni campaign
next fall ;ri.ll likely start on October 29, the day of the Michigan football
game on Illinois field, and will continue one week." - K, W, Clark, Stadium Com,

Vol. IV Page 3 No, 30

"Something nev/ in the cooperative marketing of grain has been worked out
at Cordova, Illinois. The livestock shipping association is to be combined
with the grain shipping under one manager, the grain to be shipped to the mar-
ket and sold on grade- Where there is a variation in the grade of grain receiv-
ed from different members, samples will be taken and sent in for grading, this
information to be used in making fir^l returns to the members. The manager
is to receive a commission and there is to be a sinking fund. This project
is a direct expression of dissatisfaction from the grain grovi/ers of this terri-
tory for the old method of marketing theirgrain. Equipment for handling the
grain consists of a John Deere Inside Cup Elevator, a three horse power motor
and a set of six-ton truck scales. To fi ranee the proposition enough of the
grain growers each loaned the directors $20 a piece. They will be paid 1% in-
terest on this money and the debt will be liquidated thru the sinking fund.
It is the plan to buy coal and feed for the members. This is the opening wedge
for a cooperative elevator a little later on when there is more money a ra liable.
We are formulating a set of by-laws for this organization that will cover both
the grain and livestock," - Edgerton, Rock Island County,

Ma r ket ing ServiceContracts, - "Two representatives of the U, S. Grain Gro-iv*-
ers have been working m the County this week on contracts with the elevators.
Their work has been very successful- In different elevator companies a fev/ of
the directors have been found which had apparently more than ordinary interest
in preventing the contract from' being signed. The fairness of the whole propo-
sition v/hen fully explained, has made the directors v/ho are interested primarily
in obtaining the best possible marketing service, take a very firm stand in
favor of the U. S, Grain Grov/ers when it became apparent thatothers were not
fair-minded in considering honest information," - Brooks, LaSalle Co«

The T. B, Cow Lust Go. - "Edgar County is making wonderful progress in T. B.
eradication and it is our present plan to start area work in the near future
since conditions seem to be ripe for making a clean up campaign before many
months," - Waters, Edgar County,

'%Vill View the Irish Spud. - A Potato Inspection Tour has been arranged
for the upper Wisconsin potato growing area. The trip will be made by auto
August 1-6, covering eight northern Wisconsin counties. It v/ill provide the
best of opportunities to inspect Wisconsin potato fields and seed stock under
home conditions. Professor J, G, luiUard, Professor 0 f Horticulture, University
of Wisconsin, and Secretary of the Wisconsin Potato Growers' Assn, extends a
special invitation to representatives of Farm Bureaus in Illinois to make this
trip. Cars will leave Oconto on August 1 and auto accommodations will be pro-
vided for those who register in advance. Send your reservations at once to
J, G. Jiilv.-arj, Secy, Ivadison Wisconsin," - 'J. F, Haiidschin.

"Gallatin County Employs Adviser , - I^r. C. W, Simpson, a graduate of the
Ilichigan Agricultural College has been employed by the Gallatin County Farm
Bureau as farm adviser- Heexpects to start work Septemt.er 1 or possibly earlier.
..r. Simpson vias brought up on a farm near Kalamazoo Ijlichigan, and operated a
farm for four years after graduating from college. He is at present connected
with the soil invest! gat ioml work of that institution. lir, Simpson's head-
quarters v/ill be Ridgway, Illinois," - G. N, Coffey,

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. IV August 3, I92l» No, 31

Insects

That Attack
Yoxing Alfalfa
in the
Fall

"In Illinois alfalfa has been generally free from serious
injury by insects. Sometimes the young alfalfa seeded in late
summer, is eaten off by the grasshoppers. A close watch should
be kept for these insects in early seeded fields, altho* there is
less danger of a general outbreak over thestate than has been
- ■ the case for several years.
At irregular intervals newly planted alfalfa fields are completely destroyed
by a worm closely resembling the army worm. The moth of this worm migrates
from the southern states, the insect never passing the ranter in our latitude.
Information just received from several of the southern entomologists states
that there is a wide-spread outbreak of this insect in the south. Close watch
should be kept of alfalfa sown during July and August, to see that none of these
worms are present in the fields. If they are found, thealfalfa may be protected
by application of poison bran mash, same as used for the anny worm; or by spray-
ing with arsenate of lead used at the rate of one pound to twenty-five gallons
of water,

Web worms, particularly the garden v7ebworm, and corn ear worm sometimes
attack alfalfa in the iall, but these are not usvally numerous enough to cause
any great danage. '* - iiy» P. Flint, Entomologist, Natural History Survey,

Cut Alfalfa at Correct Time. - '*One standing feature of our recent auto
tour vsas shown to the farmers in the importance of the correct time of cutting
alfalfa. Alfalfa cut June 6 was but eight to ten inches high, that which was
cut June 16 was nearly waist high and would yield Ig- tons per acre. Alfalfa
cut on the 20th of June evidently was hurt. The conclusion arrived at was to
cut after the new shoots h^ve iiade a good start and forget about the blossoms. •'-
Fuller, Marshall-Putnam County.

"The Gricm a 1 fa 1 fa demonst rat ions cominred to common is showing decided
superiority in favor of the Grimm. In several instances the common has frozen
out to such an extent as to permit nater-grass and fox-tail to choke out the
balance of the alialfa. Along side of this, the Grimm niaintains a heavier stand
than ever. It is our opinion where genuine Grimm is used that it is sufficiently
valuable to warrant the additional costs, yiiicre soil treatment has been given
in years past it might be doubtful that this difference exists. Apparently
winter killing of alfalfa is closely allied with soil deficiencies." - Fuller,
Marshall-Putnam County.

"Alfalfa on soil which has been treated with limestone is yielding over
twice as" much as the alfalfa grown on acid soils. The many fields which have
been treated serve as excellent demonstration plots and have been the means of
causing many farmers to use limestone on their acid soils." * Gafke, McHenry Co«

Vol. IV Page 2 No, 31

Sudan Grass Pasture, - Our old friend the bluegrc ss pasture has to retire
in this modern day of feed studies. "Sudan grass nakes a good summer pasture",
says ILr, C. K. Oathout , Adviser in Charapaign County. "IJr. VV- W- Paul, dairy
farmer near Chanpaignj, seeded a 12 acre field to Sudaa grass on Jure 1 and on
the last days of June, had 23 head of catt3.e past^jring the 12 acres. Since the
first of July he has had on it 35 cattle and six horses. A photo shows it to
be v,aist high on July 8. It is a first class emergency pasture. During two
months of the driest hottest part of the season several years ago, the,ICeharry
farm pastured 90 head of horses, cov7S and calves on 36 acres of Sudan grass,
drilled in with a very thin stand of sweet clover. The only thing to look out
for in this kind of pasturage is forage poisoning which sometimes occurs after
a drouth or freeze,. It stock get sick, it should be taken off the pasture
immediately and a veterinarian consulted." -

"Tuberculosis Em_di^_t ion Started,. - Several men have signed up applications
for federal tes-^ing of aairy ccy.3< Cne man v*!o did not believe in testing for
T.B. was induced to give the test a trial. Out of 56 head, 36 reacted. He
still believed the test a farce so he went to Chicago and saw the 36 head killed.
He said that every aniu^l fat and thin, plainly shov/ed T. B. vias present, i*e
are using this case in interesting otiior men,,. This can is one of our big boost-
ers for the testing V70rk. " - Kline, Boone County.

"Test tells the Tale. - Our first cow testing association is ^taking,'
At one of the firct hex-ds tested, the 'farmerf-s best cow* proved to be the one
that was lov.er.-.ng the y:'.eldp her test being abcri; two percent. Some other
farmers h^ve been surprissd at the lew production and are already asking the
tester if they should'nt beef some of their cows," - Heller, Cork Co.

Less Wool This Y^r, - "There vdll not be more thai:i 50 percent as much wool
pooled this year as last for two reasor.s. One is that farmers have not h;ad a
settlement for last year's wool at xhis txme, and second these people have got
to raise money someji'w, so have sold tboir wool for a little or nothing, We
7/ill ship one car^ " • Craig, lllhiteside County,

"Ca 1 f Ba'7ls " and "PJa Sqyeaks" are the titles of tv/o news letters which
are beiag sen; by k'r, 'i<I^ 3e B'lr.ii^ A;;sistant Adviser and Club Leader to the
members of his calf and pig clubs, respo-''i vely.. We like the idea, for it
surely takes the eye of the youchful stockman. Have you seen a copy? Ask Bunn.

"Five Po'.'.ltrv Gulling; Beiao2;;'^stj2^tions were conducted th.ls v/eek» Fair attend-
ance and much interest i!?as miinifesfced^ As usial about ^0% of the hens in the
flocks culled v.ere discarded as boarder hent;~" - Rusk, Llacoupin Co.

"Fall Flov.'ing Better. - We are finding a imrked difference in favor of
fall plowing ccmpareo to spring plowing as shown by the resistance of corn in
the present drouth. Very gersrally corn on spring plov/ing is suffering, while
fail plowing is still in good condition but cannot stand much more dry weather
without injury." - Snyder, Ogle County,

Sweet Clover tokes COi-n. - "A farmerin Aide n Township has an excellent
example of the value of sv/eet clover v;hen plov/ed» The corn on the sweet clover
area isas l8 inches taller than on the other part of the field on June 20."-
Gafke. LicHenry County,

Vol. IV Pa|e 3 No, 31

Good Results From Survey L^ethod of Developing Program. - "The Beardstown
iaelon Growers' Association vms organized to meet the request of a number of melon
growers who are members of the Farm B'ii'eau and who requested this service of the
Farm Bureau 'on their service survey blanl'cs. I have been surprised in the last
few days to learn that one of the mcst enthusiastic directors of the Melon Growers
Association criticised the Farm Bureau in precinct meetings held last February,
as being something that had not done him any good. His attitude at'the present
time indicates that he believes in farmers' organizations and that they can ac-
complish things. I believe this is one good argument for the program of work
and service survey plan," - Dickenson, Cass County.

Find Canada Thistle Seeds. - "Mr, Harrison, Department of Agriculture, Spring-
field, spent two days with the Carada Thistle Commissioners in this county.
Contrary to the preface of advice sent out from Experiment Stations that Ca.rA']a.
thistles do not mature seeds, they found large numbers of fully matured seeds.
I believe that it is time to revise the stereotype information we are using from
Stations with this v/rong inforiration, '• - Craig, Whiteside County*

"A Potato i:arketin{T Association was organized for the Bellevilledistrict
in cooperation with the fruit and vegetable rmrketing department of the I. A, A.
St, Clair County produces a large amount of straw or mulch potatoes for which
the ira-rketing associations will attempt to secure a special market. These po-
tatoes are recognized as having extraordinary quality," - Tillman, St, Clair Co,

Spuds for Sale. - A letter from J- J. Lartin, Lanager of the South Dakota
Potato Growers' Cooperative Exchange, Watertown, South Dakota, says, "we v/ill
have betv/een 2500 and 3500 cars of potatoes to market this fa 11» They will be
put up in U- S, Standard grades, sacked or bulk, in/'ill start shipping August
10-15. Let us know your wants."

"Combat Potato Leaf Hopper with Bordeau*, is the title of a very credit-
able bulletin just issued by the Wisconsin Experiment Station. Bordeau will
get *em if sprayed correctly and absence of hoppers means no hopperburn and
better potato crop, v/rite the University of V/isconsin for a copy of Bulletin

#334." -

"New Motion Pictures. - Some 34 reels of motion pictures relating to various
phases of Agricultural v;ork have just been announced as ready for free distri-
bution by the U. S, Department of Agriculture, Division of Publications. Lany
of these will fit in well vTith the movie program of the I, A. A, and Illinois
Farm Bureaus, Write for a list of new motion pictures put out by the above Di-
vision under dateof July 1, 1921.

Do You Know Potulinus^? "Read the little 4 page reprint circular of differen-
tiation of Type A and Type B Botulinus," Herman Swartz of the University of Illi-
nois. This reprint is put out by the American L'edical Association, 535 N»
Dearborn St., Chicago, and tells of the tests applied to determine if the poison-
ing is of Type A or Type B. " -

A Broken Arm* - No, not a Ford but a manure spreader is responsible for Ad-
viser~Fisher's left arm being broken. Sincethe spreader has no crank, we must
admit the accident was due to a fall.

J
\-

1: -

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Ailvisers, C<i|lege and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA, ILLINOIS

August 10, 1921-

Vol, IV.

No. 32

Soy-5oanors
Take

Notice

Don't forget the event of the season to soy-bamers - the
big, all-day meeting and picnic at the C. L. Iwcharry fariu neir
Tolono on Thursday, Sept. 1. ,/. s. Riego.\, -President of the
Nation^il Soy Bean Associ .tion, has extended an invit..tion to all
soy bean men in the country to hear the fine program which they
have secured.

The University of Illinois has secured seed from Ohio, faichigan, Indnna^
jVisconsin, Kentucky, iuissouri, Laryland, Minnesota and lova, and has plots of
boans grovving from these varieties. The plots will be viewed by ^risitors from
all over the country on the morning of Sopt- 1. nftcr this they will motor
to the gala day occ. s-.cn at the C- L. Leharry f:.rm- Here a 200 a, field of
soy beans \,vill be seeru

The picnic will be in the grove near Lr- Riegcl's home and here also the
Crittenden Home Bureau, a club of active women, will servu lunch to those who
wish it before the prof;ram is called,

A Good Idea. "A m::p of JoDavicss County has been made up shov/ing a year's
progrcun of ivork by the use of colored tacks. This shovi/s the location of all
the different demonstrations that arc being v/orked on this year. It includes
17 corn disease plots, 48 soil dcmonstr .tions, 57 poultry culling demonstra-
tions, 19 orchard demonstrations, 10 potato plots, 3 sheep management meetings,
6 soy bean variety test plots, 1 cat viriety test plot, 1 legume test plot, and
1 beef cattle demonstration," — Burns, JoDaviess Co.

Ahcat Yield on Dr, Hookin Farm, "The \f/hc:.t on Dr. Hopkin's firm. was
threshed this ./^ek .nd mi-jc .. very good d^monstr-tion of what trcatmt^nt of the
ground will do on southern Illinois soil. The untrc-tod plot grow 4 bushels
to the acre, tho limed plot yielded 20 bushels per ^cre and the one receiving
lime and phosphate yielded 23^ bushels to the acre," — Bl::ckburn, liarion Co,

Poultry Shipping A dded to Business of Brov/n Co. Shipping ASsoci-;tion.
"h county man-agcr h„3 been employed for the poultry business. He will ^rrange
for _ poultry car to come thru as often as necessary. The poultry will be
brought to the car on the dty the car is at the station. The producer will
get v/ithin one cent of the terminal market value per pound. Poultry buyers
are now paying 9 to 100 per pound under poultry house bids," — Davidson, Brown Co.

Jersey Bull Sho\/ j.t Robinsoio, "A Jersey bull show, the first of its
kind to bo held in the United States,, vvas staged at Robinson on August 4.
Thirty-nine registered Jersey bulls were shown." — C. S- Rhode,

^2r^

Secrgtary of A.n;ricultur9 to Spenk, "Tho Piatt County Farm Bureau has boon
cooperating with the ccarjittee in chnrge of the Lonticollo independent chatau-
qua in arranging a progrojr for Farmers' Day, which is to be held on August 25
at MonticGllo. nfo have a tentative promise f'-om Secretary of Agriculture
vtSillTce that he will speak at our afternoon exercises on that day- From his
last letter it looks vory hopeful that Jie will be hero. Representative Tinchor
of Kansas has also promised to bn present the same afternoon. In the evening
Mr. Harvey Sconce of Sidr^ll will givo his illustrated lecture on tho 'Devas-
tated .Areas of Fr:;ncc'. We arc making arrangements for a big day and a big
crowd," — Vihtson, Piatt Co.

Trend in Commodity Pricos. The follov/ing table of xndex numbers is sup-
plementary to those appearing in Vol- III, Mos- 45 and 47 and Vol. IV, No. 13
of the Messenger. April, toy and Juno of 3 920 marked the high point in most
groups, after which thorn v«as a rapid decline v/hich has come to be more grad-
ual during tho last throe or four months.

Index Numbers of n/holcsalc Prices
Fob. 1921 to July I92I (1913 price equals 100)

All

Farm

Corn

vyheat

Oats

FooJ

Cloth

& Lotal

Lum.tx

Heavy

Steers

Corn-

Pro-

Cloth-

& IJct,

Bldg.

Kogs

1110

1921

mods,

ducts

105

178

113

150

ing

Prods.

Lats.

lbs- up

Feb.

:67

J 29

19a

J- 4 6

.21

104

1-L?

Larch

162

125

105

17 A

115

150

192

139

208

118

125

April

154

ii5

147

100

141

186

138

203

101

108

liiay

151

117

167

103

133

181

138

202

102

109

June

146

113

1:'.

158

103

132

180

132

202

106

JuJy

T, 134 99

119

108

"Young alfalfa sown in oats on limed land withstood a solid month of
drouth"-; nT* 1-ut "winds, and is nov/ doing well. "--Robbins, Dewitt Co,

"v;/c are pushing the sale of phosphite and limestone by arranging for frcups
of farmers to hanile cars c- coperati /eay and find orat v/e are going to be able
to pet out a eroat deal of tiaterial this year on this basis, where it would bo
impossible to sell any at all if the farmer had to face a car load on his own
account." — victors, Edgor Co.

"Vn'e have had some v/onderful pastures here from this year's seeding of
sv/oet {•] ovor^ seeding Irora 15 to I8 pounds, md also some wonderful results
from the two vear's seeding. .Ve have men v/ho seeded tho sweet clover alone in
the sprine, who turned out as high as from one to two head to the aero. In
these cases where they have pastured so heavily, while tho pasture is very
short the cattle are doing much better than they are in the blue grass pas-
tures where they have knawed into the ground. \iJe have one ra.in, lir, John L.
Keniston, who h::s pastured 41 hetd of stock on his I6 acres of clover this
summer v/ith wonderful results, kr. Keniston said it would hive tiken 80
acres of the saiae kind of soil with blue grass on it to h-:ve kept this stock," —
J. f. hedgccck, .all Co.

^t.tpmpt to Control Camda Thistle- "A special attempt is being made to
co-tro"! Canada Thistle- The supe.rvj sors .aad the thistle commissioners h^ve
-l-'"''ed th'^ir cooper-tion in enforcing the L;iw to control the thistles,"

- 3 -

Farm Ijechunics has been made a sejXirato department and Prof. E- vi'. Leh-
uiann of Lassouri has been selected to head the work. Lir, LehJinnn is a. grad-
uate of the University of Missouri and for the last ten years he has been
doing extension work in engineering in Iowa, Texas and luissouri. Ho will
take up his work at Illinoi s September 1»

Improved Seed. "One of the best pieces of v/ork we have been able to do
has been to establish improved seed v/lieat. The yields are running from ono
to ten bushels butter than the comnion wheat- Ralph «dlson received a yield
of 42|- bu» per acre from his Kanred which was grown on treated soil* Our
conclusion from comparative tests botv/een Kanred and Illinois 10-110 v/arrant
us to say that Kanred may have a slight advantage in yields over Illinois
10-110, but it has greater tendency to lodge, which in wet saasons would cut
down the yields." — Fuller, Larsh^ll-Putnam Co,

Limestone by the train load. "Vk'e have ordered a train lead of limostono
this week." — L'cGhoe, Lassac Co,

Rosen Rye. "The result of the rosen rye demonstrations which were con- ■
ducted in the county during the past year indicate that this variety has out-
yielded the common rye by about 30%, Inasmuch as rye is rather an important
crop in the sandy soils, we fcol now that this may bo a valuable crop for the
county, "--Isaacs, Lason Co,

The Turkey , 10-1,10 .vy.^'^^c-^t, yielded 40 bushels per aero for J, H. La f ferty,
DOivitt, and 45 bushels per acre for C. J, Thcrp, Clinton. They have a big
inquiry for this seed locally, as those are the best yields in the county,

C. W. Thorp of Clinton sowed one acre strips on prairie land to differ-
ent varieties of oats and sociired the following yields by machine measuro:
lowjir, 54 bushels; loua 103, 51 bushels; and New Victory, 45 bushels."—
Robbins, DeiVitt Co.

Virginia Variety SoybeanSt "It seems as i f we h'tvo at last gotten hold of
the variety of soybeans tl_it will answer our purposes. This is the Virginia
variety. Several stalks v^vto the beans were planted fairly early in silage
corn have been found in the past itaek that are over 5 ft. tall. The beans in
all instances are standing the drought better than most anything that we are
now grov-dng, j^ere the beans v/ere sov/n broadcast for hay they are now about
^ ft. tall, and will yield an abundance of very good hay. The best cow
■._. are about. 1 ft. tall- "Rehling, Clinton Co.

'Three poultry culling demonst rat i ons were held this week. The percentage
cf culls varied from 5'Cto almost 50%. The 5% v.as in a flock belonging to a
man who had been culling for several years and who had requested a demonstra-
tion for the benefit of his neighbors. His flock was an excellent example
of what culling would do. His high records for production of v/inter eggs VKis
common knowledge to his neighbors, "—L'cCall, Johnson Co.

Demonstration Work at County Fair. "The Farm Bureau is preparing a com-
plete exhibit of demonstration work done in the county for the Cook County
F-^ir which has been reorganized by farm bureau members." — Heller, Cook Co-

"V.hitc gru^s arc doing considorablc damage in corn, m locations near
tho timbor. Thc7 aro bad in fields following timothy sod, clover sod, oats
stubblo I^^.cat stubblo and corn stalks, althou^ they arc worst after timothy

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBAXA, ILLINOIS
August 17, 1921. '■

Vol, IV.

No. 33,

"Young alfalfa should be clipped as little as possible the
first year. Clipping tends to reduce plant vigor, affecting par*
ticularly the size of the roots. If it were not for keeping down
weeds, cutting the first season might well be omitted. The least
injury is done when the mower bar is held high. It is necessary
then to adjust the height of cutting to that intermediate point

where most injury is done to the v/eeds, and the least harm to the alfalfa plants**
It is never advisable to take a hay crop from first year alfalfa, except under
Seasonal or soil conditions resulting in an extremely luxuriant growth.

In humid climates the starting of the young shoots on old alfalfa is very
commonly used as the indicator of the best time to cut. Recently conducted exw
periffients indicate that this time of cutting results in uniform crops at each
cutting, but slightly less total yield compared to that cut at the time when
onq-tenth of the plants are in bloom. The increased yield of the ]a.tter is due
to the first crop being heavier. The second and third crops of one-tenth bloom
cut alfalfa are practically the same weight as that cut when the shoots are
starting* Alfalfa cut V7hen the plants are in full bloom produces a heavy first
crop, but the two subsequent crops are reduced. This may be due to seasonal
conditions, to a slight injury as a result of clipping off the top of the shoots
of the new crop, and to loss of leaves as a result of the leafspot disease^
Viihen leafspot is severe, it is advisable to cut before defoliation progresses
to any appreciable extent,"*-- Geo, H, Dung^in, Assoc* in Crop Production, U.of I»

Sweet Clover Thresher, "An ingenious method of threshing small quantities
01 3:?eet clover was used by one of our members last week. He has an I, H. C«
canure spreader, the beater of which he ran ivith a iioline Tractor, The sweet
clover was fed thru on the -apron of the spreader and the seed was effectively
knocked off. A sideboard wagon-load of the unhulled seed was threshed from
about two acres," — Rehling, Clinton Co.

Third Breed Codling i^oth, "From observations made during the last month in
central and southern Illinois, the third breed of the codling moth will not be
quite so numerous this season as 4-t has been the past two or three years* There
is every evidence, however, that such a breed will appeltr and that worms of this
breed will be hatching in Johnson, Jackson and Union county orchard areas about
August 15, in the Centralia, Flora and Olney areas about the 16th to 17th and
in the Calhoun, Pike and Adams County areas about the 17th to l8th« Eggs of
the second breed moths will still be hatching at this time.

In orchards where there is a fair crop it seems advisable to apply a late
spray on all fall and winter varieties of apples. Use dry Arsenate of Lead, 1
JJ^^I^^llj^^^^jaste) and 2 Ibs^ of fresh liae to each 50 gal, of spray. If
fresh lime cannot be secured use 4 lbs. of hydr^tcd lime, "--Flint, U. o^F^f"""^^"*

Poultry Schools Successful. "The first county poultry school in Illinois
was held in Stephenson County, August 3. This school was sijnilar to the ona
held at the University and was attendet^ by representatives selected by the
adviser from the various townships of the county. These representatives will
hold culling demonstrations in their localities and also do culling work for
individual flock owners of their commuaities when called upon. It is hoped
by this plan to nerve a large part of the Farm Bureau menbership and to re-
'•^®ve^the county adviser of much of the detailed poultry v/ork-

"The one-day poultry school held at the University on August 8 for the
purpose of giving the advisers some instructions and practice in culling farm
flocks had an attendance of 100, approximately 40 of ^om were county advisers.

