178 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



the projects to hold the grains until the market is 

 offering a fair price. 



Xow for the markets. Practically every big mar- 

 ket in the United States is within reach of the farm- 

 ers of the Federal projects, if the marketing of the 

 produce is handled in a business-like manner. A 

 competent market secretary, whose business it is to 

 keep in close touch with all markets and to study 

 them closely, backed by such an organization as any 

 of the Federal Water Users' associations, properly 

 awakened to its possibilities, will be, can sell and 

 ship the project's produce at the psychological mo- 

 ment and to the markets paying the best prices, and 

 he can develop new markets. Because the shipments 

 'will be in larger bulk, therefore, the carrying charges 

 will be lower. The association will also be able to 

 practically pick its own buyers, having both quality 

 and bulk to offer, and this means more certainty of 

 payment for produce. 



The Water Users' associations were organized 

 originally as representatives of the settlers in their 

 dealings with the Secretary of the Interior, the Rec- 

 lamation Service and other branches of the United 

 States government. It was intended that ultimately 

 these projects should take over ownership and opera- 

 tion of the projects. Various constructions of the 

 Reclamation Act and rulings by Secretaries of the 

 Interior have made the associations little more than 

 empty shells, but they are shells with great, big, out- 

 standing possibilities for benefit of the Water Users. 

 They are nearly all incorporated bodies, with power 

 to levy assessments and carry on various forms of 

 business. Put these shells to work. They can be 

 turned into gold mines by making them the market- 

 ing agents for the projects. It won't hurt the asso- 

 ciations to do this. They will be much stronger and 

 better equipped to handle the operation of the proj- 



ects, should they be turned over to the settlers. It 

 won't hurt the Water Users. Instead, it will pro- 

 mote better farming, more pride in the projects, and 

 bring more money to the farmers. 



The benefits of co-operative marketing on such a 

 large scale as this may not be evident immediately, 

 but it is bound to come. A farmer, nowadays, must 

 not only figure on this year's market, but on next 

 year's, and for many years ahead. You can do this 

 best through your Water Users' Association. 



Co-operative marketing associations on many of 

 the private projects and in dairying communities go 

 even further than just handling the sale of produce. 

 They buy pure-bred sires to raise the grade of the 

 live stock in their communities, and all farmers know 

 there is no greater truism than this one the sire is 

 half the herd. They buy seed, machinery and other 

 farm necessities in the wholesale markets for their 

 members. They hire experts to help raise, pack, ship 

 and market their produce. They copyright brands 

 and labels under which their produce is sold, and some 

 even go so far as to handle the care of farms or or- 

 chards for members who are sick and unable to do 

 their own work. 



The Water Users on the Federal projects all have 

 well-established towns in their projects or near them, 

 and will probably find it unnecessary to enter all these 

 various fields, but there are some of them and co- 

 operative marketing is the biggest of them which 

 are essential to the success of the farmers. 



This is not Socialism. This is business big, 

 organized business, the kind that makes profits. Your 

 Water Users' Associations, on paper today, represent 

 millions. Make these millions real. Make these mil- 

 lions pay profits, which only organized business can 

 and does pay. 



Put vour Water Users' Association to work! 



EXPERT ADVICE FOR THE FARMER 



F. F. Everett, living two miles east of Scott's 

 Bluff, Neb., had his potatoes hailed out just as they 

 were starting to bloom. He thought by breaking 

 off the bruised and battered vines, whatever 

 strength the plants might have would go to pro- 

 ducing tubers instead of sustaining worthless, 

 crippled tops. He plowed the tops under, using a 

 common cultivator, then with a hayrake broke off 

 the ragged vines, the dirt holding down the ends. 

 The stubs left, being two to six inches high, took on 

 new foliage, and he raised 200 bushels per acre, 

 while his neighbor, who gave his up as a bad job, 

 did not harvest any. The salvage proved a good 

 average crop, just because the man on the farm used 

 his brains, and was not afraid to put some labor into 

 the experiment. 



ing. Forage crops are especially beneficial to young, 

 growing animals. It is possible to grow them much 

 more profitably and successfully when a good green 

 field of palatable and nutritious pasturage is provided. 

 Experiments and practical farmers' experiences prove 

 that gains in weight are made at less cost on forage 

 than in the dry lot. Brood sows can be carried through 

 the season on pasture at less cost than when grain 

 fields are entirely depended upon. Foraging induces 

 the animal to exercise and obtain fresh air. and these 

 prevent diseases being contracted, and when the ani- 

 mals are put in the fattening pen their gains are un- 

 usually rapid and profitable. The green feeds eaten 

 are of much value just to keep the pig's digestive sys- 

 tem in good condition and the appetite keen. The 

 U. S. Department of Agriculture. 



LET THE PIGS FORAGE 



Farmers and pig growers do not always appre- 

 ciate the value of green feeds and succulent pastures 

 for their animals. Too often the hog is considered a 

 scavenger, and his ability to use waste is regarded 

 as his chief value. However well he serves this pur- 

 pose, he will pay well for good care, feed, and hous- 



KILLING POULTRY FOR MARKET 



Grasp the chicken, when killing, by the bony part 

 of the skull. Do not let the fingers touch the neck. 

 Make a small cut with a small, sharp pointed knife 

 on the right side of the roof of the chicken's mouth, 

 just where the bones of the skull end. Brain for dry 

 picking by thrusting the knife through the groove 

 which runs along the middle line of the roof of the 



