Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 June 1911 — Farm and Garden [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Farm and Garden

ROMANCE OF THE FARM.

Three Institutions Have Made the Tiller Wealthy, Wise and Comfortable* The story of agricultural education in America, like that of all science, can be traced page after page in the great book of evolution, and the amaz ing development©/ the industry in the United States has been due to three factors—first, the state agricultural colleges; second, the national department of agriculture; third, the farmers' institutes.

The American agricultural colleges had their beginning in a revolt against the so called classical education, but it was never Intended, as their eminent founder pointed out. that they should be dissociated from a broad and liberal university training. Mr. Justin S. Morrill. the author of the “Magna Charta of Higher Agricultural Education,” more than once stated the real purpose of his bill. “It is perhaps needless to say that these colleges were not established or endowed for the sole purpose of teaching agriculture It was a liberal education that was proposed. Classical studies were not to be excluded and therefore must be included.”

The number of agricultural colleges now established is sixty-five; the present value of their permanent funds and equipment is $100,000,000. A recent census showed 73,813 students, with 6.997 teachers. The rise of the United States department of agriculture- is a romance of the last century. As far back as the year 1822 a strong effort was made to transform the mall—some 200 acres of land which surrounded the capitol buildings—then practically a barren waste, into an experiment farm tn which to propagate new and rare plants. But it was not until forty years later that the United States department of agriculture was erected on the selfsame spot which had previously been sought as an experiment farm.

The alpha and omega of this great organization is the practical application of modern science to the service of the farmer. It can perhaps best be summed up in a homely remark of Secretary of Agriculture Wilson, who on assigning new duties to an expert said: “Don’t tell me now about your laboratories. Tell me what you are doing the man at the plow, out in the fields, with his coat off.” Then come the farmers’ institutes. These wonderful societies are scattered all over America and boast a members’ roll of more than a million mature men and women. These institutes may be defined as “societies established for the promotion of agricul ture among the farming population,” and they came into being in order to make the college teaching more practical and more in sympathy wijh the needs of the farming community. They have proved a great success and have done much to speed forward the agricultural Industry. Lectures are given by agricultural experts and practical farmers, and the meetings last only a day or two at most. In this work the farmers’ wives and daughters take a prominent part, and women’s institutes are now established all over the United States and Canada for the study of household science.

A Seeder For a Few Cents. One can make a cheap seeder to drop seed behind the plow In the following manner: Take a tin pan that bolds at

least a quart. Cut a board round and a little larger than the pan and screw pan A to the round wood wheel B. Near the rim of pan punch in some boles as far apart as you want the seed. Have a

Stoppered hole In the board wheel through which to put In seed. In cen ter of wheel and pan make a hole to put through a bolt for the axle. Make handles and put axle bolt through at the end and fasten other end to plow. Let seeder run back of plow. The whole affair costs less than 25 cents. It will drop all small seeds—cane, milo, Kaffir corn, broom corn and all the like—and will do as good work as any single row planter except that it will not cover the seed. ,The next round, however, will cover it with the plow.Farm and Fireside.

» A generous farmer wants others to have the benefit of his experience and is always anxious to assist his neighbor in every way possible. We need more generous farmers and few-" er selfish men who care nothing for society further than to get its protection for Jhemselves.

Tim- to Spread Gypsum. Gypshm, or “land plaster,** ought to be spread on meadows early in the season, when there is plenty of moisture present, as it requires fully 400 pounds of water to make available 100 pounds of gypsum. It assists materially in releasing the potash and making It available; therefore on lands that are supplied with an abundance of potash which is not very available plaster may be extremely valuable.