"Frank L. PJatt, Editor of the American Poultry Journal of Chicago, handled
the instructional work on culling farm flocks and also discussed general methods
of feeding and housing poi.-ltry. A detailed report of this v7ork will be sent
to each adviser in a few days." — »/„ H, Smith, U, of I*

''University__£f__^^UnQisj_L;emo^ and Recreational Fi^

largest pi'ant of its kr.nd in Anerrca', which"means the world, as the

Leld, the
le stadia of
Europe are much smaller, will be one of the finest expressions of architectural
brilliancy of its kind in all history.

"Patterned after the rich, yet e::quisitely plain, designs of the ancient
Colosseum at Rome, and the stadia in which were staged the Olympic games of
Greece, the Illini liemorial, too, will combine the ^j-igidity , vigor, fearless-
ness of the Illiniwek tribes of the western prairies. It is to be a symbol
of the athletic prowess of the west, and the last word in stadia architectural
designs,

"The stadi\m will be horseshoe in shape, like a gigantic amphitheatre,
with seats on three sides, accomodating more than 75,000 persons. Across the
open end will be the Court of Honor and Greek theatre, surrounded by I83 Doric
columns, each dedicated to the I83 Illini who made the supreme sacrifice in the
World War,

"Under the sides of the stadium will be a mammoth basketball court, hand-
ball and volley ball courts, ample training, locker and shower quarters for
the athletic teams, perhaps an indoor running track, and numerous other
recreational features,

"But the Stadium will occupy only about 13 acres in the proposed recrea-r
tional track of 100 acres surrounding it. This vast playground will contain
100 tennis courts, 25 baseball diamonds, 10 gridirons, numerous hockey., soccer
and archery fields, and a polo field." — Sampson Raphaelson.

"^nerals for Pigs. "Recent feeding tests conducted at the Ohio and Ill-
inois Experiment Stations show that the addition of minerals to balanced
rations has little if any effect on the rapidity or economy of gains in grow-
ing pigs for markets. It has also been observed that the bones of pigs ran
be strengthened by the addition of minerals to the ration. Minerals may pay
when pigs are being fed v/ithout pasture, tankage or milk in the ration, pr
when it is intended to use the pigs for breeding purposes. The mineral in-
gredients used in these tests were; ground limestone, air slacked lime, rock
phosphate, various forms of bonemeal, slacked coal and salt.

"Up to this time investigations at Illinois have dealt with the problem
of the addition of minerals to a good ration for grovring market pigs. 3uring
the la;5t two years 200 pigs in 10 lots have been used in experimentation, in
addition 40 pigs are being fed this year to secure further data on this prob-
lem. Next v/inter and spring, gilts from this year's experimental v/ork along
this line will be used to determine the value of minerale in strengthening the
-educing sows,. ^aBBHHBHiHiiHiBaaiH

- 3 -

ar« n!?^?^^i P"^^^ca*ions concerning the use of minerals in the rations of hogs
^re available from the Ohio Experiment Station, vyooster, Ohio. "—Rice and
u^xble, Swine Division, U. of I.

Red Top Growers Plan Pool. "Our farmers are undertaking to pool at least
a considerable part of their red top seed along with the farmers in Juarion,
Jeiierson and ^yne Counties. This effort is not for the purpose of stimulat-
ing interest m the growing of red clover, but simply to assist our farmers
in getting more nearly the proper market value for the crops which they have
alr^dy produced. At the same time we are urging our fanners to start in at
least a small vsay the liming of tfceir land for the growing of clover."— Hart,
Ciay Co. 6 & >

Soil Improvancnt Pays. "Threshing is about completed, and while returns
are light, v/here phosphate has been used the yield on both «iheat and oats has
run from 10 to 20 bu, per acre mage of good quality. The difference from soil
treatment has mad© more difference in yield this year than usual*"— Wise, Iroquois^

Weed Exhibit Appreciated. "Qur Farm Bureau exhibit, while not as large as
last year's, drew a good many visitors on Thursday and Friday. The portion
that seemed to draw the most comment was the one in reggird to the weed law. I
secured a speciman of several of the specimens mentioned in the weed law and had

them growing in boxes for exhibition. It was interesting to hear the number of
farmers tell the kind of weeds they had on their farms. I inquired of a gre'it

many where they obtained their start of their obnoxious weeds and almost invarir

ably they ansv/ered that they had obtained them in seed of some kind which they

had purchased*"— Gentle, Schuyler Co.

'y'ifrieat Drill Plants and Cultivates Soy Beans, "i/e have perfected a very ef-
fective method of planting and cultivating soy beans. The planting is done v/ith
a -wiieat drill by stopping up all the flukes but the first, fourth, seventh, and
tenth. This makes the rows 21 inches apart. The beans are cultivated by
arranging the flukes so that the first fluke is placed between the second and
third, the fourth fluke between the fifth and sixth, etc. The beans canthon
be cultivated very rapidly and efficiently by this method. The machine and
horses fit in the rows and the cultivator moves along very rapidly and easily."—
Tarble, Bond Co.

Farm Tour^ a Success. "In ou* north-side drive Friday, August 12, we shovved
where ^10 worth of potash on peat soil produced more than ^100 worth of sweet
corn. The untreated cheek plot was worthless while that getting about 100 to 200
lbs- of potash to the acre made excellent corn. On Art Heimseth*s place, we
showed where limestone doubled the yield of alfalfa and at Henry Hoppenstadt 's
farm we saw v/here our cow tester, Mr, Bonald Pattison, had cut down the cost of
rations thru balancing home grown feeds and had increased the milk flow in several
instances as much as five .pounds per cow per day thru more economical feeding of
grain. Such an increase on two cows more than pays the cost of testing,"?-*'
ieller. Cook Co.

Pope County Hires Adviser. Levett Kimmel has accepted a position as farm
idviser in Pope Co, to begin wc/rk Sept. 1. Mr, Kimmel is farm reared, a graduate
)f the University of Illinois and for the past four years has been a Smith-Hughes
Instructor at Chrisman, Illinois. He is a native of Lawrence County and is
ihoroly familiar v.lth Southern Illinois Problems, The permanent organization of

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Oflice

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. IV,

August 24, 1921.

No. 3^

Legumes

and

Labor

Incomes

"Buck in 19i2, before so much was heard ubout- growing legumes,
the Dairy Department made a survey of 68O farms in Kane and'i^cHenry
Counties and one of the laany significant thxngs which appeared when
the data were studxed is shown by the following table;

RELATION BETtvEEN THE A-CUNT OF LEGUIlES GROm AND THE ?ARM L.4E0R INCOiE

Proportion of
h&y acreage in
legumes

Percentage of
total number
of farms

Farm Labor
Inccrae

096O

816-

53B
467

There was not an acre of leguminous hay grown on seventy-one percent
of the farms, on which dairying was the principal enterprise and the average
labor income v/as but $46?* The average labor income of the other groups of
farms increased with the proportion of hay acreage in legumes.

Other factors, undoubtedly, influenced the farm labor income but whether
or not it is admitted that growing a larger amount of legumes tended to in-
crease the profits, the fact remains that the better farmers who were getting
the largest labor incomes grew the most clover and alfalfa.

The average yield of hay on the farms and the amount of crude protein prO'
duced per acre explains to some extent the cause of greater profits when
l&guiaes wore grown.

Hay

i-tf

Average yield
per acre

Crude protein
per acre

70 lbs.
228 "

500 "

Timothy 1*16 tons

Clover 1-50

Alfalfa 206

This is merely another version of the old story that home-grown legumes
constitute one of the besrt sources of cheap protein."— H. A. Ross, Assoc, in
Dairy Economics, U. of I,

"DO Not Sow yyheat Before the Fly Free Pate. The Hessian Fly survey fc r
this season will be completed this week. Results of this work will be sent
to each Farm Bureau. "—Flint, U. of I-

0 ■>.

"Viihite Corn vs. Yellow Corn for Pips.. Experiments on rats have shown • that
thb whito and yellow corn differ groatiy in feeding value when supplemented by
feeds v/hich are lacking in fat soluabl.e A, the growth producing vitamine. In
order to d&t ermine if possible whether the same facts are true in swine feeding,
the Illinois Station is conducting a series of experiments along these lines. The
importance of the study is recognized v/hen wo consider the fact that corn is the
principal feed of the corn belt hog and that many hogs are fed in dry lot where
no other feed is available. Such dry lot feeding of course exists more frequently
in winter than in sucimer.

At breeding time, in the fall of 1920, eight sows were selected and bred.
Four of these were fed white corn and tankage, while the other four were fed
yellow corn and tankage. Tankat-e was used as a protein supplement becausetha
high temperature used in its preparation destroys the vitaraine. The sows were
kept on these rations through the gestation and lactation periods. At vreaning
time the pigs farrowed v/ere fed the same rations as their dams and are still on
these rations. The sows have been kept on the sane rations and have been re»
bred for a second litter.

The experiment shov/s tbit pregnant sows, suckling litters and suckling
pigs seem to do as well on white corn and tankage as on yellcvy corn and tankage,
but that young pigs after weaning do not cake much growth on white corn airi
tankage. In experiments on rats, gro'/d;h can be secured v/hcn white corn and
t&nkage are 3upplea:onted by butter, which is high 'in fat soluble, however, the
addition of butter to a white corn and tankage ration has not induced growth
to pigs.

Pigs that fftiled to grow on white corn and tankage are now being fed
yellow corn and tankage to determine v/hether this change will induce growth.

In line with our previous experiments, we expect to start a test with seventy-
five pound pigs to find the fced.mg value of white corn for pits which ha-«3
attained considerable growth under favorable conditions; in other words, we wish-
to determine the effect of a vitamine deficient r-tion on half grov/n pigs." —
Rice, L.itchell and Laible, U, of I,

"Lore Evidence thuit Sweet Clovor is Paying Proposition. I visited a
farn last wook whore ^'^ hmd ui'catxl^ anc h^i 3cs had boon captured on 27 acres
cf sv/oet clover sinco it first canc out of ••Lfc'j grvrs^.T'Lis ^me *11 the feed they
received until August 1. They gave more milk por covr than tho herd of a neighbor
who was inclined to make fun of sweet clover." — vvrieelock. Lake County.

"Sweet Clover Pasture has proven its v.iluo as a pasture crop this year,
.-ill the f-^rmors who have used it report that the only mistake they made is that
they failed to put on enough stock. Thoy feol th^^t this is a pretty good
fault with the crop." — Isaacs, rJason So.

Lcgumo Acrearc Increased. "The Farm Bureau is getting excellent results m
its effort to bring about the grov/ing of more and better legumes. On every hand
alfalfa patches are being sown, \*eat stubbles being clipped for the benefit of
the clover and prepir:tion m-adc for the more extensive growing of sweet clover,
v/ithin the past month, we have ordered 48 cars of limestone and 4 cars of
phcsph-^te," — Tarble, Bond Co.

"Results from threshing wheat and oats on phosphated ground indicates a
difference on the average of 10 bu. per acre in favor of the ground on which
rock phosphate h^s been applied. It seems that this particular year the fact
that the phosphate pushed the gruin on to maturity, thus avoiding the ripen-
ing during tho droughit, w-^s of great importance, "—Price, Kendall. Co.

1—

• 3 -

ifetsaae Couaty Gots LiioestoDe. "We unloaded a train load of linestono this
v^okm tf« used the bottom dvimp cars and diaoped the stone on the right-of-wiy
along the fants. There wort 36 larm&rs present iod vi^hen a car vsls dumped they
would all help get the artoms out of the «ay<^

The special train and crew eost ua $10,00 per hour and the extra cost per
ear ws $5»72» which would have been much leos had the stone been dry. The cars
had been rained on for almost 24 hours before they wore unloaded which made
dumping more difficult.

All fanners who got limestonD wcrs well pleased. They said that ^5«72 was
cheaper tlian they could shovel it out besides a saving of an average of a three
milh haul of 1190 tons. Two tons make a good load for one team on lovel roads.
It would require 595 2-ton loads to haul the II90 tons» An average of a three-
mile haul was saved or a 1785-mil© haul was saved for a 2-ton load*"— ilcGhee,
Massac Co«

**We hsve at present twenty communities organized this county. In thirteen
of these communities, community clubs or farmers clubs are helding regular monthly
meetings and are cooperating v/ith the Farm Bureau. In five of them we have an
organization consisting of a chairman and secretary, and meetings are held only
on the call of the officers. V»e are devo-ting a great deal of time assisting
these community organizations with their mcetingSo The organizations are a
success and we feel are assisting very materially to make the work of the Farm
Bureau a success in this county. V/e are wondering if any other county can
show any better record for comnunity oi'ganizations at the present time." —
Richards, Kane Co.

"This week I attended another meeting, of one of our Farmers'* Community Clubs.
I am impressed more and more all the t.ime v/ith the importance of these local
community units, Kendall County now has seven of these organizations," — Price,
Kendall Co,

Picnics Draw Big Crowds. "Attendance at Farm Bureau picnics as reported
from fivo counties during the week ranged from 3000 to 6OOO, ivho says Farm
Bureau work in Illinois is losing interest!

Soybeans Grow in Favor, DeWitt, Clark, iilorgan, Ed-^/cards and Vdnnebago
Counties report field meetings and tours in interest of soybeans. Judging by
the attendance reported at these meetings, interest in growing of soybeans is
increasing \dierever they have been tried.

Liinestone-Clover_Teajn. "The clover in fields where limestone has been
appUed'iT'th^i^d^' well/ but in the fields where limestone was not applied,
the clover is dead. "--I^cGhee, Massac Co,

^Horses are needed for actual replacements. Reports from 300 experi'^nco
horse Ts^"anrrth^ough survey by^the Horse A^^^°^i^*i°%°^. ^^^^-^^^'.^fl^^
the average working life of horses after reaching the age of three, *t twelve
yelrs ?his would make the number going out of service each year from one
Tusror another l,8ll,087. based on the total of 1920 T ore xs a decree
of ??f in the production of colts on farms xn the last decide. In iVi7
there w're but 1°594, 141 colts on farms including both horse and mulo foals.

A series of brief notes from the weekly, reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

August 31, 1921.

Vol. IV.

No, 35.

Proteins

of nlf-

.Ifa

and

Rod

Clover
for

Li Ik

-roduction {

The beneficial effects of substituting alfalfa and
clover h:.ys for non-legumes in ordiinry rations seem to

be largely due to an increase in the quantity of protein
fed, but possibly, in a sneller degree, to a better qual-
ity of ijroteins in the leguaes. The limited data avail-
able seems to indicate that alfalfa proteins have a hJLghert
percentage of the most essential amino acids, (the basic

or di-amino acids, )than many non-legume proteins. On the other hand, the latter
may be even more digestible than the proteins of legumes, A considerable jiirt
of the nitrogen of grovving plants is not in the form of true proteins but ex-
periments indicate that the total nitrogen of alfalfa hay may be utilized for
milk production to fully as great an extent as the nitrogen of the corn kernel.

At the Illinois and other experiment stations, it has been demonstrated
that alfalfa hay may successfully replace, pound for pound, a part of the pro-
tein concentrate allowance in rations for milk production. In some cases, al-
falfa hay v/as used to replace the entire allowance of concentrates, the ration
then consisting of corn silage and alfalfa hay, but in such instances the vol-
ume of the milk was not as large as when concentrates were fed in additijn. At
the California station, young heifers v/ere raised on alfalfa exclusively. Soae
of the heifers have completed three lactation periods on this ration, but their
milk production has been about 25 percent less th^^nthat of heifers receiving
mixed rations. The I^.iry Di^/ision of the U. S. Departcent of Agriculture
reports that in Indiana and Vermont surveys, legume hays decreased the amount
of grain consumed per 100 pounds of milk as compared to rations in v/hich non-
legumes v/sre used mainly or exclusively.

On account of their high protein content, legume hays are especially
desirable as supplements to corn and other farm grains. The following figures
indicate the percentages of digestible protein in some common hays: Alfalfe.,
10,6; red clover, 7.6; red top, 4,6; timothy, 3.0. Incidentally, a very ^lie.-
tile feature of legumes for milk production, as contrasted \/xth non-legumes, is
the high content of minerals vhich the former carry," — m/.B.Nevins, Dept. of
Dairy Husbandry,

Mare Eggs After Culling. ",ve have completed our poultry culling demonstia-
tions this week, a total cf 21 having been conducted during the past two weeks.
Reports are just beginning to come in from parties at whose places the demon-
strations were held. Records v/ere kept for seven days prior and following the
demonstrations. Report from one man who had a flock of 60 hens showed a re-
ceipt of 85 eggs for the seven days preceding the demonstration. Tv/enty hens
v/ere culled out, leaving only 40 hens. His record for the seven days follov.dng
the demonstration showed that he received 93 eggs from the 40 good layers and
1 from the 20 poor hens which had been culled out." — Allison, Livingston Co.

- 2 -

"Farmers' Day at west Salem. On August 12, the second all-day meeting of
its kind ever held took pijico at" west Salem where Farm Advisers from eight
counties brought in delegations of their farmers to study the West Salem Soils
Experiment Field and to listen to discussions of the agricultural problems of
Southern Illinois. The morning was devoted to a study of the experiment field.
Here 1000 farmers were divided into parties of about 100 each and guided over
the field to see and study the effects of soil treatment and crop rotation on
the plots and from the nijmerous exhibits arranged to tell the story of soil
improvement in Southern Illinois. Coincident with the meeting at the field
300 farm women assembled at the City Park to listen to a discussion on the
Home Bureau by tiiss Van Aken»

After lunch in the City Park, 1500 people gave close attention to talks
by Ikiss Van Aken, J. C, Hackleman, VV. P. Flint, W. H. Smith, C. S. Rhode, W. S.
Brock and F- C Bauer. After the program a cow- judging demonstration was
given by C» S. Rhode, In connection with this demonstration a striking exhibit
was arranged to show the value of keeping good dairy cov/s vs poor ones. Farm
Advisor Eastman of Pulaski Coua"';y gave a poultry culling demonstration.

The demonstrations and the exhibits arranged for the 'iy attracted con-
siderable attention and proved to be a comdncing method of pointing out clearly
to the farmers of Southern Illinois some of the things which may be done to
cake farming in this section more profitable.

The two meetings of this character held thus far this si^ason have been
highly successful and are undoubtedly one of the best means of bringing the
farmers and the University in closer touch with each other, "--F. C. Eauer.

"Stadium to be Huge Lemorial. University of Illinois' new Stadium and
Recreatioi:a.l field, v.liicn, according to present plans, will be completed for the
football season of 1924, will be a great memorial to soldiers of the state and
University who participated in the world itar.

Every lllini student who fell in the \,s.r will be commemorated with a Doric
Column in the Stadium Court of Honor, In the Campanile Tov/er at the entrance
of the new field is planned a war trophy room, containing in gold scroll on
memorial tablets lining the walls the r^xmes of those of the University who
made the supreme sacr-'.fico.

The seats and boxes will be dedicated to service men. Each Stadium fund
contributor will bo entitled to place memorial tablets in honor of the heroes
on the back of the seats. This will likev/ise apply to box purchasers.

Though the Illinois memorial will be dedicated both to soldiers of the
state and University, it is being built entirely without state aid." — Kenneth
Clark,

"Soybean Variety Demonstr?-tion. A very profitable meeting v;as held at one
of the variety plots on yellow silt loam. Six silage and five hogging down
varieties, planted I.;ay 17, were inspected August 26. A great deal of difference
7.as noted in the maturity of the beans, yield, and amount of forage. The Wis-
consin Early Black was the smallest and earliest. The Sable and Ebony were
the highest growing variety. Some were more than 50 inches high. The Wilson
No, 5 was the most trailing variety. A number of men took quite a notion to the
A K on account of the heavy vield of beans. The Mongol probably made the great-
est showing where both beans and forage are considered. The vines were from
3 to 4 feet in heighth, abundant, large leaves, stems heavy and quite erect.
The Black Eyebrow and Ito San both showed high yielding quality. Both theKanchu
and the Ohio 9035 were at some disadvantage on account of the attack of grub
worms and the poor condition of the soil at seeding." — Burns, JoDaviess Co.

- 3 -

Tractor Schools Succoss. "The aocond of the two tractor achools scfeDduled
for tho county was pulled off the first three days of tho week. Twenty-two
farmers listened attentively to the lectures given by the instructor, Lr* E, R,
Elliott, of Champaign and jollied each other when working on the tractors.
This tractor work was nothing if not practical, six tractors being completely
overhauled, and two Ford touring cars and a Maxwell undergoing some repairs.
The makes of tractors available for the school were India m, Cleveland, Inter-
national, Moline, mterloo. Boy, Rumoly, and Fordson. All of the work was
done under Mr. Elliott's supervision. Some of the tractors were in rather
poor sh^pe, as any bunch of tractors would be that were picked up at random
from farmers who were not mechanics. The boys , after pulling some stumps on
the grounds and after giving a rising vote of thanks and hearty approval of
Mr. Elliott's instruction, went homo happy with a part of the tractors pulling
the others which needed repair parts that could not be obtained locally. "--
Eastman, Pulaski Co,

Demonstration Poultry House, "During a farm visit some time ago, the
adviser noticed a modern poultry house under construction. The owner had con-
structed a thoroughly modern, semi-mcnitor poultry house and h^d started
construct the interior furnishings in the old isay. Suggestions wore offered
which seemed to interest the ov/ner and yet he did not feel confident enou^ to
go ahead with the work. In order to have a thoroughly modern, up-to-date house
in the community, the adviser agreed to assist with the interior structure.
The greater part of Friday was spont in this work, I may say that, to my
knowledge, this is the only house in the county of this type that is thoroughly
up-to-date in all respect s. "—Allison, Call.oun Co,

Lower Freight Rate. "For some time I have been trying to secure a reclass-
ification of feeding tankage by the railroads supplying this territory in order
to have it take a lower rate. This week I rr-ieivcd notification that my request
had been approved by the Illinois rate comml ssion to go into effect about Oct. 1,
The present rate is 12^^ por hundred, carload lots. The new rate will bo 9^."
— Keltncr, Viinnebago, Co.

Farm Bureau Secures Seed Wheat. "Thru the efforts of the bureau a car.l^ad
No. 1 Turkey Red Seed i;jheit was shipped in from Kansas to the Fidelity Elevator.
In the northeast part of the county the Turkey Red wheat is "becoming very pop-
ular because of the yields this year and last. A great demand is being created
in the southern and western portions of the county for Mediterranean Fultz wheat
for seed this fall. We are having considerable difficulty getting in touch
with any good soed of this variety. "—Eyman, Jersey Co.

Seed ytlheat mr-±ed, "There is an unusual interest in seed wheat this season.
Home grown wheat is not of very good quality. We must import a great deal
from outside sources. Everyone wants the old fashioned Turkey Red, I f any
of you have a supply of that, let us hear from you." — Kendall, Morgan Co,

Iowa Agent Tries Illinois Plan. Benton County has outlined a landlord-
terunt project following the pLin used in Vermilion County last winter. The
project is being well received by both tenants and landlords and constructive
results are expected.

A strics of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. IV

September 7, 1921-

No. 36

Soybeans
for

Hay

"Vi*ien harvested and cured in reasonably good shape there is no
better ail around hay for all classes of livestock than the soybeaa.
Reports from local farmers indicate that horses, cattle, sheep, and
even hogs all relish soybean hay. In southern Illinois and on hill
land where it is difficult to hold stands of clover, the soybean is one of the
safest crops for hay and it is usually more easily cured for h:ay than the cowpeas.
Beans should be cut for hay when the seed is well formed, but not quite rrature;
that is, in the late dough stage. If on account of weather conditions the top
leaves begin to turn yellow they should be cut vdthout delay because the leaves
will soon begin to fall and they are the most valuable part of the plant for
feed. However, we have been surprised sometimes to see how much of the coarse
stems the stock will eat.

