2128 Farm Bttreau Circular No. 6 



From these tests acid phosphate seems to produce the best crop yields, 

 undoubtedly because of the availability of its phosphorus under our 

 conditions. The question of soiirce of supply of acid phosphate was 

 then taken up, and farmers are now buying this material through the 

 efforts of the farm bureau, at about two-thirds what it formerly cost. 

 In these tests particular attention was paid to the length of the growing 

 season and to the value of the com that gave best results when maturity 

 was considered. Considerable seed was selected for next year, and the 

 work will be carried further. 



We are encouraging better dairy methods, and as a starter have put 

 into operation one cow-testing association operating on five hundred 

 and eleven head of dairy cattle. Through this association the value 

 of accurate records, of business methods, and of balanced rations for 

 feeding are emphasized. 



Some farm survey record work has been done and considerable more 

 is under way, which will reveal the leaks or advantages in any indi\ddual 

 farm business and will give us an absolute foundation on which to base 

 further work. Through these surveys, our men are becoming impressed 

 with the value of farm accounts and in a nimiber of instances are adopting 

 some plan of keeping them. 



Previous to the establishment of the farm bui^eau in this county, there 

 has been considerable careless work done in connection with starting 

 and growing alfalfa. This season thirty-seven fields have been started 

 under the direction of the farm bureau, and, at the time of my inspection of 

 them this fall, all but two or three gave every indication of being successful. 



Considerable orchard renewal, pruning, spraying, and the like have 

 been started through the farm biu-eau, together with considerable drainage 

 work, seed testing, and treatment of seed for disease. 



Our farmers have obtained considerable information through the farm 

 bureau both by correspondence and through meetings and demonstrations 

 held under its direction. A number of special bureau institutes, demon- 

 strations, and other meetings have been held at which the farm bureau 

 manager has been present, and at which specialists on orcharding, dairy- 

 ing, drainage, and the like, from the State College of Agriculture or 

 from the State Department of Agriculture have been the chief speakers. 

 During this winter season we are holding a series of small meetings through- 

 out the county, touching in particular the outlying districts. These 

 are mostly meetings held in schoolhouses and are from three to seven 

 and eight miles from town. 



Not much has been done this year with boys' and girls' club work. 

 We reached only thirty-eight boys; one group of eight composed a potato 

 club, and the remaining thirty composed four stock judging clubs. This 

 boys' club work was new in the county, and it was my intention to make 

 it successful if possible. These clubs therefore received personal atten- 

 tion, and, if I am to judge by newspaper reports and by comments from 

 men whom I met, the work has been successful and seems to present 

 itself as an important feature for any county work. Most of the boys 

 this year received prizes in order to encourage them and to get the work 

 started. The boys' potato club held an exhibit, which was visited by, 

 over four hundred persons. 