The crop is usially cut with the mower. They should be left in the swath
until the leaves are pretty well dried. They are then raked and put into well
built colJ^s where they will stand a good deal of weathering. The cocks should
not be made extra large and the base should be nade as small as possible and still
stand up. Bill Riegel, on the ileharry farm leaves his beans in the svath until
he gets ready to take them to the barn or stack. When ready to put them up he
rakes them when the dew is on to prevent shattering the leaves or picks them up
with the hay loader,

Reii.ember this: Beans have a very heavy stem and they will contain a large
amount of water. Be sure and leave them in the sviath or cock long enough to be
thoroly cured before piling up in a barn. They will stand a lot of rain in the
field, but if put in before thoroly dry the moisture in the stems is sure to cause
moulding. vJhen tall varieties are used- for hay such as the Virginia and Sable
varieties, one of the best ways to cjt for hay is with the grain binder. Set
them up in pairs in long shocks so that air can get to every bundle and they will
dry out and cure nicely in a few days of good weather. They are more easily
handled this v,ay but on the other hand there is the extra expense of twine." -
E. H. felworth. Farm Adviser, Clark County, Illinois.

Soybean Day - a^ Real Gala Day. - "Betv/een four and five hundred people at-
tended the Corn Belt Soybean Day in Champaign County, Illinois, on September L,
There were representatives from 35 counties of Illinois, 9 counties of Indiana,
3 counties of Kentucky, and one county each of Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin,
Dr. W. J. liiorse of V^shington, D.C. was also present at the meeting.

The program consisted of a soy field trip; a pep meeting in the interest
of soybean culture; and an old fashioned farmers* picnic. The tour over the
Agronomy South Farm permitted the visitors to see eight new soys, 13 old well
established varieties, and some of the pet beans of the corn belt states. From
the University the trail led to the "Embarrass Farm" southeast of Tolono. The

Vol. IV

Page 2

to'^ led out over the farm thru field after field of soys. It looked as if the
^corn belt had given way to a soybean belt„ There were beans for hay, beans for
seed, beans for silage, beans for soil improvement, in fact, for every purpose
to #iich a legume crop could be put. There were 300 acres of soybeans growing
alone and 100 acres growing in combination v/ith corn. The prize soy area ivas a
75-acre field of Mongols on the south side of the farm. These were about three
and a half feet tall, as level on top as a floor and as clear of weeds as a

flower garden,

mong the things learned during the day the follov/ing facts might be mention-
ed: 1» In some experimental trials natural crossing in soys was found to occur l6
times in 1000. 2. Ninety-five percent of Iowa's acreage (150,000 acres) of beans
is to be used for pasturage and hay. 3- Soys are high in vitamine content and
equal to tankage as a supplement to corn in hog feeding. 4. Soys are edible when
they are properly prepared. 5. Soys can be grown successfully by using sugar
beet machinery for planting and cultivating. 6, A regular wheat separator may be
successfully used to thresh soys." - Geo. Dun^n, Assoc, in Crop Production, U. of
U

Soybeans Outclass Cow peas. - "The cornbelt soybean day was certainly interes'j
ing, and instructive from every standpoint. V7e wish that every farmer in Clinton
County might have attended. Our soybeans here in this county will make tv;o or
three times as much feed per acre, even on our poor type of soil, than cowpeas." -
Rehling, Clinton County.

"Hessian Fly Conditions for 1921. - Examinations made in the larger v/heat
growing sections of the state show flaxseeds of the Hessian fly slightly less
abundant than usual, except in a few of the midwestern counties. Here there is
a moderately heavy infestation. A little more than 50/( of the flaxseeds are
parasitized. There is no indication of a second or supplementary fall brood* Ap-
parently, outside the western area, the infestation will be a little less than
noraal and the emergence of the fly slightly before, or about normal. So far as
we can see now, wheat should be sown as soon as possible after the fly-free-date
as given out last year. This date is given in the Hand Book. If the weather re-
mains unusually varm, it would be advisable to hold off seeding until a few days
later than the date mentioned." - W. P. Flint, Chief Entomologist, Natural Histor^
Survey,

}:i niat ure Demonstration Fields Unique Fair Exhibits. - "Lluch of our weeks
time has been taken up in connection with the Cook County Fair, which the Farm
Bureau is putting over. We will show Spring Valley four times a day all six days
of the fair in the farm bureau booth. Vifill show how Day's demonstration on th^
treatment of onions for smut increased the yield of onion sets 1000/i. This will
be shown in a miniature field with the onions shown just as they grov/ in regular
fields. Another miniature field will show how limestone increased the yield of
alfalfa for Arthur Heimsoth 25%; how limestone increased the yield of sweet clov r
200^ and hov/ rock phosphate increased rye yields 350^o. All this will be shown
from demonstrations conducted in Cook County the past year," - Heller, Cook Co,

Poultry Culling Popular Project^. - "Picking out the poor layers in the farm
poultry flock is a much-in-demand project this fall. Advisers find they can ren-
der a great service by..teaching farm groups how to do this work themselves. L'anjj
damonst rat ions have been staged in all counties this fall. The two poultry schoc
conducted by Ifr. Frank L. Piatt were greatly appreciated by advisers and others.'
ttv/ood.

Vol. IV

Page 3
Five Princ:ifl<?s of Effective V/ork,

Na 36

To plan right-

The v/ork must

The work must

The v/ork ac-

If work is ac-

ly you muse

be scheduled:

then be execu-

compli shod

complished ef-

know:

ted

must be meas-

fertj-vsiy you

ured as to

should be re-

ly Vvhat work

1» Definitely.

1. Skilfully.

1. Your poten-

v/a rded with

:.s to be

tiality.

i. Success in

done.

2. In harmony
with other

2. Accurately

2, F^st

your work.

2_ How to do

workt.

3. Rapidly,

Records,

2. Self

it.

development.

3* The schedule

4, v/ithout

3. Past rec-

3. When to do

or progra.Ti

wwnecessary

ords of

3. Happiness,

it.

must be dif-

delay or

ethers in

ficult to ac-

your field.

4. Health.

4, \iVhere to do

complish, but

5, Unnecessary

it.

4, Possible to

effort. .

4. Quality,

5» Money

5. How fast it

accomplish.

5. Quantity.

can be done.

5. Rigidly

kept.

The ^iye princi^ples of tj';^,?^?"'^- ?2ii outlined above are not peculiar 1^0
any particular lir.-a of work, but a-ay as easily be adapted to fit Farm Advisory
work as any other. No indivi.dual or concern can hope to accomplish a construct-
ive, progressive piece of work v/ithout taking cognizance of the fundamental
principles underlying the effective accomplishment of a job.

You have probably heard that time i_s_ monoy;, but h^ve never realized how
much money. If improvements in methods of work are followed v/hich save only
one minute per hour \7orked, 1.6^ of your time or wage is saved. During one
year, a minute per hour would mean 40 hours, or nearly one week. Five minutes
per hour would mean 8, 2;t of time or wage saved. This v/ould equal 200 hours or
1 month. Ten minutes per hour would mean l6.5/o or 400 hours, or nearly two
months,

At first sight these statistics seem startling. One month of effective
work added to a year, without wi'rking any more or any harder means much in ac-
complishjne r± for the Farm Adviser.

Not to be overlooksd xs the point that work done under effeBi!^nt conditions
is more easily done th^n work under haphazard methods and there is the addition-
al satisfaction of greater acr;ompli,shment and progress.

If you are crowded for time or have too much to do, put the Five Principlee
tHo work for you, -

S96P D> Briem, Extension Specialist in Office Organization and luamgement.

A scries of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol, IV

September 14, I92I.

No. 37

Hacksel ?

"Hacksel is the standwby of a good many farmers in their dairy
cattle feeding operations, especially those who have no silage. The
name means any kind of h^y or oats bundles after it is cut fine, by
running through an ordinary cutting box or silage cutter, I f it is
clover hay it is usually known as clover hacksel, and if it is oats bundles it
is usually knownas oats hacksel- Inmost cases, however, whenthe farmer speaks
of hacksel he means oats bundles after they have been run through a cutting box.
The claims for hacksel and the reason for cutting up hay and oats given by most
farmers are about as follows;

1* Economy in feeding, A good many mangers in farmers* barns are not pro-
perly built for feeding hay, causing the cattle to pull much of it out and wasting
it by tramping it under their feet. This is largely elimirated by hacksel,

2» Handier feeding. Farmers claim that it is handier to throw in a few
scoops of the hacksel, than to throw a few forks of hay. Often times grain is
mixed withthe hacksel as it is fed, and sometimes as it is cut. One of our
mecbers nixed some black strap molasses into the hacksel as it came from the
cutting box. This made a very palatable mixture.

The practice of cutting hacksel is decreasing, as many farmers are getting
silos. It is, however, still a favorite feed with many fanners as a roughage
for horses in the summer time, and in our opinion this is the use for which it
is best adapted. Instead of feeding hay to horses and mules at noon, a good
many farmers feed a scoop-full of hacksel which, of course, contains some oats,
with corn and other grain. It is not so bulky as hay and causes the horses to
eat their grain more slowly,

\7e believe it is a waste of time and feed to cut cats for feeding dairy
cov/s, because much of the oats grain passes through the anirral v/ithout being
digested and good dairy cov/s have very little use for oats strav/. Also, we be-
lieve it is not necessary to cut cDover and alfalfa hay, because animals will
eat it just as well and get just as much out of it without its being cut, and
that it is more economical and much easier in the long run to change the mangers
so that cows will not ivaste hay, than to cut up all hay and cats used for feed, "-
Chas. H, Rthling, Farm Adviser, Clinton County Farm Bureau, Illinois,

Greased Pigs_ L^ake Great FunJ - "At the Farm Bureau Picnic the horseshoe pitch-
ing perhaps was the greatest sport of the day with the exception of the greased
pig catch. Two greased pigs were used for this with eight men to catch them. Rules
United theic to one nanute to put the pig in the box after they caught him. It
seems that this event created mors excitement than anything else at the Picnic.
I^ny havi asked that we put on the same event again next year. There were between
I6C0 and 2CC0 cars at the Picnic. The crov/d v^s estiiaated tc be over 6000, while
everything ui4if^4J« that there were a large Jroumber present." - J. F. Hedgcock,

Vol. IV

fege 2

No. 37

Mineral Mixtures Are Not Panaceas. -' "There is an unusual interest in feeding
icineral tonics to swine. Each breeder has a particular brand, blended with en-
thusiasm and virtues, which medicinal preparations rarely, if ever, possess. In
other words we are fast approaching the point of overdoing mineral mixtures, medi-
cated salts and other "cure-all" preparations. As a matter of fact these ingre-
dients can never replace wholesome food, clean water and sanit.'.ry surroundings*

The complaints reaching this office strongly suggest that these materials
must be fed carefully and with much discretion. Losses from so-called over- feed-
ing of same have been frequently reported and the evidence at autopsy has often
disclosed intense inflammatory changes in the stomach and intestines, while in
other fatalities the gross changes in the digestive tract have not explained the
cause of death,

MINERAL MXTURES KlAY CONTAIN BOTULINUS POJSON

Among the contaminating, unwholesome and fatal extraneous substances en-
countered in a proprietary hog tonic there is a bacterial poison, indistinguish-
able from the poison encountered in unwholesome grains and hays. Improperly ster-
ilized vegetables may contain the same poison and produce illness and death in
h'ioans. Kany of our readers are aware of some of the recent and serious outbreaks,
which have been reported in the daily press. Unexplained losses in swine, which
are apparently traceable to feed, have been reported by breeders for nany years
and the possibility of a contamination in proprietary mineral concoctions cannot
be disregarded in view of recent findings. There is nothing in the feed which
will guide the owner and permit him to avoid it in the ration, A bacteriological
examination, however, may reveal the presence of certain bacterial poisons. Sus-
picious feeds, including grains and hays, tonics and mineral mixtures should not
be fed. In some instances the animals can be immunized a^inst the toxic effect
of unwholesome food, while the rations are being fed. This procedure has been
practicti . in some herds with favorable results. Valuable animals may thus be
protected." - Robert Graham, Professor of Animal Pathology, U. of I.

Trainload of Limestone Pumped on Farms to Save Haul. - "tie unloaded another
train load of limestone this week. The average cost for the special train and
dumping -^as ;^4.00 per car. As the limestone was dumped on two different branches
of the I. C. some of the cars cost 06.35 per car for the special train in which
case a four-mile haul was saved. The farmers are well pleased with the results
and vKint another train load either late this fall or in the spring." - KcGhee,
li'lassac Company,

Phosphate Helps Vi/heat . - "A number of my men have had good results drilling
phosphate rock in with the v/heat just like commercial fertilizer. One man got
tv/o bushels more wheat from 257 bundles that had been t rated with 3C0 lbs, of
rock phosphate than he did from 270 bundles that had been treated with 200 lbs,
bone meal and acid phosphate mixed. The field has not been limed. Vfe have
nrdered tv/o cars ■^f rock phosphate for this community, s. large part of which
will be sown with wheat this fall in the manner described." - Tarble, Bond Co.

Need ">f Potash. - m have some valuable demonstrations showing the value of
aanure on corn on some of our sandy land. The corn on manured land was fully l8
inches taller and of a dark green, thrifty color, while the unmanured rows showed
effect '>f alkali and lack ot potash." - F, E. Longmire , Grundy County.

Vol. IV

fege 3

No. 37

A Farm Bureau Market in Kankakee, - "This is the second year the Association
has maintained a Iklarket, This Market is in a large building 145 feet long and
50 feet v/ide, and has booths in it where the fanners can bring in their products
that they have to sell. The farmer is charged a nominal rental for a booth, and
a nan is hired who has charge of the Public Market. So far it has been very
successful for the farmers to dispose of their products, and has been quite edu-
cational in that the farmers learn how to handle their material. A Coinnittee
composed of three women and four men make up the l,!arketing Committee* These
people have charge of all complaints and financing of the L5ark0t,

Hundreds of people in Kankakee look forward to this Iklarket every Saturday,
Disking it possible for them to get fresh products at about 2C^ less than retail
price. Everything grown on the farm is marketed here. Just recently they have
been selling milk and have been able to sell quite a little cheaper and get more
out of it themselves. The farmers have been getting about 2j cents a quart and
through the Public Market they sold it for 8 cents a quart, and after paying for
their bottles they got quite a bit more than 2j cents for their milk. Hundreds
of quarts chance hands every Saturday. The farmers bring in mostly fresh meats,
vegetables, butter, eggs, and dressed chickens. This market has been the means
of helping the farm-wife earn some money and get more for her products, and at
the same time the consumer has been able to buy at a price that he can afford." -
Collier, Kankakee County,

Splendid Series of Exhibits. - "The U» S. Grain Grov/ers* Exhibit, similar to
the one at the Illinois State Fair vras shown in the Farm Bureau exhibit and at-
tracted much attention. A representative of the U, S. Grain Growers was with the
>xhibit each day, and as a result many farmers have a clearer idea of the plan
of the new narketing system. Other items of interest were as follo7/s; an exhibit
relative to local limestone companies, showing samples of stone, location, and
pictures of deposits, types and cost of equipment; results of diseased and disease-
free corn demonstrations (figures from Macon County); feeds for one year for heavy
laying hens, culls and good hens in separate coops and relative number of eggs
produced by each type in baskets beside coops; exhibits of orchard insects and
diseases; varieties of weed plants, and varieties of soybeans, seeds, and plants.
Samples of Kanred wheat from Illinois and Kansas brought forth inquiries. Re-
sults of soil treatment on blow sand at Oquawka were shown in pictures." • Lloyd,
Hancock County,

Gate Signs Distributed, - "We took advantage of the County Fair to distri-
bute a large number of the front ^te membership signs." - Burns, JoEfiviess County.

Painting: Farm Bureau Ifemes on Gate Signs.- Adviser Fuller reports getting
this work done by a professional sign jainter for 60 each. If you wish to know
details write Mr, F. E. Fuller, Henry, Illinois.

"The County Farm Adviser came to our house one day,
He culled out ail our chickens to see which ones would lay.
He talked about the keel bone, capacity and such.
He said, "Keep this hen, but that one don't amount to much.
Sell off the non-producers, keep only hens th^t lay,
A lazy hen doesn't earn her board, she^ll never pay her viay.
So nov/. Old Hen, get busy, and know what you^re about.
Or the Farm Advisers will get you, if you donH v.atch out." -
Raymond Ohlhues, (5 yrs. old) Will Co, Farmer.

A scries of brief notes from the wccklf reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Eiperimer.t Station Workers and the

State Leader's OiEce

L'NIVERSI'n' OF ILUNOIS— URB.\>'.*L, ILLINOIS

Kc. 33

Vol* IV

Sept^ber 21, 192I*

Harvesting
Sovb=»3:ns

•Tben ths soybean neara czitiu-ity the ?1ar:t drcps its Ise'^rS,
thus TJresarinr for harvest. The seed? are not perfectly z&tured

for a tjj^e after the leaves

Ttis Till usually re^^uire

a week or Bor^, The acount of tise is eoveraed by the abil:

of th3 p3£nt to hold the seed. 5czis «.ri=ties have a t^Edency
to lose the seed much sore readily than ethers. These \erietie3 should b-e ;ut
sooner after the falling of the leaves th^n the type which holds the pecs =ore
tightly.

The sethod of harvesting soybeans varies considerably with the type of b^an
and the :2.chiinery av^iiiable. The diort, lo*-gro«ing b-eans, like the Ito San
(l^diLC Sarly Yellc»> can seldoc be cut satisfactorily wi^h a cind=r if gro-r: in
ro^s, first, because there is us'£.lly a slight ridge SEds during the cultivaticn
and the pods are lying on this ridge, caking it icpossicle to laia th= platfcr:;
of the binc^r low enou^x to save all the seed, and second, because cj^en growth
such as is fcimd in roirs tend5 to cause lo-arer pod forsation than when beans ^rs
grown solid or broadcasted.

The aover can be used fairly satisfactorily on such short growins b^ns,
AS a rule, however, there is core shattering Bh&n beans are harvested aith th5
sujTer th^n when harvested with the binder. If cut aith the Sjos-er, they should
be raked up iasediately with the si dc-<3e livery rake or with the ordinary hay
rake and put in ssall bunches or shocks and allowed tc reiEin there until irj
enough to thresh. The self-rake (cow&r attachsert) frequezrtiy used tor cutting
clover seed has been used with fairly satisfactory results. Trj-s aachdne, ef
course, b^inche3 the b^ns and throws thee aside cut of the say ef the t&aa ard
the S2chine»

The grain binder is doubtless the c-ost satisfactory machine to use wh?r?
the beans are tall encu^. tc save the seed- By using the binder, the crop can
be handled in the bundles. I^.e shock should not be large. It is advisable tf
V2.ke the=i just as snail ae possible and yet have thes stand up. T^-.is hsstens
the dr/ing cut and xisiaily cakes it possible tc get the threshing dene -shen the
se?d ia in better condition*

A3 a general rule, it is adrisable to cut soybeans for seed in the sorning
she n the dew is on as they will not pop out as badly when being handled as they

viil in. the afternoon. This i£

especially true when using the sever or th^e

sids?-de livery buncher*" - J» C, Hacklesan, Crops Fred. Dept-, U. oi I,

Correction Soy-bean Day Itsa. • (ijessenger :-»o* 3^)«''^^i2at es that placed ths
attendance at the second ann\£.l Combe It Soybean Day between 4CC and 5vX> were far
toe low. ActiE.1 ecunt taken during the noon hour on Soybean IJay sh-swed tJs-t there
wa.s a tct~ai of 162? people present, ahere previcu? xtsu read; "Soybt^ns are a^^i
to tankage is hog feeding", it ses oeact "for hogging down purposes, soybeans in
the corn^re sare econisical as a protein suppiefient th^a is tankage. " - G, H.

i.'fl

Vol, IV

I^ge 2

No. 38

"In harvesting soybeans, planted in rows, one of our farmers has found it a
decided advantage to mow diagonally across the field instead of down the rov/s.
By this plan all of the knives are kept at work and there is less clogging," -
Kendall, Mor^n County,

Soybean Varieties, - "Most interest at our County Fair was displayed in com-
paring varieties of soybeans grown by different farners. Heavy podding vvas shown
on iaedium Yelloiv, Haberlandt, ji. K. and Ito San while length of growth was sho\7n
in the Virginia variety," — wfloeeler, Lawrence County,

"Our Virginia Soybeans and Democrat Corn have beon very satisfactory in every
instance that has come under my observation. Both are winning hones in the hearts
of the farmers that have used them," - Tarble, Bond County.

"The Democrat corn has given a good account of itself this year. It is matur-
ing a good crop in spite of the chinch buge» It has stood up much better than
the yellow corn alongside of it where bugs were a factor." - Eyman, Jersey Co»

It Fays to Select Seed Corn Carefully, - "We held eight seed corn selection
demonstrations during the week, and including the high school boys, reached about
two hundred persons. A little good seed corn was found in all fields, but a very
large percentage of most fields was badly dairsged by diseases, corn ear worms and
smut. We will continue these meetings throughout the coming week, i/There positive
efforts have been made last year in selecting seed, a marked improvement in this
year's crop is shown. By far, the most desirable seed available this fall is
from fields planted with seed carefully selected and dried last year." - Logan,
Crawford County,

Jk S, Grain Growers Exhibit at Fair. - "The County Fair drew large crowds.
The number to be found at all times around the U. S, Grain Growers^ exhibit shoy/ed
very active interest which is being taken by farmers in this movement. Folks are
seeking information from every possible angle, and it is plainly evident that the
more infonmtion they get, whether it is from a friend or a foe of the U- S. Grain
Growers, the stronger the general sentiment becomes in favor of the fanners' own
organization." - Brooks, LaSalle County,

»The_ County Swine Show was the big event of the week. This was held in con-
nection with Rock Creek Fair, one of the county fairs held anniBlly. The ring mas
surrounded with spectators during the entire show. The feature of holding it in
connection with the fairs is a good one and it may be continued next year, holding
it with one of the fairs in a different part of the county," - Fahrnkopf, McLean
County,

"Five culling demonstrations were held during the week. Three hundred and five
hens were handled and 110 discarded as culls. The weather has been rather showery
and has cut down attendance, but we have maintained our schedule," - Gentle,
Schuyler Co.

"Limestone - Arrar^ements are being made with a local company to put in a
special screen so that limestone fine enough for agricultural purposes can be se-
cured from the quarry. All of the stone that leaves the quarry now is for roads," -
Kline, Boone County,

Vol, IV

Tage 3

No. 38,

Alumni will Boost. - "7/ith practically #700,000 already pledged to the U. of
I. Memorial Stadium and Recreation Field from student and faculty subscriptions,
tha Stadium authorities are rapidly preparing for the mammoth state and nation-
wide drive among alumni during the football season. The drive this fall will
probably start October 29, the day of the football ^me vsrith the University of
Michigan, and continue one week. The minimum quota has been set at ^1,500,000,

The individual alumni subscription is $100, payable in five installments
over a period of 25- years, and the honor subscription is ^200, payable in ten in-
stallments over a period of 5 years, ni^ith each $100-pledge, the donor receives
an option on one seat for 10 years or two seats for 5 years. As the subscription
increases, the number of seat options increases in the same ratio» An honor
pledge of $200, therefore, entitles the donor to two scats for 10 years or four
seats for 3 years.

The Doric memorial coluums surrounding the Court of Honor which will cost
$1000 a piece, entitle the purchaser to an option on twenty seats for 10 years or
forty seats for 5 years. Eighty-seven of these columns have already been pur-
chased by campus organizations and individuals. Every Illini who died in the
lifer will have a column v/hether someone purchases it or not. The -}1000 simply
adds the name of the purchaser.

In Illinois every county will have a Stadium chairman. Outside of Illinois,
every state will be represeiled by a Stadium executive chief. These leaders will
have various sub-committees: ways and means, publicity, estimates and county.
There will be one solicitor for every ten alumni in each county and in each state*

Having returned from a long trip to the West Coast in the interest of the
Stadium, George Huff, Director of Athletics, and Robert Zuppke, fooftball coach,
are highly enthusiastic over the prospects for a successful camiaign. In each of
the twelve western cities which they visited, Illinois alumni pledged wholehearted j
financial becking to America's largest Stadium," - Kenneth Clark.

"Sweet Clover is becoming a valuable crop in the county. One farmer in Dun-
ham township seeded sweet clover with oats this year. Thirty bushels of c^ts were]
threshed per acre. The farmer is now harvesting one and one-half tons of sweet
clover hay per acre. The soil is bJack mixed loam. Another farmer seeded sweet
clover on peat where corn had failed to thrive, Altho the sweet clover vras not
seeded until August 1, he has secured an excellent stand and will have consider-
able fall pasture." - Gafke, McHenry County.

"Our farm bureau tent was well filled on Farm Bureau day. Vife ran "Spring
Valley" and '^orse Sense". Also held a horse shoe tournament and poultry culling
demonstration. Our share of the gate receipts on Farm Bureau Day will be approx-
imately $1000. and our expenses around $250, which will help our bank account con-|
siderably. We estimated that at least 500 people asked infornation at our office
at the fair grounds." - l^oelock, Lake County.

Inspected Seed Potatoes will be available in large volume this fall. If
interested write to J. G« Milward, Wisconsin Experiment Station, Madison, V/is,

Hfeyne County Gets Adviser - Mr. C. T. Huf ford who has been assistant ad.
viser in Monroe County has been employed by the viayne County Farm Bureau as
their new adviser. Mr. Hufford will open his office at Fairfield, Illinois,
about October 1,

(the irxtmisimi iHesemger

A series oi bnet notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, C -- "d Experiment Station Workers and the

cate Leader's Office

Vol. IV

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

September 28, 1921.

No. 39

beans

Threshing "•How to thj-esh soy beans* is a question being asked by nany

who are atteapting to grow soy beans for seed. I believe that al-
most any standard separator used to thresh wheat and oats can be
equipped at a very nominal expense so ttet it will thresh soys very
satisfactorily.

The trouble most people have is not being able to adjust the
nachine so it will thresh without splitting the beans and rill at the sane time
get the heavy straw thru the blower. First, remember that it is speed and not
teeth that splits soy beans. By using a large pulley on the cylinder s)^ ft of
the separator, reducing the speed of the cylinder to 32O--380 revolutions per niin-
ute, and using other large pulleys to keep the feeder, shakers, blower and fan
running at normal speed, the possibility of splitting the soys is reduced to a
minimum, ^en the cylinders run slow it is advisable to put in three or four
rows of concave teeth so that all the b^ns will be threshed out of the pods and
the etrsLv/ shredded fine enough to go thru the machine easily, Also this finer
stravr makes better feed for horses and cattle. These adjustments make a very
satisfactory bean huller out of an ordinary wh^t separator," - u, E. Riegel,
Tolono, Illinois,

Good Time to Plant Orchards. - "The decrease in the number of apple and p^ch
trees in the United States as given by the 1920 census is almost startling even
to those who have been most familiar vi-ith the siti^tion. The number 01 bearing
apple trees in I92O was 115,265,029 as compared with 151,322,840 in I9IO, a de-
crease of 36,057,811 or 23»8 per cent. The number of young trees or those -ishich
have not yet reached bearing age was given as 36,171,604 as compared with
65,791,848 in I9IO, These figures indicaf-e a decrease of 29,620,2*4 or ^5 per
cent.

The number of bearing peach trees in I92O vns 65,654,921 as compared with
94,506,657 in 1910, representing a decrease of 23,851,736 trees or 30,5 per cent.
Those not yet bearing in 192C were 21,623,657 as comjared with 42,266,243 in I9IO,
a decrease of 20,642,586 trees or 48,8 per cent.

The number of apple trees in surrounding states as compared vrith Illinois
is sho'JTn in the following table:

Trees Bearing Per Cent Trees not Bearing Per Cent

1920 '

1920 { 1910 t Decrease |

1910

Illinois >, 112,^66 ' 9,900,627 4Fr3 " 1,025,0^6 2,54d,301

LiLssouri 5,162,859 14,359,673 Tl.O 1,585,823 3,624,833

Indiana 3,427,816 5,764,821 40.5 929,160 1,961,974

iiVith a 10 per cent increase in population and new export channel

Decrease

2b. 3
56.2
52.6
opening

up each year there v/ould seem to be no danger of overproduction for cany years
to come. Now is a good time to plant an orcterd, " - ,U S. Brock, Ext, Specialist
in Horticulture, U. of I.

Vol. IV

Page 2

No. 3V

Corn Disease Trip. - "On Friday, September 16, we accompanied 60 of our farm
bureau members to the Funk Farms near Bloonington, where the U. S* Department of
Agriculture is carrying on the corn disease work in cooperation with Funk Eros.
Seed Company. Most of the men v/no were vTith us on this trip are men who have
corn in iVoodford County corn test and so are particularly interested in the corn
disease work. We were very much interested in and impressed by the work which
is being done, and feel that it will undoubtedly result in very greatly improved
methods of selecting seed corn and preparing it for planting," « ilosher, '.Voodford
County,

Christian County Farmers* Week, - "September 14 was Farm Bureau Picnic Bay
with between 7,000 and 10,000 people on the grounds, AboLtt 30 tents housed the
exhibits of merchants, farmers and the boys' and girls' clubs. The event was a
real county fair with all of the undesirable features left out, A tend, merry-
go-round, gimes, addresses, races and horseshoe pitching were among some of the
features.

The Farm Bureau had an entire tent devoted to its exhibits. These included
sunflowers, chinch bug resistant corn compared with Reid's Yellov/ Dent that had
been attacked by the bugs, limestone, rock phosphate with records of results
that can be expected by applying on Yellow Gray Silt Loam and Black Clay Loam,
24 different varieties of soybeans, posters here and there shov/ing work done, A
central table bore an appropriate sign suggesting that unpaid membership dues
rould be paid there*

Executive Committeemen were in attendance to show risitors around and give
information. One farmer stated that he was going to bring something to exhibit
next year so he would feel that he had a part in contributing to the success of
the occasion. This seemed to be the sentiment and spirit of the crov/d. " - V,
Vaniman,

Efficient Marketing for Apiculture, by Prof. Theodore L!acklin of the Uni-
rsity of li'&sconsin, is the tiLle of a new work just off the press* A hasty
glance thru the copy vvhich has just come to hand promises that it will be worth
v/hile reading for all who are interested in the marketing of farm products. The
book which is printed by Lacmillan should be ready for distribution within a
few days." - Handschin.

Alfalfa Hay for Sale, - "A number of our farmers have reported a surplus of
alfalfa hay and v/ould be glad to sell some at this time. Lost of this hay was
put up in first class condition," - T. R, Isaacs, L^son County.

v/inter E^g Production F_lock3_. - Some time ago the Farm Bureau Executive Com-
mittee approved of establishing in each precinct one or more winter egg production
demonstration flocks- The idr^a was that the Farm Adviser, during the lionth of
September should cull these flocks, leg banding the hens that show the highest egg
production. The hens are to be put in breeding pens with the best roostfcrs next
spring. The owners of these flocks are to feed and care for the birds as sug-
gested by the Farm Adviser. They are to keep an accurate record of the amount
of feed consumed and report the number of eggs received each month." - Allison,
Calhoun County.

Take care of the orchard or use it for fire-wood. Trees unsprayed and not
pruned are a source of loss to their owners and to their neighbors.

Vol. IV

Page 3

NO. 3V

"At a Poultry Cullinp; Demonstration which was held this week we found the
hens all in shipping crates. After the usual remarks as to the general princi-
ple of culling and v/hat may be expected from it, the demonstration work be^n.
Almost the entire contents of one crate seemed to consist of laying hens. VHhen
the next crate was taken up exactly opposite conditions prevailed. I then found
that the owner of these chickens had been reading what information he could get
on the subject of culling and attempted to cull his own hens when he caught them.
He seemed pleased to find that his judgment and our ov/n was much the same. It
also added interest to the entire culling demonstration." - Keltner, Winnebago Co«

Purchase of Guernsey Bulls. - Eleven men went on the Guernsey Breeders' tour
Tuesday morning and spent the day visiting Guernsey herds at Plattsville and
Livingston, Wisconsin, rfednesday the buying committee, together with Mr# E» M«
Clark of the I. A. A, and the Farm Adviser went on to Jefferson County. One stop
vias made at M. Horob and the dairy herd at the University of Wisconsin was visited*
At Ft, Atkinson, u/isconsin, the committee visited a number of herds, including the
Hoard's Dairynsn Farm and A, R. Hoards, A total of 20 herds was visited during
the three days. The committee bought the three sons and one grandson of King of
Chilmark that were seen onUonday at the Four Pine Farm belonging to Mr, F. K.
Babson, Hinsdale, Illinois. Two more calves of the same breeding will have to be
located by the committee in order to complete the organization for six blocks of
the Bull Association,"** Burns, JoDaviess Co^

"Durir g all of the activities of the Farm Bureau, including the County Pic-
nic, the Fai-m Bureau Exhibit at the County Fair, the auto tours and the poultry
culling demonstrations, there has been a greater interest shown by a larger pro-
portion of the farmers than I have ever seen at any other time during the nine
years that I have been engaged in the work." - Mosher, Woodford Co.

"The Farm Iifenagement Auto Tour conducted by the Farm Bureau September I3 was
the most satisfactory field demonstration tour that I have ever helped to conduct.
The attendance varied from 80 people at the first farm, which was visited at
8:00 A.M« up to 175 at noon, and 60 at the last stop at 5:00 o'clock. At each
stop the owner of the farm was asked to tell of his methods of soil management,
crop production* livestock management or building arrangement. The very closest
of attention was shown by the men present thruout the day. We are satisfied that
the work of the Farm Bureau in connection with the exhibit at the County Fair and
on this tour, to be followed by personal work with the individia.1 farmers in
closing up their farm account books at the end of the year, in working out their
plant food balances with them and in considering other phases of their farm manage-
ment work, will lead a considerable number to rearrange their farms and farming
operations so as to put into practice a definite rotation system and a definite
plan of livestock nanagement," - i/iosher, Woodford County.

"The Stephenson County Cooperative I^iarketing Company has nade an excellent
showing of its first month of operation. Checks are going out to the members
on the basis of 48 cents per lb. for butter fat plus 170 differential, for the
skin milk in 100 lbs. of whole milk. This is equal to $1,85 for 3.5^ milk. Our
butter *Vita Gold' is finding a ready sale," - Eaumeister, Stephenson Co,

Heap high the farmer's wintry hoardj
Heap high the golden cornj
No richer gift has Autumn poured
^ From out her lavish hornl whittier. The Corn Song,

■^)l

A scries of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

vol. IV

Storin;*

Threshed

S oybea ns

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA, ILLINOIS

OctQber 5, 1921.

No, 40

"Storing soybeans if they are really dry is not much more dif-
ficult than storing wheat or shelled corn. In fact, we have often
piled beans four feet deep, with good results; hov/ever, we have
never done this y/ithout carefully watching them from day to day
for at least two weeks, to be sure that the beans did not contain
enough moisture to cause heating.
It is best to have the beans perfectly dry in the bundle before threshihg,
3uring a rainy season this seems almost an impossibility, but we liiave found -'that
the beans will dry more an the field during one day of sunshine than they will
during a week's time on a barn floor or in a granary- If soybeans are threshed
wet, it is very difficult to dry them under the ordinary farm methods of storing,
but it can be done by spreading them thinly (not. to exceed 12 to 20 inches deep)
over a well ventilated floor, and turning them frequently with a shovel.

Soybeans should be put thru the fanning mill just as soon after threshing
as possible to remove any cull beans, weed, seeds, or foreign substance they may
contain. Dry, clean soybeans store v/ell. Wet beans can be dried out if properly
handled." - W. E. Riegel, Tolono, Illinois.

Soybean Varieties. - "Last week we had our Soybean Demonstration Day with
about 25 present. We had t;vo types of land in this demonstration, both of which
had been limed with 4 tons to the acre last year. On the gray silt loam on tight
clay vriiich was really so poor it would not grow red top successfully, we had 13
varieties of beans. These were planted the 13th of June which is really too late
for the best results here. The rtllson 5 and the Virginia, gave the best yields
of liay. Haberlandt and Kolly Brook appeared to be the best for hogging down.
Wilson 5 was considered the best for seed. On the richer type of ground a bean
for hay appeared to be Sable or Sable and Virginia mixed. Best hogging bean,
the Ohio; best for seed, Ebony and Ohio; best silage, Virginia," - Blackburn,
Marion County.

Bucs Don't Like democrat. » "Mr. Vanimanhas inspected our white Democrat
C«>rn demonstration and thinks it important enough for an extension demonstration
meeting. This meeting will probably be held October 14, and any county in the
corn belt who anticipates serious chinch bug injury can get first hand information
as to how v^ite Democrat performs in this section of the State," - Pickenson,
Cass Co.

"Publicity with a bit of local color gets results. To an article in our
August Bulletin entitled, "He Got Tired of Advertising", and telling of one man's
splendid results of advertising in the Exchange List, can be attributed most of
the three-fold increase in the number of exchange items for September 1." - E»
S. Brown, Stark Co.

Vol. IV

Page 2

Results of So-called Take^jUi Experiments, i£ I920> - "Only thirteen out of one
hundred' fifty wheat varieties haa se.Aalled '-tsRe-all' , this year. Less than half
of the thirteen was heavily infested. Jh&ee include Harvest Queen, (white chaffed
Red Cross locally known as Salzer's Prize T&ker) Niagara, Velvet Chaff, Missouri
Bluestem, and Selection No. 13462- Some of the lesser infected varieties are
Dawson«s Golden Chaff, Ilini Chief, V/isconsin No- l8, V/orld's Champion and Budapest,

The important Ilinois varieties that are immune are Beloglina, Fulcaster,
Fultz, Gypsy, Harvest King, Hungarian, Indiana Swamp, Kanred, Jtlediterranean, Mich-
i^n itober, Linnesota Reliable, Nigger, Poole, red chaffed Red Cross, Red Rock,
Red y»ave, RuJy, Turkey, and irtiheedling.

These experiments were conducted on infested land near Granite City, Illinois,
by the office of Cereal Investigations, U. S. Department of Agriculture, in Co-
operation ;vith the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station," - Geo. H. Dun^n,
Dept, of Agronomy, and H. H. LcKinney, Ass*t, Pathologist, U, S, D, A,

linking the Porkers Harvest the Hay. - "One of the good farmers of Lee County
is using a four year rotation, corn, oats, and clover, and thereby hangs the tale
of labor saving plan. A field feeding of crops is practiced v/ith a vengeance the
hog consiming practically all clover and half the corn directly in the field.
Hogs have a reputation for being good corn huskers, but it is not adding insult
to injury to make them do the haying also." - Bilsborrow.

Club Conferfcuce. - "The Annual Boygs' and Girls' Club Leaders' Conference
will be held at the University of Illinois from noon October 27 to noon Ootober 29.
At this conference problems in organizing and conducting clubs will be discussed,
Many of these problems will be of especial interest to Farm Advisers and Assist-
ant Farm Advisers \*o are contemplating doing some club v/ork next year. An ur-
gent invitation is extended to all interested, to bo present and enter into the
discussions." - James H. ]^ldv/in-

Meeting of the Vegetable Growers' Association of Anerica. - The Vegetable
Growers' Association of iimerica will hold its annual meeting in Albany, New York,
November 1 to 5, 1921. This is the big event of the year for the vegetable grow-
wers 7/ho will be able to attend. The program this year will be more elaborate
than heretofore. There will be general sessions to which all present will be in-
vited. At these sessions some of the biggest men in their respective lines who
can be secured will give addresses. Reduced railroad rates of one and one half
fare can be secured if 350 attend the Convention by rail. A special trip will be
made from Albany to New York City to visit the principal wholesale and retail mar-
kets. Anyone wishing to secure a copy of the program or learn more in detail
the plans for the Convention should write C, w. ii»ade, Organization Secretary, c/o
The Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, Franklin Building, Columbus, Ohio. The program
will be nailed about the middle of October,

Firp Prevention On the Farm. - Llillions of dollars worth of agricultural
wealth is destroyed by fire in the United States each year. This is a dead loss to
th* natian, for the fact that most individual losers are partially reimbursed thru
insurance does not in the least reduce the drain on our natural resources, and it
is a loss that is largely preventable. October 9, is officially proclaimed as
Fire Prevent Lay. Each one can do something to minimize the chances for fire
in his home, on his farm or in his city. Clean up, Pick up, and examine all pos-
sible sources of fire. Get the publications from the National Fire Association
of Boston, hlass., and write for U. S. Faraers Bulletin f^904 - "Fire Prevention
and Fire Fighting on the Farm. - C. A. A,

Vol. IV

P&ge 3

No, 40

"STADIUM MLL BE A ivMiORIAL TO jL SOLDIERS . Illinois v/ill be among the first
states in the union to perpetuate the honor of the heoric veterans of the World
Vk&r, One of the state's great memorials, the University of Illinois Kemorial
Stadium, dedicated both to soldiers of the University and state, should be com-
pleted by the fall of 1924. Though 17 states have tentative plans for ngmonals,
only three, Kansas, Nebraska, and Illinois, have started definite v/ork. Kansas
is building a stadium on the campus at Lawrence and a memorial gymnasium at the
University of Nebraska will be dedicated to the fighting forces.

Utility is the keynote of the newer types of meuiorials. Showy, elaborate
structures, erected after previous ^anerican wars, are being replaced by more
useful types, — stdiums, gymrasiuas, libraries, municipal buildings, armories,
bridges, and roads. The latter mei:.orial is gaining considerably headv^ay, es-
pecially in the East, vi/here soldiers' organizations are backing the movementso
The Illinois memorial v/ill be erected from funds donated by students, alumni and
friends of the University, entirely without state aid. Practically $700»000 has
already been pledged, and it is hoped to raise ^^2,000,000 in the alumni campaign
during the football season, this fall," - K, J, Clark, U. of I,

A Reorganized Farm in Each Township. - "During the past week further progress
was made on the farm maragement project consisting of one farm in each township,
(except four in which farms have not been s«ci.c>cted)« On these farms it is aimed t
to develop the best system of farming for this section as we know it. On most of
them a reorganization of the field and cropping system is being carried on. With
this, accurate accounts are being kept and it is aimed to develop three or four
major farm enterprises to a high point of efficiency. Mr» Elliott of the Farm
Management Department f^ve some valuable help on the projects on Tuesdy and Wed-
nesday when eleven of these farms v/ere visited." - Rehling, Clinton Co.

Vi&nted a Blacksmith

"Farm Bureau members of DeVi/itt County desire to es-

tablish a blacksmith at Clinton. There is plenty of business in sight for a good
workman in general black sriiithing. Do you know of a prospect?" - E. T. Robbinej-
Farm Adviser, Clinton I'llinois.

Card to Head Poultry Work. - "Professor Leslie Ellsworth Card, who is now
connected with the Poultry Hustendry Department at Cornell University, will arrive
m Urbana on February 1, 1922, to take charge of the poultry v/ork at the Univer-
sity of Illinois. Professor Card comes to Illinois unustally well trained for
taking charge of this work. He has had considerable farm experience in poultry
work and has taken active interest in the breeding and exhibiting of purebred
flocks. Under Professor Card's direction, the Poultry Plant at the University wil
will be enlarged and better equipped to handle this v/ork at Illinois." - H. P.
Rusk, U. of I.

iiH. K. Galeener has been employed as Farm ^dvistr in Williamson County and ex-
pects to begin v/ork November 1, or sooner if possible. Since his graduation in
Agriculture at the University of Illinois, Mr. Galeener has spent most of his time
in farming and orcharding near Fairfield, Illinois.

H» F. T. Fahrnkopf has been prcmoted to tht position of Farm Adviser in
McLean County.

The District Conferences will be held upon the dates originally selected.

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advi-^cr.;. Tnltt^ge and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol, IV

October 12, 1921-

No. 41

^. . - "The pregnant sue has need of abundant protein for the develop-

Pregoant injent of the fret us, for the growth of wool and for body ira.interiance,
E '.kES Farmers wht keep a few sheep often do not realize t^Tat the growth

of wool requires considerable protein and that the wool and foetus

cannot develop properly unless this need is supplied. The production of legumes
offers the most practical supply of protein for the pregnant ewes.

It is questionable if there is any roughage which in itself will more nearly
supply the nutrient requirements of the pregnant ewe than alfalfa hay» Alfalfa
is probably the best single food for sheep and the wintering of pregnant ewes
need n-^t be a serious problen fsr anyone who has a supply of this roiighage^ Ewes
that are in good thrifty condition and are carrying a fair covering of flesh need
be fed little grain from now until the first of January, for ouch ewes are able
to produce strong L=?nbs if they are allowed to glean over pastures, stubble fields,
and corn fields and are given snme alfalfa or other leganie hay in addition to the
feed they gather about the farm. Feed pregnant ewes a pound of alfalfa, clover,
yjr soy-bean hay v/hile they are picking up waste feed until about January 1. After
-fefet ?:ive them all the alfalfa hay they v/ill eat and ab^ut one-half pound of grain
oer head daily until lambing time, and if other things have been done equally well
the str'-jng, lusty lambs will'gr<sw into profits.'" - V// Gc Kammlade, Assoc, in
^•icaj. Husbandry, U. of I-

"It peys io cultivgte alfalfa^^ - One of our best fields has received several
cultivations with a regular alfaJfa cultimtrr- Altho four profitable cuttings

have

been removed, the fifth crop is a foot high." - Kendall, Lor^n Co.

Bread fr'9m_ ft one?, - "Tlie Farm Bureau had a display in the agricultural pro-
'»^^>ctc tent'tlTdt caused a Ist of interests Gh:.ef among the "curios" was a pile
e o k'phosphate. Nearly one-third ef the farmers asked for icfonxation in re-
^ A -t^ its use. If "the saying is true that a -man's farm is no more fertile
fy^n his brain' we have inoculated many farms this week." - Tarble, Bond Co,

Go 4-Court^ji5 ^?S, Bureau £;rhibit_. - "tony farmers in to attend court this
^^ff^]i,'^<,ie have menaged to have a good display in the office, which is located in
the Court House, po that those who have a moment*s time may spend it to advantage."-
Yib&eler, Lawrence Co»

Plan of Byyin^ P2!:5i^S-' ' """^ ^'^^® finally figured out a plan that seems to
rT^^hl^ ^l^rovnd in handling our pritatoes. One of the Iscal merchants will
I '^jvti ^the P'5»tat(^es, pay fcJ* them and collect the money for a profit ef ten cents
^er bushel." - Kline, Boone County.

'SSIHZ

•r^5fZ..'3

Vol. IV

F&ge 2

No. 41

"1921 Powe_r Spray Rinss. - Power spray rings were successfully operated in
Vermilion and Stark Counties this season. In Vermilion County the work was done
under the direction of Adviser Lumbrick and consisted of two rings; the larger
being essentially a custom spraying project while the snailer was a cooperative
organization to take care of only a few farm orchards. A three cylinder Hardie
outfit driven by a 4 H, P. Cushman engine was used in each ring. The sutar^ry
of the large ring is given below:

Number of orchards in ring 75

Total number of trees 3084

Average number of trees per orchard 41»1

Average lbs. Dry Lime Sulfur per tree dormant spray .592

Average lbs. Dry Lime Sulfur used on 2 summer sprays »35

(AJterage lbs. Lead Arsenate ustd per tree »259

Results

Number Orchards Excellent

" " luedium

^ " Poor

Report missing

Condition of Orchard at beginning

Number of orchards reported good
II II It II fair

H It II II poor

Report Missing

Two pounds of lead arsenate in 50 gallons of spray were used thruout. It
was not k rxiwn in the beginning how many trees could be sprayed under such a pro-
gram, and, while the results were gererally satisfactory it v?as agreed that not
more than two thousand trees could be attempted by one outfit in the future.

In Stark County, the work was planned and carried out under Adviser Browa.
The rings, two in number were strictly cooperative. The results were splendid.
The fruit was of excellent quality with respect to both insect and fungi, and
while the Departmental Adviser had not seen the orchards before the dormant spray
was applied, it was evident that both Oyster Shell and San Jose scale had been
satisfactorily controlled, A tv/o cylinder Hayes pump driven by a 1^ H.P. Fair-
banks engine was used in each ring. The data on the Stark County organi::ation is
given here, the sunr^ary of the season's work being compiled by Jtr. Brown.
" " Ring ^'1 Ring #2

iMumD^r 0 1 orcrsirds in ring 12 13

Amount paid in by each member $40 $40

Average number of trees per orchard 25 20

Average age of trees per orchard 17 15

Number of sprays applied 4- 4

Radius of operation 3>y '^^- ^ °^^*

««. S. Brock, Dept. Horticulture, University of Illinois.

Big Interest Returns. - "Fred Barnett used 75 cents worth of spraying material
to spray ten old apple trees as the blecm fell. He used a small hand pump, as
a result he has sold $75 vvorth of good apples. Other similar orchards lost nearly
all apples from worms.

Movies Help. - "Have just finished a series of meetings using moving picture
machine. It is quite a success in bringing people together, tho' the machine gave
some trouble in that tho "take-up" reol would not work. However, we expect tp
get a satisfactory adjustment or a substitute maehine." - Oathout, Champaign Co.

We failed to announce the employment rf L. E. MfKenzie as Assistant Farm
Adviser in Coleft County. Mr. Mc^inzie is a graduate of Purdue University and was
for three years County Agent in Fountain County, Indiara. He began work in
Coles County, Illinois, August 15, last.

'I^

Vol. IV

Page 3

No. 41

Visits Corn Drsease Plots. - "The two days tour of the Rock Island Corn
Disease plots under the direction of Adviser Edcerton, was very successful* A
meeting was held at each field where a demonstration had been planned. One farmer
in each of the tv/elve larger townships had cooperated with the local Farm Bureau
thruout the season in carrying out the project. In each field had been planted
four plots- (1) Farmer's own bulk corn, (2) Farmer's diseased seed, (3) Farmer's
disease-free seed, and (4) Funk disease-free seede A large and interested group
of farmers visited each field where the respective plots were husked, weighed
and sorted into sound corn, "nsound corn, and nubbins^

In general it could be easily noted that the aieease-free plots had the
highest yield, and the best quality of corn, DJ.sease-fr©* characteristics and
proper methods of seed selection were emphasized, Earh man was encouraged to
select his own seed in the field from nearly dicease-free stalks, to properly
care f«r it, to test it in the spring and to plant the best 10 or 20 ears on one
side .'^f the field for next year's seed." - Atwood-

Attitude Changed as Tested Seed Showed Resiiltj. - "Iffe have recently closed I

a very successful series of demons-u rat ions on selecting seed corn, vv^th special I

reference to corn diseases. Eight hundred acres were planted in Knox County with I

corn which had been tested for diseases, Kany of these fields wei'o examined and I

compared with other fields growing under the same conditions which were planted I

with corn secured from other sources. The real merits of the disease free corn I

became more apparent as the demonstrations continued. It is worthy of note that I

at one time in the ]ate summer many farmers did not seeu satisfied with the I

specially tested seed. Their attitude on this pointv however, changed during I

the progress of the demonst ret ions- " - Bracker, Knox Couh'I^tu I

Seed Selection Pays, - ♦*Tho corn root and stalk disease plots on Mr» Wc# I

Franke's farm at Hanover presents very good material to demonstrate the value of I
selecting seed corn in the field, and going over it again in the Spring, The I

difference in the height of the stalks on the selected plot was marked and there I
was a very noticeable difference in the way the corn stood up. The same corn I

from fifty of the hills of the selected plot weighed four and one-half pcunds I

more than that fr#m the unselected corn, v/h-.ch is equal to four and one-half
bushels more per acre. This demonstration shewed that rough corn with starchy
kernels will not yield or stand up as well as the smooth type," - Burns,
JoDaviess County,

"One of the best seed corn growers paid vl2 for a bushel of disease free
c«rn. Altho he planted it on /jld gri^und, his men say it contained much less
rotten corn than the home grown seed. A plot of ours vsls so badly damaged by
the corn ear-worm that one cannot tell much about the comparative merits of the
seed furnished." - Kendall, Mor^n Co,

The Corn Ear-Worm has probably reduced the expected yield of corn from five
to ten perdent. It is found everywhere, but worst in the later corn," - Price,
Kendall C^.

Potato Crop Poor. - "As a general thing potatoes are a very poor crop in
this county this year and a good many of them have taken a second growth which
will cause considerable spoilage." - Tate, Uonroe Co,

A scries of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol, IV

October 19, 1921.

lioc 42

Cowpeas and
. Vetch
For Hay

"Tho earlier varieties of the cowpea mature in 70 to 90 days»
One feature of this plant is that it nay be harvested in a wide
range of time without too much loss. The yield in Illinois is
from 1 to 3 tons of excellent hay per acre, which is equal to red
clover or alfalfa in value, and is an excellent roughage for horses, cattle and
sheep. The hay is somewhat difficult to cure, but not any more so than other
legumes of its type. Because of its coarseness and uneveness it has no standing
on the narkets. As a rule the hay is considered bettor for cattle than any other
livestock.

Cowpeas should be cut for hay when the pods begin to turn yellow. The hay is
best if the vines are exit when full grown and most of the pods nature, Haynaking
practices mentioned for soybeans in previous articles will apply to cowpeas* The
crop is not now widely used in Illinois.

Vetch hay really is a better feed than cowpeas, A cctnparison of analyses
follows:

Digestible Nutrients in pounds per 100 pounds of the two hays from Li0»
Ext. Cir. #2. (1915)^

Crude Pro6ein

Carbohydrates Fat
40,7 1.0

39»3 3U3

The only part of Illinois

Vetch 11,5

Cowpea 9^ 2

The Vetches thrive best on fertile loam soils.
where they are grown is in the south. Vetch makes an excellent hay crop for all
farm animals* The above analyses shows it to be even better than alfalfa or bran.
For hay it should be cut when in full bloom or before the formation of the first
pods. The curing process is the same as for alfalfa.

For dairy cattle these bays balance silage in the ration. Ten or twelve
pounds fed with thirty- five or forty pounds of good ensilage makes an excellent
complete ration for a cow. Grain should be fed for maximum production but the
use of cowpeas or vetches for hay is to be recommended for dairy farmers,"

Temple R. Lovett, Ass't. in Dairy Extension, U. of I,

Growing Alfalfa on Blow Sand, - "It has been my experience as a farmer on
the sand soil of Kankakee County, that alfalfa does well if properly started.
The following is the plan I use. Cover ground with a good coat of manure before
plowing, using about twelve loads to the acre. Then plow the soil about six
inches deep and apply four tons of limestone to the acre. Get the ground in
good shape, firally rolling it to firm seed bed and sow 20 pounds of alfalfa seed
to the acre, I inoculate the seed with sweet clover soil, by the glue method.
Sow the' latter part of August. I have a field I seeded last August, from which I
have taken three cuttings and the fourth crop was 6 to 8 inches high by the middle
of September." - Hierritt Dayton, Fanner, Momence, Illinois.

Vol. IV

Page 2

NO. 42

The 1920 Census of Small Frui.ts. "Illinois is almost stationary in the num-
ber of acres devoted to snail fruit production which includes stra«/berries, rasi>-
berries, blackberries, dewberries, cranberries, currants, and other berries. The
total acreage was 11,723 in I9O9 as compared v/ith ll,2l5 in 1919. The total for
the U. S. in I9O9 was 272,460 as compared with ^49,034 in 1919, a decrease of 8^6
per cent. There is an opportunity for considerable ini^rease in smallfra-it pro-
duction, but since labor and transportation are so important no steps should be
taken without a careful summary of these tv/o factors. The transportation problem
may be eliminated where small fruit plantations are located near large centers
of population. Any city of 20^000 inhabitants or more offers an inducement to
small fruit growers because the demand usually far exceeds the supply* It is
also true that in such localities the labor problem in rush seasons may easily
be solved by interesting the labor element in the cities." - W, S. Brock, Ext,
Specialist in Horticulture, U. of I*

By Their Fruits Ye Shall Know Them - "Several of our farmers sprayed trees
under the direction of the farm bureau last spring and summer* It was a pleasure
to go out a few cfeys ago and get a picture of the apple trees heavily loaded with
good, clean fruit." - Fahrnkopf, McLean County,

Organized Schedule permit s 29 Herds to be Tested in a_ Single Day. - "Thru
the efforts of Adviser waters of Edgar County, the Tuberculosis Testing «vork was
so well or^nized that County Veterinarian, Dr, Brenran v,as able to concentrate
his work with most excellent results. A meeting was called at a central place
in a township and five men were appointed and each agreed to see the owners of
herds in h^s coromunity and arrange to have the animals ready when the veterinarian
called. By perfecting a detailed schedule, each farmer knew whento expect the
Veterinarian. The first day 29 herds consisting of 250 animals were tested. This
V0.S more th^n vere tested during the entire previous month with the veterinarian
working here and there, as h© could arrange with individual farmers*" - J. C.
Spitler, Ass*t. State Leader,

New Testing Association. - "The organization of the Cov/ Testing Association
was completed at a meeting held in Elbridge Friday evening, Oct. 7, and the of-
ficers elected. We expect v/ithin a few days to have a membership roll completed
and a tester employed to start work Nov. 1." - Waters, Edgar Co.

"Dairymen around Vfaukepsn are strongly in favor of organizing a local milk
narketing canpany and have gone quite a vays tov.ard completing the or^nization.
Vfe expect Mr. larsen to meet with them". Vi/heelock, Lake County.

Pure Bred Week, - "The past week was Pure Bred Week in Stephenson County,
Four hog sales and one Holstein sale v/ere held. The boars and gilts averaged
about $34 and the Holsteins, bulls, and a few females averaged about $80«50
There was a noticeable lack of speculative buying as in former years. Bids were
conservative and animals were purchased frcm the utility standpoint. There viQS
a greater proportion of cash settlement than last year." - Eaumeister, Stephenson
Co,

O.ut in the Rain and Snow? would you be horrified Mr. Farmer to find that
your wife had left her -^50 dollar sr^.Ting machine out in the rain. But what about
that $100, mower or that $300 binder of yours left exposed to the elements!

mge 3

No. 42

Pi^ Club Project. -"The Poland China Breeders* Association met at the Farm
Bureau today, and decided upon the follov/ing program for the year's work;
1. Conduct a boys* Poland Chira Pig Promotion project.

a. Members of the Association to donate j^lts.

b. One boy to be selected in each community m the county, probably

by competitive means to receive the gilt-

c. E^ch member of the Poland China Breeders* Association to be given

supervision over the boys in his territory to help the county
adviser in keeping the boys properly lined up and caring for
the pigs.

d. A Poland China litter show t o be held at one of the local fairs

next fall. Each boy to show four or five pigs from the litter,
according to the plan of the Natioml Poland China Association*"-
Burna, JoDaviess Co.

Facts About the Hog, - "Here are ten
by J, At, Simms, swine specialist, Storrs,
Is, Ax\ abundance of green forage,
2* Good ?ows that bring two large

litters each year,
3* A strong registered boar, a

sure breeder of good pigs»

4. Pigs properly careC OoT at
farrowing time so that few die*

5. Proper care of growing pigs and
breeding stock.

10, Killing and curing
and marketing the
advantage,," - St or

rules

Conn.

for successful growing as outlined

Selection of the best sow pigs
to replace the old or inferior
sows«
7» Prevention of diseases and

parasites,
8r Shelter sufficient Ho prot«*rt
the hogs from both severe eold
and extreme heat,
9c. A practical iriilization of wastes*
for home use
surplus to best
r*3 Extension News,

"Mere Hog Cholera has appeared this week. Also a number of cases of *flu*.
About 50,000 cubic centimeters of serum was distributed and two vaccination demon-
strations held." - Lloyd, Hancock Co.

Move to Business District. - "The Farm Bureau headquarters have been moved
from the Court House to the State Bank Building. This puts the office downtown in
the business district. While the Farm Bureau and Heme Bureau are not using the
same room, they are in the same building and on the same floor, V/e feel that
the Farm Bureau folks will be benefited by this new move." - Edgerton Rock Island
County.

Offers to Crush Limestone for Dollar a Ton. - "Mr. Heiderahield, a local
garage man at Hardin, made a proposition to the Fann Bureau neinbers that he would
furnish the crusher, power, and a can to run same, to crush limestone at $1,00
per ton. This proposition met with favor among the Executive Committeemen. It
was decided to encourage the getting together of farmers in different communities
in order to avail themselves of this opportunity." - Allison, Callioun Co.

Cloyer Seed Crop. - "Excessive raiiafall has done enormous damage to the
clover seed crop. Some fields which have been cut have been atandoned The
quality of the seed which we h^ve threshed is excellent." - Eyman, Jersey Co,

USB

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Expeiiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. lY

October 26, 1921,

HO. 43

G^iCULTURE
lip TO DATE

■

Vol. IV

F&ge 2

No.

£.^

"The Eost Profitable Hour and one half that I spend a week for the Fam
Bureau, is v/riting up for the newspapers, the experience of farmers following out
a better farming practice. It is more desirable to cultivate the friendship of
the Editor than any other nan in the county," - Fuller, L^rsh^ll-Putnan Co.

Value of Giving Every l^an a Job. - "In planning our soil demonstrations last
spring, I asked the township ch-ainran whom we might use to conduct the denonstra-
tion so it would be valuable to the neighborhood as well as to the farcer. He
mentioned the name of a nan who had been a chronic kicker ever since he joined
the farm bureau and was doing much talking against it, A visit vas nade to this
nan's farm, and as a conclusion he was willing to try the test from a selfish
standpoint. This week the treated rows v/ere hi^rvested and this farmer spent a
whole half day helping secure accurate weight from each row. .^hile the test
showed that phosphorous had given him an increase of 11 bushels per acre, this
is insignificant as compared to the value this demonstration h^s had upon the
farmer himself. There is not a warmer booster in the county, nor one %iio has
any more faith in the work. This h^as been gained by a simple demonstration, "-
Fuller, tSarshall-Putnam Co.

Township Laps that Tell« - "Curing the summer whjLle traveling around the
county, a map 15"X15" of each township is carried in the car. At meetings and
farm visits, the exact location and name of every renter or lando-^mer is placed
on the map. when a township aap is completed several blue prints -.vill be =ade.
These maps are especially valuable in checking up the n:ailing list, in locating
exactly where the farmer lives in case he requests a farm visit, in knov^dng vt.o
are fam bureau members, and who are non-members, and in knowing exactly where
a delinquent member lives. V.ath such a map it is an easy nntter to glance at the
map and eelect men in different communities who are suitable for carrying on
demonstrations. The final drawing of the ciaps is taking a lot of night work, but
I believe it is well worth while." - Kline, Boone County.

"Our Service Survey Meetings held last Tuesi^y were well attended. I did not
attend any one meeting. At all meetings the men seened to be well satisfied Tith
the progress the Farm Bureau hias made in this county. Ch;airmen report that they
had difficulty in getting the members present to talk. We feel that these ireet-
ings followed up by a meeting in every precinct at v^ich the Adviser will be pres-
ent, will do a great deal of good in bringing before the people the progress and
work that the Farm Bureau is doing." - Kusted, Scott County.

"A So Called Everybody' s Sale is being planned to be held at Brsese on Novem-
ber 8, the Fann Bureau and Breese Commercial Club cooperating. Entries close to-
day and have so far been satisfactory. The plan is to chaT.ge a se2.11 entry fee,
and a two per cent commission on all stuff put up for auction, A number of pure-
bred cattle have been entered and it is p.l£nred th^u this sale to lay the founda-
tion far purebred livestock sales to be held xn future years. The sale committee
is giving away a purebred Holstein bull calf as a special attraction." - Rehling,
Clinton County.

Oood Fall Alfalfa.

"The seven different fields of alfalfa which were sown

during August are getting a good start. The plants are from 4 to 10 inches high
and are growing nicely." - LlcGhee, Massac County.

vox. IV

i^£e i

IMO. H-J

"The chinch bug Ijeh^ conducted bv H-. JJ.> Beasley last sunirjer was very success-
ful. The bugs got over li; s t~>.rr:^'ir wh'-le he vie s cutting some oats, ki/hen he thot
most of then had left c'.ih vh6!':t i^'iovr-,- co >.l:"'vvsd under fo'T or five acres, of
corn on which the bugs wore wo/.'Kirgo toTi-ic! the gronndj d--illed in r^r-y beans
with a corn planter, and roIZeu the gro-.uid agf;in. He did not cultivate the
beans. Now he has a big crop of be^ais and th'- corn is very good right up to the
line where he plowed." - Rcbbins,, DaV^itt County,

'Tjffl,""rat Corn Resists Cninch-BugSc - The results of the tests of corn
varieties ior resist a :;,•■=> xo ci-' nch-oi/gs have teen taken during the past vreek.
Democrat showed the best yields ol en/ of the twelve varieties used in this test.
This gives the same sta;idii.g lor this -.-ariety as has been obtained every year that
these tests have been carried on„ B.'a';k Hawk was a st'-cng second, and Chinnlon
viJiite Pearl, third, bas3d or the yieM3 of tne sound ears; v/hile based on +.otal
yields. Champion Wiite j'oarl was seccnd, £-id Black Ilawl: third," '•- \7^ P, Flint,
Entomologist, Nat'L. History Survey,, and J, C. Hackleman, Crops Specialist,
U. of I.

Our ^»hite Democrat Corn Field was visited by about 100 people ]List Friday.
After a brief statement ci the hictory of the develcpment of this c'jr:i in Southern
Illinois, and an explanation as to hov/ it Viappened to be brought in*, o Cass Coun-
ty, the people visiting the f""eld, v/ere asLed to walk thru the Vl/h^^e Democrat
Corn and to observe the div:.d:ng line between fchis and the Leararg C'oi'n-, This
line was so distinct that the demons--; ration spoke for xtself, ai\d needed no fa-
ther explanation. The visitors exaujneo f^'^'x. of the do'-m corn ohat "Lhey encounter-
ed in the white Democrat corn but fo '\id that even on ichese stalVs there was a
very 2:atured ear which was solid, v/hiie in the Leaining Corn practically all down
stalks showed chaffy ears." - Dickenson, Cass Co,

"Our Democrat Corn has in every instance given good satisfaction. About 60
bushels of this corn v;as planted by about 40 different farmers, I am ur Jtig
the farmers to save all for seed that is fit» 1 anticipate a big demand in this
county for this seed yet 1 believe we v/ill have some to spare to counties further
north," - Tarble, Bond County.

Its the Bushels that Count. - "In the corn demonstration plots conducted to
to determine the res: str.ncs of various varieties of corn a^inst chinch-bugs, the
following acre yields were secured;- Vi/hite Democrat, 32.75 bu, , Champion White
Pearl, 23,15 hu. , Black Hawk, 2?. 5 bu-. , Com-aerc.i.al vVhite, 22 bu. , Golden Beauty,
19.75 bu,, Boone County Biite, 16 bu. , Y^riiurttcn Prolific, 15,5 bu, , Yello?? Dent
14.25 bu. , Pride of the Prairie, 13.-5 bu. , Lancaster Sure Crop, I3.5 bu,. , St.
Charles White, 12,75 bu. , Hickory King, 11.75 bu. , Northwestern Dent, 0,"-
lietzger, Lacoupin Co.

Do You \'hr± To Buj.^ l^eluT Z?--.?,§.' "PiSs weighing 80 to 125 pounds, raised in
the north, vaccinated v:nder Fedei-ai Supervision and in a healthful condition
nay be secured from the Minnesota Pig and Cattle Co,, Smith Street, St. Paul, Minn,

MAKE IT A ?miu WWA'-l MOTTO WHY NOT?

"I will not criticise or condemn the Aurora Chamber of
MEMBERSHIP Commerce for fa.ilure to get results I desire accom-
MOTTO plished unless J, myself, have personally given time,

thought and effort to help get results,"

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. IV

November 2, 1921-

No. 44

The F^od Value
of

"Satisfactory growth in aniirals cannot bo secured unless
the ration contains a sufficient amount of protein of good
Soy Bean quality. The content of a food in protein can be readily deter-

Proteins mined by the cheirist, but its quality for aninal grov/th can

only be determined by feeding experiments. Kany nutrition
laboratories at the present time are determining the relative values of the pro-
teins of feeds. While the results are still inconplete, certain general state-
ments appear to be warranted^

"The proteins of highest qiality for growth are the proteins of meat, milk,
and eggs. The proteins of the cexeal grains are almost at the other extreme, all
being poor for growth- The proteins of peas and navy beans seem -fco be inferior
to those of the cereal grains- corn^ oats,, rye, wheat, barley, and rice. On the
other hand, fhe proteins of the cotton seed and of the soy bean are distinctly
better in cjuality than cereal proteins. It seems to be true that the proteins
of the soy bean are as good for grcwfch as those of any vegetable feed so far
examined, and greatly superior to moat. Being of excellent quaLlty for growth,
soy bean proteins are also of high value in iiilk production. They are readily,
digestible by berth man and farm anrjaals, espec-iilly when heated. The soy bean
proteins also are good 3Upplemsn^s to corn proteins, so that the quality of the
mirfcure of soy bean and corn proteins is better than the average quality of the
two when fed alone.

"wliile most of this information has been obtained v/ith laboratory animals,
the general si-ccess attending the use by farm aniaals of the more palatable soy
bean products, testifies to the substantial accuracy of the statements made. Soy-
beans are the richest in protein of any of the seeds used as feed, and hence they
are doubly valuable as a protein concentrate for growing animals and for the dairy
cow," - H» H- Mitchell, Assoc. Prof, of ^r^imal Nutrition, U. of I,

"Fall Spraying for Peaches. - Pea eh trees should receive the dormant spray
of lime sulfur as soon as enough leaves have dropped to enable the operator to
c«at the twigs without unne-^es3ary waste of material. The dormant peach tree
spray is important for the control of both San Jose Scale and "leaf curl", both
of which live thru the winter on the twigs and limbs* Vihile it is admitted that
an early spring application wonld be more effective in scale control there is
danger that bad weather might interfere with spraying and so nake the application
too late to eontrol leaf curl v/hiJi begins development as soon as the buds begin
to swell. Use coEmercial conrierrbrated lime su? f ur 1:8 or 5 l/2 gallons dj.luted
with 44 1/2 gal]ons of water, wnatever advantages or disadvantages oil sprays
may have on app]e trees there is no Rviden'?e to show that miscible oils will
control leaf curl, contpfel cf v/hich is of primary importance in growing peaches."
W- S. Brock, Ext. Specialist in Ht>rticulture, U. of I.

Vol. IV

Fase 2

No. 44

•A Great life

15 not oitei

/Sericulture sustains sucn a loss as

it did recertly in the death of Dr, K. P. Amsby of State College, Pennsyl%'anis.,
Thirty-one years ago. when the vrriter •afas a sophfxiore in college, the iScericaa
Association of Agricultural Cci]leges and Sxperinent Stations cet here at the
Uraversity of Illinois. The nier:crab3e th:'ng a"bout this z:€etLng ti^s actv^lly
seeing and hearing 9r, ArEsby. who, tho only a young nan, h£.d already r£de a
naire for hin;self by giving to the -s-orld zir^v.y tr-rths in anirs.! nutrition. Thru
all the years that h£\-e fcllc-iired .-ince then — nsa'-ly a third of a century — =
he has been actively engaged in the pursuit of finding out besis truths cf great
value to all livestock famers. He tss an inspirer of sen for -ore th^n a.
generation, not by =:uch ioud talking, nor by belittling the other fellcT cr
his work, but by the greatest of all things, earnes"i work in fundaiaerrcal ressrrch,
and a scholarly, s:/npathecic, helpful life. The world oires a greai debt tc
Dr» Arnsby, not only for his contribution to knowledge, great and irpcrtart as
this is, but for the princely life he lived, ichich h^s been an inspiration fcr
the rE.ny vsrith -shcTL he caie in rent act. Such a life is truly great," - ii, J,
Fraser, Professor of Dairy Fanring, U. of I.

"The Tarcers' and the Bankers^' Keed of Zsch Other icas the subject of a
recent evening's conference between bankers and fam bureau officers in rrcTnTi
County, £ach expressed desire for cooperation in solving present prcclecs.
The bankers were very frank to adcdt thiat there is a liz-lt tc the a-cvnt cf
money they can loan even in the face of the genuj.ne r^eed of £:r=:er5. They were
unanincus in their opiriion th^t the farn; bureau should be assisted in every
way possible fcr the best interests of Bro-t-n County farcers. It iias pointed
out thjat the caking out of financial statecents by farzcrs desiring loans
irould cake it z:uch ^sier for barJiers to borro;r ncney on the famer's paper.
The ur^nizcus conclusicn vs.s th^t the farcer needed the banker, that the banker
could not get along Trithout the ferner and t}^t everybody needed the farn
bureau. Kaz sandsrichas,- 30ff#e', and pi& hglp«d along th^ good fellowship. "--
V. Var.ican, Assistant Sta** Leader.

Lec'-nes are

L n :'£ r s ,

"One of cur farmers is selling his fo'jrth cutting
of alfalfa hay at ^Is per ton, scce ether cuttings that ifere ia:3as:ed by being
stacked too green at 115 per ton and is also cutting fcr h^y a heav^.' crcc of
sweet clover, seeded in oats this spring. He is getting |15 per ten for that.
Firally, he has two stacks of soybeans ready to thresh. Re believes legumes are
winners." - Kenckll, L'organ Co.

Good Yields. - "Soy beans that -.vere sottt. for seed are raking verv scod
yields. Sables planted solid with a wheat drill yielded 1? bushels -pe^T acre.
Ohio beans planted with a corn planter are yielding about 2C bushels. This is
the first experience for ^ch of the cen groalng this crop fcr seed," - Gentle,
Schuyler County.

Cur Perocrat and Chanrion I'lhite Pearl corn scored a big victory over other

l:c5^ of cur 'Doubting Thcrases' have been

-,-. t. v<

varieties in tne cr.incr. oug contest

converted to the use of chinch bug resistant varieties." - de«erfi, Prar^klin Co.

Service,

The I.

collected a ciaic cf i'77.9B fcr shortage in coont,

shortage in vveight and over-charge in freight on our first car of pctatoe-
got the item afljusted within ten (feys, " - Rotbins, Tewitt Co'-mtv.

an:

Vol, IV

Pige 3

No. 44

^by International at U. £f I. "One of the added attractions for the Illinois
Homecomers this year is a Baby International Live Stock Show given under the
auspio.«s of the Hoof and Horn aid Dairy Clubs, All of the University stock that
is going to the Internatioml v/ill be on display, also the best individuals fron
the various University herds and flocks. This show will be held in the Stock
Pavilion Friday afternoon, November 11- There will also be an Ag reunion at that
time. All the old Ag men vyill have an oppoiturJLty to meet the members of the
facu}ty,their class mates; and to see the best of the University stock in the
Stock Pavilion at that time.- It is hoped that many county advisers and former
students will attend." - E. E. Vial, '22.

Every lean's Make-up. -"nife plan on having various dairy feeds, both rough-
ages and concentrates at our balanced ration demonstration. Every member will
make up a ration for a cov/ giving 100 pounds of milk per day, 50 pounds and 25
-pounds, using as nany home grown feeds as possible. The difference between
corn stover and alfalfa hay v/ill be pointed out and balanced rations including
each of these roughages, w\ll be made up. we will try to impress upon members
that the roughages fed effect the kinds and amounts of concentrates necessary
and that there is no balanced grain ration which will fit all needs." - Heller,
Cook County.

"A IJ-ve stock Show v.as held in connection with the Douglas County Farmers*
Institute on October 14 and 15. There were 8l head of hogs, 20 of horses,
20 of cattle and 12 of sheep shown. This created a great deal of interest among
the farmers and attracted much attention, A committee is planning to hold a
bigger and better exhibit nextyear, " - Garrett, Douglas County.

Brov7n Swiss Winnings.
herd of Brown Sv/iss cattle.
well County.

- "Spent some time at Peoria District Fair v/ith show
Vifon every first premium shown for." - Starr, Taze*-

"Our Pure Bred Hog Sale held October 25, proved a success as far as attend-
ance was concerned. Bidding on animals, however, was a disappointment, which
is perhaps a reflection on the limited buying power of farmers at the present
time." V/ith the difference in price of corn and price of hogs at the present time,
we expected higher prices for the pure bred animals. It seems, however, that
even our experienced live stock men are afraid to incur any unnecessary expenses."
Dickenson, Cass County.

Sale Conditions Hopeful. - "The Hampshire and the Duroc Jersey breeders ^.ch
held a sa le this week. Considering the general depression and the disease among
hogs, the offerings were well received. It is certain that buyers are getting
a very high grade of pure breds at reasonable prices. The sales averaged V20.06
for the Hampshires and $32.08 for the Duroc Jerseys." - Brooks, LaSalle County,

Losses from Diplodia. - "In seme fields of corn in Knox County the loss due to
Diplodia is running quite high. Some farmers are finding around 357° to 40^o of
their corn badly daoaged by this disease. One farmer was visited who states
that he had been leaving from 10 to 15 bushels of corn planted fron his ovm seed
in the field because of this dry rot, while the field on the same farm planted
from disease free seed, seemed to be remarkably free from infection," - Bracker,
Knox County.

®I|e Jxt)

eitstmt iHcsstnigcr

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol, IV

SOY BS#1S

A GOOD FEED

FOR

DAIRY CATTLE

November 9, 1921-

No. 45

"Soy beans rank high in nutritive value. Dairy cattle
thrive i^vell on them no matter whether fed in the form of v/hole
beans, meal, silage, or hay,

><hole beains for milk production^ Soy beans may be fed
whole or ground. In this form they are extremely rich in oil
and can be fed in limited quantity only. They may be substituted for linseed
or cottonseed meal in the ration birt not more than one third (preferably less)
of the total grain ration should consist of soy beans, v^hen fed in greater
amounts there is a tendency toward digestive disturbances and the production of
soft butter.

Soy Bean Lieal, Soy bean oil is used extensively in the paint and other in-
dustries. The residue left after the major portion of the oil has been extracted
is termed soy bean meal or soy bean oil meal. Several experiment stations, no
notably kassachusetts and Nev/ Jersey have run feeding trials and found that soy
bean meal was superior to cotton seed meal for milk productions That soy bean
meal was v/orth approximately C41.0C per ton when cottonseed meal was selling at
033. 00 per ton.

With the oil removed the butter was firm« '*Vhen an amount of oil was added
equivalent to that removed the butter became soft and undesirable in texture.

Soy Bean Si la ge« Six out of seven experiment stations reporting on the
feeding of soy bean and corn silage combined as against corn silage alone con-
sider the combimtion silage either superior to corn silage or state that it re-
quires less grain as a supplement. One station finds the combination slightly in-
ferior to corn silage for milk production. It is usually considered most sat is -
fact when ensiling to mix tv/o parts of corn to one of soy beans,

I. Bean Hay. -Soy bean hay contains about ten percent more digestible pro-
tein than alfalfa, otherwise they are similar in composition. All stations (five)
reporting feeding trials with soy bean hay consider it about equal in feeding
value to alfalfa and superior to red clover for milk production." - »V, tV. Yapp,
Asst. Prof, of Efeiry Husbandry,

"Ltul'ih the Strawbf.yry Plant g. - It is important to mulch strawberry plants,
A mulch, if properly applied, protects the plants from alternate freezing and
thawing which occurs during warm days in winter and in ^rly spring. Straw is
the best material to use because it is more open in texture than leaves, sawdust,
and similar materials. The mulch should be applied after the ground has frozen
hard enough to bear the weight of a vmgon» Enough straw should be distributed
evenly over the ground to completely hide the plants. One additional advantage
in using a mulch is that the berries will be cleaner and larger due to moisture
conservation and the absence of sand or mud which occurs in unmulched plantations, "-
W. S. Brock, Ext. Specialist in Horticulture, U. of I,

■

vol. IV

Page 2

"Feed Cost of Produn.i ng Gutter Fat Lower than Ee fore the ifer_-- Bii'"tljg£, Prices
Higher. A recently comp]-e:;ed study cf the foed cost of producing butter fat in
Illinois shows that the September lV2l cost was below the five-year average (1909-
1913) for the same month. The price of butter based on "Standard" on the Chicago
market was 44 percent above the average of the pre-war period. Increased buying
and manufacturing costs have absorofd a part of ths d:'. fference betwe'^n the present
price of butter and the pre-war price. There still remains, how^ever, a relatively
wide spread betv/een the price and the cost of producing fat which makes its
production profitable.

"The accomfanying table gives a monthly index of the price of butter and
of the cost of producing fat during the first nine months of 1921:

Index Numbers

of the

Fri

of Butter and of

the

Cost of

Producing Fat

fFive-vf-ar

avera3;e.. 1909

to 1913

= 100)

1921

Butter

Co so Prcdc

Spread

1921

Butter

Cost Proj,

Spread

Price

Butter

Fat

Price

Butter Fat

Jan.

161

14*

June

136

110

Feb.

176

130

July

165

105

iiar*

164

128

HUg»

163

102

Apr.

165

11?

Sept.

144

iiiay

122

106

H, A. Ross, Assoc, in Dairy Economics, U, of I.

"Thorough Orp-anization Pays - Elbridge Township. Edgir Coxintyj, again comes
into the lima light. Th.is time the township brags of the most consolidated Cov/
Testing AssocJatioi in Illinoi.s, The signatiares v/ere obtained, officers elected,
and plans of organ zation drawn up in two days. A banquet ¥i/as held last Friday
noon when Steve Kammlade, brother to Prcf. Kammladep was introduced as Super-
visor, Elbridge claims to be the first T. B^ free Township in Illinois." - T. R.
Lcvett, In Charge of Test Associations,

"Wz^ap Young Fruity Trees.- Apple trees three years old or younger should
be wr5.pped v/i'oh seme material as a winter protection against rabbits and mice.
Wrappings should be applied in November and removed in April. There are a
variety of protectors suitable for this purpose, but heavy paper or corn stalks
may be bound arov.nd the trunk by string or wire, V/ire netting of about 3/8"
mesh may be used in which case removal in spring is unnecessary. Very fine wire
such as windov/ screen is net durable and might even afford partial protection
for insects during the summer months. Poultry wire is objectionable because the
mesh is too large. Wood veneer bands preitarod for the purpose may be hadcfrom
most of the ccmpnnies who nanufacture fruit packages, at about two cents each
and will last lor tv/o or three years.

Growers generally do not v/rap young peach trees since rabbits do not damage
them so severely as they do apple trees. The fall application of lime sulfur
(kess. for Nov, 2) doubtless acts as a repellent to both mice and rabbits." -
Kif. S. Brock,

'"Qireshing Soybeans. - One of our farmers has a small Racine Separator equip-
ped with special pulleys for threshing soybeans. He was threshing the other
day without using the concave. The machine ;ias doing perfect work. His Liongol
beans were averaging 22 bus. to the acre with very few slit beans in the finished
product. I am inclined to believe that it is better to get the attachment for
a regular machine, than it is to buy a special soybean thresher." - Kendall,
korgan County,

^0_. ^V

F^ge 3

.no. ij;

Democrat .^".eai - "The i^rz. cur&u procurei for ^rz^rs ^^. szrxcg -zost
55 bushels g: nhi-e Daiccrat corn. 5cEic three dozes, fairer s in various ccc-
munities of the county tried out this variety, lie ha^se had qji^e a nicb^r cf
reports a.5 to the yieliing qualities of this ;crri ani fxr.i that it has proven
its worth. It is o'jt -yielding any other variety where chinch hugs were in evi-
dence 5 to 15 cushels per acre, Considerahie qv^ntities ;f seed ir -1 re sav&i
froe this corn for next y^.r*5 planting-" - Hiiilips, Greene Cc«

"A Cogrurdt •• Fair held by fkn::ers and their families in tiro adjoining tc^n-
skips isas quite an evert. There irere nsny exhibits of com, oats, Theet , etc.;

poultry, vegetacles, fr'-dt , etc. Better 'cshies

est *n everrthinr. The C'Cts

and girls in club work of toimship shoTced their pigs for prizes," - Fahmkopf,
McLean County,

The ladies To c- "Recently, ire ta.Ye had three ccmunity fai.s in this ■:z-xr:tj.
We find that they are great occasions for bringing the people together. The
men bring out their samples of fisld crops and suhcit the-r for judging, UsiElly
during the judging the -en croid arcund tc learn r'r.e p--int= invclvei and the
reasons fcr the placing of the exhibits in the first, seccnd, and third rani.
The ladies -irith their exhibits are eT^lly interested and -re very free t: dis-
cuss Eethois used in na king their br^^^d, cakes, bir:- = '- ^'•'^ *'•-- '^'--- "
i&dison County.

, ^-. .-:e -lie," - ?^'Jt ,

"lie held our first

:vru

fair at 5t. Jac:b, Saturday, Oct. 15. we "sere

well pissed rith the n-nrer :: exrjLrits shciini. 115 first prezi'Jns urere giv^n
cut, 58 second pr^ssitxis and 27 tnirds, there being over 2CC entries all together.
-"The display of co -n Ttas exce -tic rally gocd. This shcirsd very little injury fr:n
the corn ear wv-rc and aas ccriclusive that tts wculd be able ti select ^:-± seei
ccrn.

?aur sets cf hcrseshcs© ^ere used and the n:sn kept th^sselves quite busy
playing barn-yard gclf. Swings were provided for the very yo-ong people, the
.-inerican Legion fend played in the afternoon, and sue a s^nce a- nigh-. The
fair isas held in a park about a i:J.le south of to-sm and we -were v^tj irell pl^sei
to h^.r the ccr-ent s cf ^he busiaess Een who recognized that ^he fen-ers could
put on a fair of their o«ii irithout going to thsa for any -jcney, uie believe that
a start h.as been zade for a very nice ccE—iunity feir in this section," - ?^ut,
tia-iison Coun*. v.

- ., r, .'j.r

', it-i s ucn O'St ~ er

threshei 35-'- bushe.:.e oi .-u-Ci^^er "sne-t on n^s lansia ^.l- un^s
tba.n the average in the ccun-y. He advertised it in the ?ars Bin-^u Circular
and sold all that he had zo sell at -;:1»5C 3>er bushel, and could havs sold a goci
deal =ore if he had the lieat, Es cculi have gotten $1,03 at the loc^l rilie^r=r
IIcGhee, ife.s^.c Go.

rouj

assisting ne
every fam tha- is
ing plans, "en of
Z dTS r d s C ^unt y.

• reuses. - ^-ne
I'rers in buildinz or remodeli
r e ** in

-- *« ,

ram -ur^sau is giving a Eeir lor— oi ser".iOc m ~

their poultry houses, I bevs visited
cr rerodeling a house, giving suggestions and ii3Td.sh-

- r rc"

■ • c^ c

'* ^+ +>

e 'present

-.i__ PI

"]@"^t is raii for education in research is not a

IX but a dividend-paying

mvesxisent .

}

A scries of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Elxperimeht Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. IV

November 16, 1921.

No, 46

Variations

in the
Cnmposition

H
Soybean Seeds

"V/ith the great increase in the production of soybeans thru-
out the central States, the soybean seed market which formerly
readily absorbed all that was produced, has become overstocked.
The corn belt fanner vfho grows soybeans as a substitute for oats
in his rotation must now look for a cash market for his beans
other than for seed..
The greatest industrial outlet for soybeans is in the production of soybean
oil, with soybean oil meal as a valuable by-product. For the former, there is
already a large and growing demand. The latter, when it becomes better knovm may
becone as important and possibly even a more valuable product of the oil mill,
tlian the oil i< <5olf.

Soybean varieties differ inateriiilly in their oil and protein content- Soil
treatment and seasonal conditions may also materially affect the composition.

If in the development of the oil industry the oil outranks the oil meal in
importance, it is probable that the oil manufacturer will buy beans on the basis
of their oil content or wi]l coiitract that the beans delivered, be a certain
variety. In that event, composition as well as yield becomes a matter of im-
portance.

Some time ago, a rather extensive study was made of the composition of
varieties of soybeans grov/n by the Illinois Experiment Station, and the effect
of season and so;'.l treatment upon same.

Table I-Yield oj^ Important Varietius of Soybeans Grown at Urbara
Sea 5ons 1915 a nd 1917 ' 0;vl
variety I915

Hong Kong 1971

Medium Early Yellow l8„l

A. K. 18.6

Chestnut 16.7

Ebony _ _ 15.>6

Protein

1917^
]7,8
16.2
17.2
16.1

1915

41,8
42,5
45.2
46.8

1917

"TO

46.2

45.1

48.1

of the more important varieties of soybeans grown in 1915 and 1917, the Hong
Kong ranked the highest in oil content, v/hile the Ebony contained the least. On
the other hand the Hong Kong was the lowest in protein content and the Ebony the
highest. There was also considerable difference in the composition of the beans
grov/n during different years, but on similar soil and in the same rotation. The
oil content of the crop of 1915 was greater than that of 1917 and the protein con-
tent was correspondingly less.

"kThile the composition of soybeans varies from year to year, depending upon
seasonal conditions, there cay be a remarkable similarity in composition of beans
grown in different sections of the state and on entirely different types of soil
during the same year. This is shown by the ecsaposition of the beans grown in
1917 at Urbara. on brown silt ]oam soil and those grown the ^me season at Fair-
field, wayne County, on gray silt loam soil. Varietal differences are also il-
lustrated here.

Vol. IV

Fage 2

No. 46

^^^m

Table II - Comparison

Variety
keyer

of Composition of Soybeans

0::i
IJr ba na F?*- : r f i e Id
18.1 18.. 6

Grown at Urbam « Fairfield 1917
Irotfiin
Urbartt Fairfield
41.7 43.0

Hong Kong

17o8 18„1

40.8 44.4

iaedium Green

17-6 17.3

45.1 47.3

Sherwood

16.9 17-8

44.0 43.3

Swan

16.8 16-7

44,2 48.1

Jiedium Early Yellow

16-2 IS.I

46-2 48.4

Wilson

16.. 2 15.9

45,2 46,7

Table III

- Effect of Soil Treatment
Residues

upon

Coijposition

Residues

Oil

Liae, Rock ihos
12.7

phat'S

Cnl^
17.5

Protein

54.1

45.1

Soil treatment , especially if the soil is decidedly acid, imy produce a re-
markable effect upon the composition of soybeans. This \vas shown by the 1917
crop of Ebony soybeans grov/n at Fairfield-" - R, W. Stark, Asst. in Crop Prod-.'.c-
tijn, U. of I..

"The soy t^ean picker purchased from a southurn nianufacturer by Carl VV&lker,
is doing first class work. It takes off all the beans that grow above 5 inches
fron the ground and saves nearly all of them. I made a count in several places,
and found an average of only 12 to 15 beans as fast as teams can walk. Er. v»alker
is working in his famous naUcur beans and they are making over 20 bushels to the
acre-" - Robbins, Detatt County,

Soys lecome i opular- - "Reports from soy bean men as well as those vifho have
not grovm beans this year indicate an increasing interest in the plant, and we
shall probably have a large incruase in the soy bean acreage next year." - frice,
Kendall Co.

"Our membership drive temporarily closed Nov, with 1352 members signing up
to support the Farm Bureau and I. x.. A. *^e have two tov/nships yet to solicit;
also some scattered areas, our membership frill be well over 1400 when this work
is completed." - iVise, Iroquois County.

"One of the member s of our Executive Board said he felt that his year's ser-
vices had been repaid by the amount he had learned about the Farm Bureau move-
ment in general and especially his trip to the district conference of farm ad-
visers etc. at Centralia ." - Tarble, Bend County.

"Bull Sale. - In connection v/ith ovr ruro Bred Sire Campaign v/e are plan-
ning on holding a bull sale November 23, 25 Holstein bulls will be consigned
to the sale." - Kline, Boone County.

"The McHenry ^unty Fa mars' Co-operative Association held their Annual
meeting on L'onday, Oct. 21. This association vas organized for the purpose of

handling the business interests of the farmer -.Aich has fcrmerly been don© under
the direction of the Farm Bureau. During the year nearly $175,000 worth of busi-
ness was carried on," - Gafke, McHenry County.

Vol. IV page 3 No. 46

■Tmproveaents in Tniry Kej^s Follow Cow Testing; v/ork. - A survey of the herds
in the Knox County Cow Testing Association shows that the average production
for each cow the past year was 7,31? pounds of m.ilk and 288 pounds of fat. The
average return above feed per cow was ^^170^ 44, Every herd is headed by a pure
bred sire. Twenty-four pure breds v/ere purchased by members during the year.
Forty-seven unprofitable cov/s were sold. Only tv/o members do not have silos-.
Approximately sixty per cent of them raise alfalfa hay, there being an average
«f over five acres per farm. All herds, with the exception of two are tested
f«r tuberculosis.

These dairyjnen appreciate the value of pure bred sires, clean, high produc-
ing herds, silos, and alfalfa hay." - C. S, Shode, Dairy Pept., U. of I.

Bran and Corn are Cheap Feeds. - Dairymen who are feeding legume hay as a
part of their dairy ru.tion can cake an extensive use of corn and bran in the
grain mixture. Large quantities of milk and butter fat can be produced on corn
silage, legume hays, and a grain mixture of corn and bran, or corn, eats, and
bracr,.* - C. 3. Rhodo.

hncal Units Serve Best. - Farmers' Elevators, Co-operative Live Stock Ship-
ping Associations, Grange Locals, and Fanners' Clubs are rendering efficient,
economical, and satisfactory service in purchase and distribution of feed, flour,
coal, and potatoes for their members in a growing nujber of coimties.

A significant development in the attitude of organized wholesale dealers
toward these local farmers' units is the action of one of the leading wholesale
produce dealers in one of the larger cities of the state. This firm is solicit-
ing the business of local farm units on the same basis as the regular retailor.
In one city this aime firm distributed 35 carloads of potatoes to employees of
manufacturing plants. Local units for distributing comiaodities not only pro-
vide service but they make this service available to a much larger number of
Farm Bureau members than can be offered thru a central distributing plant.

In confirmation of the soundness of this policy the county in Illinois that
has had the longest contact and most experience in the purchase of commodities
'9f this kind is developing and using locaD. merchants and other agencies in se-
curing distribution that will render impartial service to every member of their
Farm Bureau." - J. D, Eilsborrow.

Market Livestock Cheaper. -"Returning a larger share of consumer's dollar
to the producer is being accompJishsd in vi(hites:de Gf.unty. Instead of a Farmers'
Elevator and a Livestock Shipping Association, earh operated separately these
two services have been combined in the Faimers' Elevator and Supply Company.
The marHger acts, not only as giain buyer, feed, and coal dealer, but as live-
stock shipper as well. The service charges for liandling livestock is 10 cents
per hundred including insurance. All profits arisjng from this branch of busi-
ness go into the general fund and are distributed in the anni£i.l dividend to the,
400 members. " - J. D. Bilsborrow,

"For Sa le : - A liiclntosh Steroptican, good as new, with both gas and elec-
tric bulb attachment." - G. F. Bai'meister, Stephenson Co. Faru Bureau, Freeport.

"Agriculture affords the largest share of happiness, because the most in-
dependent of all professions. To raise, gather, ande«jcy the fruits of the
earth, and attend to flocks and herds, were the employments first assigned to
man by our great Creator," - L. C. Judson.

A series of brief notw from the wcetly reports of the Farm

Adriscrs, Collie and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leauier'i Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. IV November 23, 1921. No. 4^

Longevity "The Length of Life of farm seeds depends very largely upon

-,( the storage conditions. In general, seeds of the grass crops can-

S^ds not be reconnended for seeding after two years; while legume

_^ZmZ. seeds are good for three years. The above statement presupposes

The follov.inc tables taken from Haberlandt is representative of data gather-
ed on the subject:

Grass Seeds

Percent Germinating at End of
1 yr. 2 vrs« j vrs, 4 yrs. 5 yrs.

Barley 89 92 33 4^ C

Corn 97 100 70 No test 56
Oats 96 80 32 7 2 48
Rye 100 48 0 C 0
wheat 26_ 84 i^Q^ 73 £.

Leguue Seeds

Percent Gcrisj.natioa at End of
1 yr. 2 yrs. 3 yrs. 4 yrs. 5 yrs.

Red Glover 98 98

ALsike Clover 9I 93

VBiite Clover 99 99

Alfalfa 99 Oi5

Sanfoin 84 8I

Trefoil . 99 2I_

No test

Tjjaothy Seed experiments in our ov/n laboratory as well as those from other
places, show that hulled seed will not regain viable as long as the unhulled
seed.

Red Clover Seed - Results frjia experiments indicate that the yellow or light
colored seeds die before the purple ones. This is no doubt, one reason why
purple seed is in greatest denand on the EHrket,

Soybeans - Light colored varieties of soybeans show a poorer germination
at the end of one year than do dark colored varieties. Ordinarily it is not
recommended to plant eithei- soybeans or cov/peas which are more than one year old.

Scarified Seed of sweet clover deterioates very rapidly while the unscari-
fied seed will remin viable for three years. This is probably due to accelerated

Vol. IV mge 2 N^- ^'^

respiration in the seed and also to the entrance of fungi through the bresk m
the seed coat,

iiee d Secdg live rauch longer than do the seeds of economio crops. There is
an old adage which runs as follows; "One year's seeding deciands seven years*
weeding*" This is true of weed setjds in cultivated fluids. These sane weeds
will lie dornant in sod land for forty years, and then cone up when put under
cultivation. Rxporicmnts where wo-^d seeds have been buried for a long time bear
out the above statement," - John Pieper, -Assoc, Tn Crop production, U, of I,

"Luras" fall prey to corn ear worcs. - "visits by the Fam Advisers and L'r«
Coapton, a representative of the State Natural History Survey to Cook County
green houses hjxve indicated that the corn ear worn can become quite a serious
pest to carnation, 'mum* and toioato growers as well as to farmers growing corn,
clover, and alfalfa. These worms invaded the green house as soon as their sup-
ply of outside green food was exhausted and fed upon carnation buds, *muns*, and
hot house tomatoes. The worms eat out the blossom buds of the flowers. Pick-
ing has been found the most successful control measure," - Hellur, Cook Co.

Penoerat Gets Attention - The Farmers' Institute was held here two cfeys this
week and was attended by an immense crov/d both days. The display was unusually
attractive. One of the most important things in the eyes of the County Farm
Bureau was their Democrat Corn Club display. Sixty-eight boys and girls were
given a peek of corn by the Bureau last spring and almost all of these club mem-
bers displayed ^0 ears -of this corn at the Institute. The long table of demo-
crat corn excited much comment and interest," - Snyder, Iklontgomery County,

"The interest in fruit growing in the county is increasing daily and there
are many farmers sotting out a few hundred trees* The Bureau' is trying to lead
and domiixite this fruit fever, hcping to prevent aany mistakes generally made in
the development of a fruit section. In accordance with this, the fruit growers
of the county met at Villa Ridge recently listened to the adviser's talk on
'Developing Pulaski County Fruit Lands*, and took action to reccnuend for com-
mercial planting three varieties of summer apples, one winter variety, two varie-
ties each of pears, peaches, and strawberries and one variety of grapes. The
importance of a sensible plan for a whole county's fruit interests cannot be
esticHted. A part of the plan v/ill be the putting on of a publicity campaign
to bring progressive fruit men from other counties. Effort will be made to hold
dov/n the price of undevel«ped fruit lands to reasonable figures. The action
taken re^rding the standardization of varieties will help greatly in the solu-
tion of the future narketing problems," - Eastman, Pulaski County,

Plan for central Packing Shed - "At a meeting of the Fruit Growers Saturday
the men who went on the trip to New York gave their experiences and advanced
some of the ideas they received which could be put into practice in Marion County
in the growing and marketing «f fruit, Mr, Durst explained the benefits derived
from a central packing shed and Mr. Hinkley spoke ef the cooperative marketing
9f fruit in Illinois as experienced by the Association last year. Most of the
men here are in favor of building a central packing shed as soon as we get
enough fruit to justify it, ije believe the Fruit Grov/ing Association cannot ac-
complish the greatest benefits for its members until they have a central pack-
ing shed." - Blackburn, iylarion County,

Vol. IV page 3 No. 4?

They St uck by the Ship - "In spite of the heavy dovmpour of rain the annual
meeting of the St. Clair County Farm Bureau vas attended by 600 farmers. This
was the best attendance v/e have hiad on simiJar occasions but the chances for a
record crowd vas marred by the rain, iJrt Robt, i\l, Clarke and A. C, Everingham
were the speakers and both gave excellent account of themselves. Everybody
seemed to get a broader visioii of Farm Bureau v/ork and wont av«y feeling in a
happy mood in spite of dollar v/hcat and 25 cent corn." - Tillman, St. Clair Co,

"Our second Annual meet ing again encountered extremely bad weather, but in
spite of this 150 farmers plov/ed their v,ay to the meeting. Wo feel confident
that we vrould have had 600 or 700 farmers present had the weather been favorable.
We prepared charts shov/ing graphically some of the things that have received
our attcnti'jn durin- the past year. XJc believe that some of the advisers do
not realize the importance of shov/ing some of their acccmplishjuent s, that farmers
should know. It is our ovm fault if we are able to accomplish something and
do not let the v/orld know about it. Hov/cvor, v/o should play up the work of the
Bureau and not the work of the Farm Adviser," - Fuller, iiirshall-Putnam Co.

Comnunity Leaders L.'cet in One day School - "The meeting of 60 representative
Farm Bureau members at the Farm Bureau ol'f-\co on last Thursday, November 17, v;as
all and more than was expected. IJr. Vaniman bcoi'ght out a good expression from
the members and we feci that if the program of work scheme should go no' farther
than this, it would be highly worth while. These men learned more about Farm
Bureau v/ork than ever before and they v/ent home carrying the enthusiasm and in-
formation to their own homo commuaities« " - Isaacs, Llason County.

Complete Publicity is Best - "Vi'e held an auto tour and a poultry culling
demonstration. The auto tour merited a big crov/d, but unfortunately it was
•ar.rxiunced' and as a result only about 40 people attended. The culling demon-
stration was 'announced', also 'advertised'. The attendance was fully 150,
"we were, however, so well pleased with the auto tour, that v/o intend to try
another soon and v/ill not fail to 'advertise' it," - Thomas, Jackson Co.

Let Sli^des Help - Poultry meetings being held v/ith the aid of the lantern
slides seem to bo worth v/hile. We are stressing feeding and housing for v/lnter
egg product ion. I believe this is fully as important as culling if not more
so," - V^lv/orth, Clark County.

Ridding the v»eeds - "During the past summer a number of farmers who had
been making every effort to eradicate noxious weeds on their farms, reported that
their neighbors v/erc not sareful in this regard. The names of these farmers
were secured and the State Seed Analyst's office advised of the situation. It
was suggested that a letter be v/rittcn each farmer, asking that he cut the
weeds in his fields and along the roadside. Such a letter was written. Y»e had
an opp-»rt unity recently to check up on this work and found that some farmers
got busy v/ho.had never before taken any interest in keeping their farms free
from v/eeds, " - Bracker, Knox County.

A New Milk Llarketing Company - Most of the week ves spent on v/ork for the
organization of the cooperative milk marketing company at Quincy, About ^20,000
worth of stock had been sold at the close of the v/eok; and at a meeting of the
committee that has this work in charge, it was planned to sell about l/4 of the
entire amount required to Quincy business men." - Gougler, Adams County,

A scries of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol, IV
'iiihit is

Novembor 30, 1921. No. 48

"LegUQes are so named because of the fruit being a pod or
legume. They include not only clovers, alfalfa, vetches, soybeans,
cov/peas, peanuts, and garden beans and peas, but many decorative
plants such as the sweet pea and perennial pea.
Such weeds as the beggar weed, wild indigo and partridge pea are legumes.
They also include trees, as the honey locust, red bud and Kentucky coffee tree.
There are 38OO species of legumes in America," - John Picper, Assoc, in Crop Prod,

Soy Beans Hold up Corn - "7/0 have an excellent demonstration in Jersey
County of the value of soy beans in corn to prevent, it blowing down. The idea
being that where four to six stalks of these beans were in the hill the corn
roots ware interwoven with the bean roots and the force of the wind vris not
great enough to pull up the beans. In that portion of the field where there
were no beans or only a scattered stand, the corn is down badly. This can be
seen to the row, and all conditions wore identical. This rjan is strong for soy
boans in corn and last year he was hardly It-ko war:i on the proposition, never
having tried them personally before,," - Eyaan, Jersey County.

"1^0 re Le gumc Seed Needed - There viras but very little red clover seed thresh-
ed in this county this year, and no sweet clover seed threshed at all. ni/o arc
in tho market for both red clover seed and sv/cet clover seed, I think there
will be fully twice as much sweet clover seed planted this coming season as ever
before. Farmers are bcginaing to ask about seed and some have bought already,"-
Tate, Monroe County.

Have i nvo st i gat c d the possibility of developing an outlet for soy beans
commorcially. Indications arc that a local company will equip to handle 60
to 200 tons per day in the fall of 1922. It is expected the boans will bo
used to extract oil and to make soybean cake or meal. Soybean meal has a value
as a feed somewhere botwoon tho value of cotton soed meal and tankage." • Smith,
l&icon County, (Adviser Oathout reports a similar project under way).

Turnjng Under Swoct Clover - On one of my visits this week I T,7as at the
farm of one of our members who was turning under sweet clover which had beon
seeded in the spring. There was an immense grov/th, probably not less than two
and a half to three tons of dry matter per acre. We are expecting splendid re-
sults to be shown in the corn crop which is to be grown on this land next year,
V/c wish we could report many fields of sweet clover being turned under, but un-
fortuKatcly we are unable to do so. Some farmers have been harvesting the
spring seeding of sweet clover for hay which is of excollcnt quality and a good
yield, tfo expect the feeding results to be very satisfactory. In one instance
it is to be fed to dairy cows." - J, E, Whitchurch, Saline County,

Vol. IV Bigo 2 No. 48

"Planting Distances for Tr^c Fruits. - Lore zns.ii 3/4 of the trees in Illi-
nois orchards arc planted too cxose. It is impossible to obtain aaximuiii yields
and long lived healthy orchards unless the correct planting distances are ob-
served. The rule is uost often violated in the planting of apples and those
fruits \rf:ich require a relatively long trine in v;hich to develop, but it is quito
comnion to find peach orchards planted so close together that the root systems
ere struggling against each other before the trees have come into full bearing*
The result is decreased vitality, lack of care because it is difficult to spray
and cultivate under such conditions. A ten year old peach orchard and a thirty
year old apple orchard will h^ve produced just as much fruit properly planted as
v/ill one in v*ich the number of trees ^vas multiplied by two as is frequently
the case. Standard apple trees should not stand closer than 33 feet each way
and 35 feet would be better- Peach trees are frequently planted 22 x 25 which
is the minimum distance recommended. It v/ould doubtless be better to make even
large commercial plantings of peaches 25 x 25. There are two temptations facing
the prospective orchardist to offset the barren years precding a paying crop.
The first is double planting in which tv/ice the correct number of trees is planted
with the hope of realizing enough on a given tree to enable the operator to re-
move it before the periBanent tree is injured by crowding. The objection to this
method lies in the failure of the grower to thin the orchard when the peruanent
trees need the roca and also that quite often the semi-permanent tree fails to
pay dividends in the allotcd time. The second temptation is that of interplant-
ing in which peaches, plums or cherries are planted between rows of apples. This
system might work with peach fillers in a section where peaches bear annually.
It is to be oondemnod for Illinois conditions, since nearly all grov/ers who had
once planted a peach tree in an applo orchard v/ould leave it there till he reaped
one harvest even if that required ten years. Stone fruits are not sprayed on the
same schedule as apples '«*iich is an added argument against interplanting," - W,
S. Brock, Asst, Prof, of Horticulture Extension, University of Illinois,

"Over 3500 fruit -trees v/ere received by Bureau members for planting this
fall. The fruit fever is still pulsating," - V/. R. Ikstman, Pulaski County,

"Comme rcia 1 Feeds for Pigs^ - A recent compilation of the results of the
three years' work in feeding comiaercial feeds to hogs at the Iowa Station would
point out the fact that these feeds have about the sane feeding value on the
average as corn. In 58 lots of five pigs each the Commercial feeds were worth
Ol3»04 per ton when corn and tankage in the check lots were charged at 350 por
bushel (Ol2-50 per ton), and C50 per ton, respectively,"

"I.!ineral L:iyfcur££ for Pi_gs - Recent experijnental work at the Iowa Station
with 280 pigs in 34 lots v/ould indicate that mineral mixtures had but little to
do v/ith the economy of grov/ing pigs for market when fairly good rations were fed.
This confirms the results of this station." - J. B. Rice, Assoc, in Swine Husb, ,
U. of I.

An Ag Open House will be staged by the Agricultural Club on December 10,
so visitors may see the v/ork being done in Agronomy, Horticulture, Floriculture,
Genetics, Farm L'echanics and Veterinary Science, Buildings v/ill be open to all
visitors from 10 A, M. to 4:30 P. LI.

lacGhce and Longnire get first and second place respectively for getting
in their annual reports.

Vol. IV

F^ge 3

No. 48

"Co-operative buying by organized cor.munities has been very satisfactory
and the results obtained averaged better than a saving of large sums of money
to farmers and have had the effect of reducing retail prices- Dealers have found
that it is possible for them to sell goods much cheaper than they have been
doing and some of them are out bidding for the farmers' business at prices which
relieves us of the necessity of assisting members in this line of v;ork v/hich
is a condition entirely satisfactory to us." - Snyder, Ogle County*

ruling with oral instruction on his line in this county prohibiting the un-
loading of pooled orders, fjuch of this business was being done by the most suc-
cessful cooperative local organization in this county. On hearing of the con-
dition I spent one day in the community getting the facts and then went to tho
General Office of the railroad in Chicago and interviewed men in the traffic de«
partoent. As soon as they found that our people were not attempting to evade
their rules a hearing was most cordial- They assured me that all goods ordered
by tho farmers before the arrival of the car could be unleaded by the parties
who had ordered it. They also premised to correct the ruling made by the Divi-
sion Superintendent." - Koltner, iVinnobago County.

"DDL QJiL^ ^y. 1^2^"^ IBS. ^'^^ ^ great success. «Ve had 200 farmers out to the
meeting from various parts of the county. 30 of these men had experience this
year with Democrat corn and some 20 of them were given ^^n opportunity to talk
at the meeting giving their experience and opinions regarding Democrat Corn-
They were unanimous in the belief that this corn is much more bug resistant than
any other variety. They also think that it stands the dry weather better, re-
sists the corn root rot and is much harder to blow down than any of our other -
varieties. The husks stick tighter on this corn and if it does go down the ears
are not damaged like other corn. Practically all the farmers present went away
with the determination to make a part of their next year's corn crop Democrat. "-
Eyman, Jersey County.

":d?- S. result^ of demonstrations held thru the county a great, deal of int^erest
is being shov/n m better feeding, housing and care of poultry, \ihen we started
the poultry work a year ago poultry conditions were below the average. A number
of men are now building new poultry houses, better blood is being bought and
better feeding practiced. A year ago one of the feed men here in Anna stated
ho very rarely sold any tankage hut that this year he has a very lively sale for
tankage both for poultry and hogs, tie are going to emphasise and develop the
poultry and dairy business as much as possible this v/intur." - Doerschuk, Union
County.

Optimistic Thru It nil - "I sua trying to nake a visit to every member in
the county. I have been surprised to see the interest displayed with our nenbers
in spite of the bad crops here- There have beon very few of them talk about
quitting, iiost of them are very enthusiastic about getting limestone. Those
who cannot handle a carload by themselves are going in together and buying," -
Hufford, n&yne Co.

what are you doing to develop leaders?

% Jxt

atsrntt

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vol. IV

The Cow" s

Decenber 7, 1921.

NO, 49

"Breadbasket"

Then and ilow.

•'A quarter century ago this autuian, when the writer started
the dairy department at the University of Illinois, one of ths
first things done was to r^ake a careful study of the conditions
that existed on the farms in the dairy region of northern Illi-
nois. The winter ration of the cov/s, which was practically the sane on nearly
all dairy farms, consisted of tinothy hay, corn stover, corn ncal, and a sr.all
ar.ount of bran. Legunes as feed for dairy cov/s were liLtle appreciated at that
tine, and almost none were grown. The result was that in the spring the najor-
ity of the cowo were in a poor, unthrifty condition, with dry, staring coats,
which neant a great shrinkage in the nilk yield and a tronendous loss in profit.
Since research work of this department has shown that 22 pounds of nilk per
day, on an average, can be produced fron a ration of 40 pounds of corn silage and
16 pounds of alfalfa hay without grain for a year, nearly every dairy farn in
the northern portion of the state now grows sone alfalfa or clover hay and has
one or nore silos. On our annml dairy inspection trip in the spring, just
before cows are turned to jssture, it is now difficult to find a single herd in
as ecaciated and unthrifty a condition as nost >iairy herds were at this season
twenty-five years ago. However, if these sane cows were fed all the good alfal-
fa hay they could eat in connection with a liberal feed of silage thruout the
winter they would be in a still better, sleeker condition in the spring, as our
demonstration has shoK-n. This is a strong argUL.ent for corn silage and alfalfa
hay as feeds for dairy eows," - vi/. j. Fraser, Prof, of Dairy Husb. U. of I.

Less Land and Lore Cattle « - "Last spring Triable Brothers, of Trinble, Illi-
nois, disced down the corn stalks in a 23 acre field and seeded it to oats and
sweet clover, at the rate of one-half bushel oats and tvi^elve pounds of scarified
sweet clover seed to the acre, aftur the oats were cut, the sweet clover ivas soon
knee high. Trimble Brothers' pasture was practically dried up by the I5th of
HUgust and their silage was alnost gone. They turned 48 head of nilk cows and
12 springing heifers on the sweet clover pasture for a period of 75 days. During
the first 10 days of the 75 and the last 10 days, sone silage v;as fed; otherwise
the sweet clover uade up the entire ration.

In the 75 days the cows produced 60,992 povmds of nilk, or about 30 I/2 tons,
fron the 23 acres- Figuring the nilk as 5 per cent nilk, the production of butter
fat was 3»050 pounds. The cattle did not fall off in nilk production in jvugust
and Septenber as they had done previously, and they cane off the pasture in good
condition. There was no evidence of inpiaction or bloat during the feeding period.
In Movenber, just before the freeze, the sweet clover was as high as it was the
15th of August. Trinble Brothers say they plan to have a larger acreage in
sweet clover next year, and are now thinking 'less land and nore cattle'." -
C. S. Rhode, in Charge of Dairy Exten3ion, U. of I.

■

Vol. IV page 2 f^O' ^9

Read Books Thi_s .» .inter - Organize a small circulating book club or reading
circle in your ccmauni-cy this winter. Sucn a club should have from half ^i dozen
to a dozen members. Each member buys one book. Boolss are passed on or circulated
in regular rotation from one member to another every two or three weeks. The
books selected may be recent or standard fiction, or books along some special
lines such as soils, crops, livestock, economics, or marketing. The members
should meet to decide the general subjects they wish to take up; to select books
desired and to plan the order in which the books are to circulate. Books of
about the same value should be chosen by different members of the rlub. Each
member's book is returned after circulating among the club, and may be retained
or better may form the nucleus for a school or canmunity library™

Three or four dozen eggs, as many pou-nds of butter or ten gallons of gasoline
will buy =1 good book. One of the most satisfying services I ever rendered to a
rural community iras the organization of a club of this kind, kany rural and
small town people are hungry for good books. A suggestion and a little local
initiative are all that are needed to put the plan across- - J. D. Bilsborrow.

Fnrm Woojlands in Illinois - According to the 1920 report of the Bureau of
Census the value of all wood products from farms in 19^9 ^^ Illinois '-vas
?6, 259, 154. Of this amount, material to the \-alue of ■'^^3j 6l4, 288. was used on
Sarms and the rest sold or held for sale by Illinois farmers- It would seem from
this that the farm woodlot as a source of profit and as a producer of farm build-
ing material is a resource which should not be neglected. Reports from only
20,151 farms give an area of 458,464 acres of merchantable timber m farms in
Illinois, vidth a total for the state of 3,102,000 acres in farm woodlots." -
R. B. killer, State Forester.

Sodium Nitrat^ vs jtojoriium Suliate_ JjDr_ Orc_hard£ - "The use of nitrogen in
eommercial forms upon Illinois orchards is relatively new but the practice is
now so general that it might have been with us for twenty years if the readiness
with whxch growers are ordering is any indication. Sodium nitrate was the first
nitrogenous fertilizer to gain favor, but the past year saw some ammonium sulfate
used in nearly every section as a test. All reports indicate that results were
quite as satisfactory with one ao with the other and in the case of peaches the
aui-oniuE sulfate seemed slightly better, .ttaiionium sulfate contains 25 percent
more nitrogen per unit than does sodium nitrate so that prices should reflect
this difference. In carlot shipments to southern Illinois points sodium nitrate
is at present quoted at approxJiiately 653.00 per ton. ammonium sulfate should,
therefore, be quoted at aboirt C70.00 f.o.b. destination. The fact that nmmoniUQ
sulfate promotes an acid condition in the soil is v/ell known, , but aJi pxperimpnts
Agree that calcium is not a limiting factor in the production of either tree or
fruit so that the fruit grovyer does not feel that he is greatly concerned over
this phase of the question. As the matter now stands the deciding faetor between
sodium nitrate and ammonium sulfate is price based on nitrogen content," - v». S.
Brock, Asst* Prof, of Horticulture Extension, U. of I.

"iVe rpcently organized a limestone cooperative company at Jeff, vi^ith 15
members. These members each pay '-25. a piecr. ^:5- of this fee is to go in fix-
ing up a shed to store the limestone. The other $20. is used in keeping lime-
stone on hand so that any member can take out a load of limestone, i f he vnnts
it, when he ecmes to t ovm. we expect to organize several other limestone or-
ganizations in the county soon." - Hufford, nVayne County.

Vol. IV Page 3 . No» 49

"Eat Your Own Pork - The retail price of meat is cheap compared with the
prices of other foodstuffs. However, the retail prices of meats are luuch higher
relatively than the prices for live stock, h hog weighing 225 pounds will dress
about 80 per cent or producP a carcass weighing l80 pounds. The following table
shows the average per cent of each retail cut in the carcass, the approximate
weight of each cut in a l30 pound carcass, the retail price per pound of each cut),
and the retail value of each cut.

Cut

r cent

.weight

Price

Cost

carcass

IbG.

Cent s

Loin

21.6

5-40

Shoulder

l-i.4

2.88

Shoulder butt

10.8

2.16

Spare ribs

3.6

.36

37.8

9.45

^acon

37.8

7.56

Lard trimmings

21.6

1.73

Nsck bones, and

feet

7.2

.14

Sausago trimmings

23»*

3.51

i<a st a

1.8
1^0

_---

TOT.^

100

33.19

A smooth hog is now worth about 6 cents per pound on the farm. Thus the
farmer would get vl3.50 for a 225 pound hcg. ns shown by the table above, the
meat and lard from this hog would cost him C33.19. nihile the prices assumed may
vary some, yet the fact remains that the farmer will be well paid for his time if
he slaughters some of his own hogs for family use instead of sending them all to
market and buying meat at the butcher shop. - Sleeter Bull, keats, U. of I.

"An excellent demonstration test on corn root rot was conducted by C, n.
Hunt the past season. The v/ork was done accurately and carefully notes taken.
This v/eek the plot was harvested and the average of the diseased rov/s and the
dis»ase-free rows ^evB oompared which showed 11+ bushels per acre more corn on
the disase-free plots than on the root rot infested plots. The practical manner
in v/hich this test was conducted and the results is sufficient evidence of the
importance of selecting seed as free from this trouble as possible." - Longmire,
Grundy Co.

More Results than Anticipated - "The corn root rot demonstration plot ,^ve
much more significant results on harvesting than the appearance of the corn thru-
out the erowing season indicated. In fact there was so little difference in
the appearance of the corn during the growing season that ye did not have any
meetings for observation. However, when the corn was h^arvested this fall there
was an appreciable difference between the corn from the good seed and that from
the diseased seed as well as a marked difference in the yields on the limed and
unlimed soil. The results ot this plot and the presence of so much corn root
rot in the county this season encourages us to plan for a idemonstration plot on
corn diseases in each township the next season." - kelvin Thomas, Coles County,

"Our two small rock crushers have ground and sold 1200 tons of limestone.
i^QsX of it has teen crushed during the last three uonths," - LcGhee, Maesac Co,

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBANA, ILLINOIS

Vcl. IV

Sh.

:uld

S'.

,eet

Clover 1

-Be

pushed

December 14, 19 21.

No. 50

m The Farm Bureau program for 1922 t»hy? "The avowed object

of the Fara Bureau is to help farm folks improve their living con-
ditions. Increased efficiency of production is necessary if a
large proportion of the rural popuiati.-n achieves this objective,
-rtQong all the developments of recent years the new found use of
one plant stands alone in its potential benefits to the human race.
Sv/eet Clover is the unrivaled queen of the plant world, Her performance
during the past thirteen years under field conditions has justified the wildest
hope and fondest dreams of a seeker for a suitable Queen for King Corn.

Sweet Clover thrives under adverse conditions of heat, cold, wet and dry.
She is hardy while young and grows rapidly, penetrating to a great depth and feed-
ing upon all subsoils excepting rock. These soils are broken up, aerated and
filled full of hcmus; thus, splendid drainage ie established and a deep reser-
voir formed in which to store vvater for tizne of need. Sheet washing of soil is
stopped and the gully bottoms are fitted for a rank grov/th of permanent grasses,
the cheapest and best of all dtich fillers.

Sweet Clover grows from early spring to late f^ll gorging herself with mineral
elements from the depths and nitrogen from the air. As a soil builder she reigns
supreme. As a pasture plant she furnishes imjrense quantities of luxuriant feed
the season thru. Nourished by her, the contented horses, cattle, hogs, and sheep
grov.' strong bones, develop full muscles and wax fat and sleek.

Sweet Glover is a good Queen giving much and denanding little. Give her a
sv/eet soil and a chance to play hostess to her bacteria and she v/ill return a
thousand fold, the time, the effort and the expense of securing her services." -
J, w. l^^or^n, Pres. Henry County Farm Bureau.

"Rock phosphate on Southern Illinois Soils - The question is often raised
as to the advisability of using reck phosphate on the lighter soils of southern
Illinois. The 1921 wheat yields from the Nev/ton experiment field (Jasper County)
seem to indicate that if rock phosphate is properly handled it may be very profit-
able on this type of land.

Yields Given in Bushels per Acre.
No treatment except crop rotation 4,0 bu.

Residues 3.0 bu.

Residues, limestone, sv/eet clover 10,2 bu.

Residues, lime, sweet clover, rock phosphate 22.7 bu.

Here a three years' rotation of ;/heat , corn, soybeans is used. Sweet Clover
is grown as a catch crop in the v/heat and spring plowed for corn. Limestone is
applied 1 l/2 tons every third year. There v^as no heavy first application of
lime made. Rock phosphate is applied 1500 lbs, every third year." - H. J. --Snider,
In Charge of Soil Experiment Fields, U. of I.

Vol. IV

mge 2

No.

"Eat Your Own pjrk -*ln selecting hogs for home slaughter, pick smooth bar-
rows weighing around 2C0 pounds or even less. Avoid very fat animals, bears,
stags, old sows, and piggy gilts, omit the fvoning feed of the day before
slaughter.

Stun the hog with anaxp or a shot from a .22 caliber rifl». It is really
better to have some one hold the hog on his tack while another sticks him without
previous stunning as the hog will bleed better. In sticking, insert an 8-inch
knife, edge down into the middle line of the throat, three inches in front of the
breast-bone. Run the knife in and down until the lower edge of the breast-bone
is located. Then push it slightly under the bone and cut back toward the head,
severing the veins and arteries. If the knife goes forward too far, the heart
may be stuck and the hog will die instantly and bleed poorly, /ivoid getting the
knife out of the middle line and sticking the shoulder.

Oftentimes the uater for scalding is heated in a kettle over an open fire and
the hog scalded in a harrsl. A better method, especially when several hogs are
to be butchered, is to set a small galvanized watering tank upon bricks or over
a shallow pit so that a fire may be built under it and the water heated directly.
The water should not be too hot, Dip your hand into it three times in rapid
succession. If the third time is uncomfortably hot, the water is the correct tem-
perature, A scraping platform is set alongside the tank and the hog is rolled
• ff _the platform into the water and onto a rope, the ends of which are fastened
about three feet apart to the platform. The hog should be rolled about and re-
moved from time to time to see if it is ready. Clean the feet and head first,
/ifter the hair is removed, hang the hog upon a gambrel stick inserted through the
tendons of the hind pasterns just so the head claars the ground. Pour hot water
«ver the carcass and shave it. Then pour cold water over it.

In dressing, begin with the twist (i.e. between the hams) and cut dovm t" the
pelvic bone. Then split down the middle to the breast bone, taking care not tc
cut too deeply and into the guts. Next eut thru the exact center of the pelvic
bjne, being careful not to cut the bung just beneath. Pull down and out on the
penis or uterus while cutting around the bung. Then the intestines, liver and
stomach may be removed without much difficulty. Next split the breast bone by
inserting the knife a little to cne side of the center and cutting downward. He-
move the heart, lungs, gullet and wind pipe. Thoroly wash the inside with cold
water and allow the earcass to cool over night before cutting it up. However, do
not let it freeze. " - Sleeter Bull, Meats, U. of I.'*(2nd of a series of 5 article's)

Hort icultura 1 Society t'eet ing - "The sixty-sixth annual convention of the
Illinois Horticultural Society will be held in Champaign December 20-22. Head-
quarters for visitors and delegates will be in the Beardsley Hotel; the society
meetings are to take place in the lodge rocm of the new Elks Home immediately
wrest of the hotel and the cmmercial exhibits will be displayed in the automobile
sales room of K. A. Nelson just across the street. A feature of the convention
will be an apple show which from the entries promises t o be the best since the
apple show held in Chicago in I918. The list of speakers includes, in addition
to many members of the Dept. of Horticulture, Prof. Laurenz Greene, Chief in Horti-
culture at Purdue University and Prof. V. R. Gardner who holds the same position
at the University of Lissouri, Director w, F. Handschin, U. f^i I. will discuss
the economic significance of the census figures relating to Horticulture and pro-
fessor J, C- Blair will present the development .-»f landscape gardening in the
middle west using lantern slides to portray the changes which have taken place
during the past twenty-five years. Every interest allied to Horticulture will be
represented at this meeting, which is the most important annual pthering of its
kind in the middle west." - rt. S. Brock, Ext. Spec, in Hort,, U- of I,

Vol. IV rage 3 Nc. 50

Bad Roads Do IJ ot Keep The.-n froa I'eetin.c^s - "We are planning to hold a number
of meetings this coming winter. V/ill try t j hold a meeting in each tw/nship
once a month. Moving pictures will be one of the features of the program. This
month 'Homestead' will be shown. The Home Adviser is cooperating in these meet-
ings by furnishing a program of Recreation, Charts representing the activities
of the Farm Bureau, I. A. A,, and A. F. B. F., are being used to present the facts
in a more forceful manner. The first meeting vss held Friday Dec. 2 at Fleas-n+
Ridge Church. The raids were in very bad condition but the folks of the coronunity
made up parties and came in vagons. Over a hundred came in this vjay. Good eats
composed the closing performance." - Edgerton, Rock Island County.

"IiJoving Pictures proved quite a drawing card at pur Annual meeting held
lasit vi/ednesday. me had an attendance of practically 500 people which is about
double the number we have ever had at an indoor meeting, indicating that the
farm movie v/ill not only be an attraction to get the crowd, but that it acts
as an educational feature re^rding the work done by the Farm Bureau," - Dickenson,
Cass County,

"Burn Those Bu^^sl Chinch bugs are no-w found over more than half the area
of Illinois. There are seme in every county south of Peoria, wherever it is
possible to do so, the chinch-bug- s hibernating quarters should be burned this
winter. All the railroads in this area have been requested to burn their right
of way as thoroly as possible. Nearly all have agreed to do this. Every bug
killed now may mean several heads of wheat or oats or a hill of corn saved next
summer. Give 'em all a roast 1" - v». P. Flint, Chief Entomologist, State Nat.
Hist. Survey*

"A riew way of present inn: the results of feeding experiments is used in Illi-
nois Bulletin 23^- Emphasis is placed on financial results, rather than on
rates of gain and economy of j^in. Luch of the discussion centers around the
monetary costs of ^ins, necessary nargins and profits or losses per head, for the
particular market conditions pre^^ailing. Charts are used in such a -aay that the
reader may compute for himself, in a purely mechanical v.ay, whether a given
method of feeding would be liable to return a profit at prevailing market prices.
This bulletin by Tr. H. H. Litchell is just off the press. Any adviser cay ob-
tain a copy from The Agricultural College, Urbana, Illinois.

"Feeding Pure-Bred Dra ft Fillies" is the title of Illinois Bulletin No. 235
which also has just been published. Professors J. L. Edmonds and w. G. Kanmlade
are the authors. These expericents show that good pastures and legume roughages
make the best basis for feeding rations for draft fillies. It has been found best
tp feed grain in comparatively small amounts during all seasons rather than to
feed it in large quantities at one time and discontinue its use at other times.
This bulletin v/ill soon be sent to the complete Eiailing list in Illinois.

Ijr. H. R. Pollock has tendered his resignation as Farm Adviser in Edvards
County to take effect January 31, 1922.

I.:r. E. T. Ebersol who has been farm adviser in Logan County since the work
started there in I9I8 has tendered his resignation effective December 1, 1921.

Lr. L. 0. xise who is now county agent in Clinton County, Iov,a, has been
employed by the „hiteside County Farm Bureau as farm adviser in that county to
succeed Mr, 5. J. Craig, whose resigration became effective Becember 1, I92I.
Lr. Jise will take up the v/ork as seon as he can arrange to make the transfer.

A series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

UxMVERSITY OF ILLINOIS— URBAN A, ILLINOIS

Vol. IV

Dececber 21, 1921.
MERRr CHRIST LI AS

H bit of a greeting

A bit of a rhy.^e
To wish you on Christcas

A nighty good tine

Nc. 51

The Relation

o_f Le_2;'.ir^^ to
Soil ■Fei'tilicy

The canpaign for increasing the legune acreage in Jlli-
ncis has been undertaken './ith a full knowledge of the great
inportance of legune crops in soil inproverient and in increaa-
ing crop yields. It is recognized by farm advisers and others
active in this work that the value of legume crops is due very largely, if not
entirely, to their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, and to their adding active
organic natter to the soil, Lany farners, however, do not undtrstand clearly
the function of leguiae crops in a cropping systen, and the shortcomings of leguiries
as fertilizers.

Granting that the supply of easily nitrified nitrogen in the soil is an ir.-
pnrtant factor and one v/hj.ch is usually reflected directly in crop yields, the
fact ijust ret be lost sight of, that leguL^es, when plowed under as green manures
contribute nothing to the maintenance of the nineral plant nutrients, unless it
be that which is brought to the surface from lower strata by deep-rooting crops,
and even this uay not truly be considered an addition to the total mineral re-
sources of tne soil. On the other hand, legune crops when renoved fron the
field remove very significant amounts of phcsphcrns, potassium and calcium, and,
therefore, constitute a source of depletion of the fertility of the soil v/ith
respect to these elements. Thus, a three ton crop of red clover hay removes
from the soil a^ much phosphorus as the grain of an 88 bushel crop of corn, as
much potassium as 473 bushels of corn, and as m.uch calcium as 6700 bushels of
corn. If both the grain and stover of the corn crop are removed, the three tons
of red clover remove the same amount of phvsphrous as 65 bushels of corn, potas-
sium equal to 126 bushels of corn and calcivra eq-jal to 393 bushels of corn.
These figures should not discouragethe use of legumes as a part of the
standard rotation or for green manure, nor do they minimize the importanceof
these crops; but they do emphasize the fact that the growing of legumes does
n«t complete the program cf fertilisation for the maintetance of soil fertility. "-
E. E. DeTurk, Asst. Prof, of Soil Tech., U. 5f I.

Vol. IV

Page 2

No. 51

1. Feet

2. Ham

3. Loin
K Belly
5. Fat tack
6- C3ear plate
7. Butt
3, picnic

and flank,
leave about o
out the lea f
ribs parallel
renove the
lard^ The lo
to freeze and

"W^. iPl'L Pi;?l £?J.!l - ^f"ter the hos; carcass
has chilJed thoroly for 24 to 4.8 hours, split
it down the center of the tack with a meat sau',
L'any farners split the hog on each side of the
tack bone, v/ith a cleaver or ax. This cethod
spoils the test ctrt in the carcass - the loin.
The head is cut off about a half inch behind the
ear or at the atlas joint. This i^ay be done be-
fore or after splitting. Lay the side skin-side
dor/n upon a table and cut off the feet just a-
bove the knee and hock. L^ake a square cut be-
tueen the third and fourth rib to cut off the
shoulder. The layer of fat on top, called
the 'clear plate' cay be cut off and used for
lard. The neck bones and ribs are then taken
out. The upper part or the shoulder or 'butt'
nay be cut off squarely just above the joint
of the shoulder blade and cooked fresh as a
roast or boned and used for sausage. The lower
part fa -picm-c' nay be boned for ^usage or
cured. The entire shoulder izay be cured v/ith-
out division.

Cut off the har- sqiiarely about tv/o fingers
in froiit of the pelvic or 'H-bone'. Then trim
it scoothly so there are no loose, thin, ragged
shreds of i_eat on it. Also trin off the tail
If the han is very fat, trin off sor^e of it. However, be sure to
ne half inch of fat over the lean. Haius are usially cured. Strip
at for Tard- Cut the loin fron the bel.ly by sawing through the
to the back bone, just below the large r.uscle of the back. Then
at back' fron the loin with a sharp knife. The fat back is used for
■.n cay be used for roasts or cue up i;ito chops. It niay be allowed
then used as needed. It will keep inde fo.nitely v/hile frozen.

The spare ribs are cut fron the belly and used fresh. The telly is then
trinr^ed so that all corners are square, all edges are straight, and all ragged
neat is rencvedo If the careass is a fecale, ti-in off enough r_eat fron the
lower edge to renove the nipples. The front or brisket scd and th^^ ^upper part
of the bell.y piece are not so good as the lo-./er flank and side porticiis. Hence
they are often cvrt off and i?sed for sausage and ]ard. The tri;a;-ed bellies are
cv'.red for bacon, nil fat trJx;nings should be used for lard and all lean trin-
nings for sausage. Do not use any bloody trinnings." - Sleeter Bull, ;..eats,
U. of I. (3rd of a series of 5 articles.)

"a Grain of Golden Coi-n nounted on pin is the entrance badge required

if you attend the exhibit of the v^oodford County Corn Test, the first v.eek in

January. Did you get your pinj January 6th is the day for out-o f-the-county
visitors.

Kez ss* - "You can't toot your ov/n horn v/ithout being at the little end of it."

Vol. IV

n.ndicat

A bull
No. 1 i

No, 51
The cooperative
ovvnership of bulls is
helping the Guernsey
breeders in JoDaviess
Court y solve their breed-
ing p.-cblems. The above
sKe". ch sbov;s the location
of the dair\'nen wh.o are
uenbers ci the Jo'Javtess
County Qiiernsey Associa-
tton, liienbers of the
association own eight
bu]l3 corperativc].y.
Each circle on the cap
63 a breeding block^and each dot .\n the circle indicates a irenber.
is J.ocated in each breeding block.- Every two years the bull in block
3 changed to No» 2, No. 2 to No. 3, ^nd so on_. to prevent in-breeding.
The chief advantages of this assocJation are:

1. The nembers have the conmunity or county idea of all pulling together to
develop good G'jernsey catt.ls,

2. The members are ail using the same line of breeding,

3. They are enabled to use good bulls at a low cost.

4. Their herds \v?.ll all be tested under the state and federal plan for
tubercu] c-sis.

5» The county v/ili be kncira as a center for good, healthy Guernsey cattle.

6. Good herds will be developed at a :n;'.rumu:n cost.

7. Good bulls will inprove production,

8t. Menbers have uade their plans for the futui-e, which include the addition
of one or two pure bi'ed fena.les to each terd when the herds are clean."-
C- £» Rhode, in Charge of Lairy Extension.

"Z?!?. Z^'2-C?i^. ^J[^ better c_owg and bulls is increasing, Dairynen realize
th.at they must buy bulls of better breeding than xhoir cov/s if they wish to
improve the herd. The larger part of a week ^^vas spent in Wisconsin vi^ith Hol-
stein Breeders who ?/ished to purchase piire bred cows and pure bred bulls. Two
bulls sii-ed by a .1.000 pound bull were purchased; also twelve cows. One of
the cows will be shipped to the Ctate Test Plant at Dixon, Illinois, for of"
ficial test." -^ Ga fke , I.'cHenry County.

5-LYi^iS ^vgry i:an a Jc_b - "Ten people who have not had any active duty thus
far in the Farij Bureau work r:.et v/ith tlie Board of Directors last week to dis-
cuss "winter activily-. Four ccr.^ittees -were provided; one to help with the
exhibit which the Farn Bvreau wilD pirt on in connection with the County Farmers'
Institute; one to plan and assist in holding the Annual Meeting of the Faru
Bureau; one to have charge of special u.eetings; and still another, the novie
meetings of the County. Effort will be raade to give every uan something to
do." - Price, Kencitll County.

Agriculture! ,t."I l:".noj_5 -- 1920 Census Bulletin has just been published,.
Statistics for the state and its counties covering Farms and Farn Property,
Tenancy, i^^ortgages, Livestock, and Crops data are given in detail, mrite for
your copy to Bureau of the Census, Washington, D. C.

lK|e Jxtmstott Messenger

A scries of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm

Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the

State Leader's Office

Vol, IV.

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA, ILLINOIS

Docombor 28, 1921-

No. 52.

I bring good rccolutiona
To be great, good and true
To help and aid whoro'cr I can
For I'n little Twenty Two.

Feed Legunes "At present there is great interest anong stockmen as to

for the value of ninerals in the r-^.tioni; for farm anirals and

Minerals clains of v/onderful benefit thru the use of rdneral rdxturcs

are being broadcasted by firms v;hich conpound thon. Most of
these claine, at least in connection with dairy cows, are not
substantiated by careful investigations conducted at agricultural experinent
stations. Fortes of the Ohio Experinent Station, who has done a large amount
of work on this subject states:

'In harmony v/ith the large measure of independence which there is between
nitrogen and ijinoral cctaboiisrj, hov.ever, the feeding of minerals produces no
definite increase in growth or in milk production. In cases v^hcre the ration ia
especially deficient in minerals the use of mineral supplements \,/ill cause some
additional growth, and perhaps some additiorul milk production, but probably not
sufficient to make it a paying venture merely on account of the pounds of in-
crease immediately resulting.'

"It seems evident that the best possible way to supply minerals to dairy
cattle is by the use of liberal amounts of leguminous roughage, such as alfalfa,
clover, soybean or cowpea hay, both in the rearing of young stock and in feeding
for milk production. It is likely that if cov/s are fed legume hay during the
time that they are not producing milk that they store a reserve of minerals
which is drawn upon during the succeeding lactation. Legume h^iys are high in
line content while wheat bran, cottonseed ueal and linseed oilmeal arc relative-
ly high in phosphorus. Under rjost conditions, './hen good rations which include
liberal amounts of legume hay are fed, there is no need for the addition of min-
erals, with the exception of comr.;on salt, which should always be supplied to
cattle in such amounts as they care to consume." - Dr, W. B, Nevens, Assistant
Professor of Dairy Nutrition, University of Illinois,

Vol. IV Fa^e 2 No. 52

Iviotion Picture -■^- Give Qr-'por-t unit y for Injortant Dir.cussicns. - "vVe are now
giving considerable attention to cornunity raeetin.^s. Three of these v.-ere held
the past week. At the first two we had full houses; the third, held Last nirht,
the weather vvas bad and the roads !?.uddy, hence attendance vias small, but we had
a very good meetitr^ with about ''O. .n'e are now usinr our new motion picture m-
chine '.?ith very f.ood effect. The program at these meetings does not, hov/ever,
consist of pictures alone, v^e get into the discussion of important community prob-
lems. Last nicht poultry was the subject discussed. At the other neetin.-g ship- ^
ping -associations came in for discussion and at one tha local association v;ork which
had been under vray sometime previously vas completed by the hiring of a mameer.

All of the above work is interesting and juighty important b'Jt it is surely
very strenuous for the adviser and especially so when he has a long 2C mile pull
thru rain and mud to get back home. »i/e got in a little after midnit:ht last nijht
(Dec. 16) and just about ruiaed a suit of clothes and a pair of shoes extricating
the 'Flivver' from the nire." - Phillips, Greene Co.

Farm Films are Popular. - "'S^'riog Valley' ^nd 'Farm Bureau Comes to pleasant
View' have been shovm at five places in the county durin,^, the jast week. At this
series of eight meetings v/e had an attendance of 2100 people. From the response
which we received from the questions asked regardin^^. the films, v/e feel that this
form of publicity is well oworth while, ..e expect that the showing of these farm
bureau films will assist us greatly in our comiounity or anization which is to fol-
low." - Simpson, Gallatin County.

"J^rran^Tements have been made for the showing of the films 'The Old Homestead'
and 'when the Farm Bureau Came to Pleasant View' at various points in the county
during the first week in January." - Lo^an, Crav/ford County.

Best I.eetine^s Ever. - ",;e have just c-mpleted the best series of ccrinunity
meetings ever held in I ercer County, ne find the movie projector a very valuable
addition to our extension work, .^e als- found that it v;as worth \.'hile to call our
farmers' institute meetings under the name of community meetings and that the at-
tenc^nce and willingness on the -part of the people of the comrjunities ^.vas greater
as a result." - Richey, r:ercer Co.

"-An enthusiastic meeting of thirty of our Farm Bureau direct ors and members
took the whole day on last Londay to talk cvpr Farm Bureau ./ork. These men took
v/ith them outlines .vhich had been prepared and aaveral engaged others as speakers
for township meetings which will oe held this .aonth. .issistance is being given
in the different townships to.v'ards arranging tl-:p>se mee+in;5s and for having some
farmer in a nearby township who attonded this meeting of instruction to be the
principal speaker." - Brooks, LaSalio Co.

"Our annual lueeting was a big success from our point of vieo. The crowd came
?arly and stayed late. They were enthusiastic over the v/ork of the bureau and in
• diition to our regular program some excellent ideas v.ere brought cut by voluntary
speakers on the floor." ~ iratpon, Piatt County.

Hcrsi^s Die in Stalk Fields. - It is estimated that nearly ICC horses have
died in Be„itt County, mostly in stalk fields, from forage poison. In spite of
warnings people continue to run risks." - Robbms, De.,itt Co.

Vol." IV ■ ■ - I^?e

No. 52

"The Illinois Horticultural Society. - It -•.vidently requires more than a
total crop failure to dartpen the eiithusiasm of the fruit grovers. The 55th an-
nual convention and show of -Lhe society held in Chan.paign December 20-22 vas
the equal of any previous siiQilar event and certainly better than most. The quali-
ty of the fruit shovm was remarkably good. Of nore than passing interest ;vas the
election of iL S. Brock of Urbana as Secretary. i,.r. Brock replaces A. L. Aucustine
of Normal, Illinois, »/ho has served the society for nine years and who vvas promoted
to the office of President." - At«/jod, Hs&t, State Leader.

Short Course Last Twu ^neeks In Januc-,ry. - The tv/enty- first annual neetin-
of the Corn Grower's and Stockaen's convention (uiort popularly called the ' ng
Short Course' )}v/ill be held in the College of a£.ricuit ure, University of Illinois,
Urbana, Illinois, January 16 to 27, 1922. The progrum is arranged especially to
L^eet the needs of fanners and faniiers' s.ns. No registration fee or examination
is required.

In addition to the nino daily classes in all branches uf agricultural work,
a splendid list of special addresses is arranged as follows:
"Vi/hy Ijiarket by Federation", Prof,, Theo, Lacklin, Univ. of ii/is,, iladison, wis,
"Iowa's Soil Improvement Program"., Prcf^ L. vv, Fcrman, State College, ^es, la,
"Farm Finance and Farm Credits", Herman w, Danforth, Pres., Federal Land Eamk, St»

Louis, koo
"Livestock Marketing", Prof. H, m. ;.Lumford, Dir. of Livestock karketing, I.A^^.
"Beef Production in the Corn Belt", Prof» F- G^ Kin-, Purdue Univ., I^Fayette, Ind,
"America's Opportunity", Kdnry Ro Rathbone, Chicar-'o, 111.
A clinic and illustrated lecture concerning some facts on round v/crms obtained

in field experiment. Rr D„ Ra f fensper^'er, Br A, I,, Chicago. 111.
Two addresses on poultry; Profi, L^ E. Card, Cornell, Univ», Ithaca, N. Y.
The last two days cf the meeting, Thursday and Friday, January 26 and 27, will >e
devoted to a special agricultural conf3rence. A detailed program for the two
weeks is being prepared and a copy rrsy be obtained by addressing the College of
Agriculture, Urbana, 111. - F. K. Rankin, ^issistant Dean.

Dat_e Changed - The date of the annual Farm Advisers' Conference has been
changed from January 17; l8, and 19, to January 24 and 25- The advisers will join
in the General Agricultural Conference called by the University on Janiary 26 and
27, The meetings this year wxDl be held in the .Tllin.;is Union Building (The old
Y, M. C. A.)" - G. N, Coffey, State Leader.

Tvi^o Tractor Schools will t-i cunaucted by the Depart.uent cf Farm i..echanics,
College of Agriculture. University of Illinois this winter. One ./ill meet January
9 to 14 and the other January 30 to February 4. I92 -'{the v,-eek before and the 1
week after the Corn Growers' and Stockmen- b Convention) Registration each week
v/ill be limited to 30 students. Lecture work .vill cover construction, theory,
operation, maintenance; and repair of gasoline and oil burning enjines and tractors.
Laboratory periods will consist of practical work in magnetos, carburetors, tuning
up, wiring, adjustiaent s, trouble and Operation. For further inforo:at ion, address
R. I, Shawl, Department of Farm i.^echanics, College of Agriculture, Urbana, Illinois.

"During the Soil Survey fj.eld season just closed, the survey of .all. Coles,
and Union counties v/as completed, and 140 square miles were mapped in Henry County,
212 miles in Williamson County and 522 miles in Madison County. The total season's
survey was 2392 square miles." - R. S. Smith, in Charge of Soil Survey Lapping
in Illinois, U. of I.

Internet Archive Audio

Featured

Top

Images

Featured

Top

Software

Featured

Top

Books

Featured

Top

Video

Featured

Top

Mobile Apps

Browser Extensions

Archive-It Subscription

Save Page Now

Full text of "The extension messenger : a series of brief notes from the weekly reports of the Farm Advisers, College and Experiment Station Workers and the State Leader's Office"

See other formats