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About The gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925 | View Entire Issue (July 9, 1914)
8 TTOMfl AtfD FARM MAOAZTNE SECTION Oregon Agricultural College is the Friend of the Farmer Page of News Notes and Interesting Articles Specially Written by College Experts For This Newspaper. View of Orsgon Agricultural College. Corvallis, Oregon, the Sole Aim of Wliicb Is to Aid Agriculturists. THE clover seed crop is being threat ened in many parts of the state by a surprisingly sharp attack of the clover seed midge. Clover suffering from this attack presents the appearance of arrested development in the half blown stage, the heads becoming brown and showing but few, if any, flowers com pletely blossomed. When the farmer observes this unnatural appearance he is urged to gather one or more affected heads, pul a floweret from it and ex amine the seed-pod closely for the larva of the midge that caused the trou ble. He will probably find a small salmon-pink maggot about one-twelfth of an inch long, occupying the space where the seed should have been. This is the larva of the midge. If undis turbed it will feed on the seed embryo until fully grown, when it will drop to the ground and pupate just beneath the surface or in trash on the surface. In a few days the little fly will emerge, so small and swift of wing that its presence can hardly be notieed. But it will be on time to lay an egg in the flowerets of the next clover crop. The little insect is about the length of the larva, has long, fine wings that stand up almost vertically, and a long, flexi ble ovi positor with which it can reach into the ovary of many floweretB while sitting in the same place. The damage done by the larva it confined almost wholly to the seed, and farmers are advised to cut the entire erop for hay as soon as the injury by clover midge is noticed. This process will not only save the crop for hay, but it will at the tame time starve the larvae before it reaches the pupa stage, thus preventing reproduction of the Bueeeeding genera tion. As in most other crop pest prob lems, eradication can come only from efficient co-operation among all farm ers whose crops are attacked. Any single farmer gains but scant protec tion from the pest by destroying it in his own fieldB while his neighbors al low it to develop and reproduce in fields all around him. The attack ren dera the seed worthless for seed, and it should be cut for hay just as soon as possible after the attack has been observed. to the people the scientific information that has been secured with their funds. By means of lectures, demonstrations, community organizations, construction ot model farm equipment, county agri cultural agents, demonstration farms, college bulletins and extensive publicity service, these eollegk-made goods are taken directly to the people. The branches of college work, instruction, experiment and research have found practical application through the work of the Extension division. Land Grant Colleges. When land gTant colleges were first established the principal, if not the sole function of these schools was residence instruction to young people, ehiefly young men. In the development of the schools home making courses under one nam or another were provided for training young women and facilities for practice work were provided. The work of experiment stations soon be came a highly important featuro of agricultural college training, and experi menta with plans tried in other places or devised by those in charge, were made important features of the work The next stop contemplated a wider and more thorough knowledge of existing conditions and the securing of.informa tion upon which new experiments could be scientifically based. This tendency resulted in the development of the re search phases of agricultural college work, when it Beemed to many that the acme of perfection had been reached in agricultural training. The situation, however, soon revealed an anomalos character. It was as though a com munity or society of people had estab lished a ir.ctory whore the investiga tion and manufacture of valuable com modities were to be carried on so ro mote from the stock holders that the valuable products of tho institution were simply stored out of sight. It was then that the extension phase of agri cultural instruction began to assume its rightful place in machinery and agricultural education. The extension division was organized to bring back Teaching Public Sanitation. ELIEVING that one of the most im portant functions of the modern teacher in schools, both urban and rural, but particularly rural, is to bet ter health conditions among the pupils with whom the teacher associates, the Agricultural College intends to empha size the question of the proper train- ng of teachers in the general lines of publie sanitation. In rural communi ties in particular, it is the school teach er who, outside of the country physi cian, should be best able to offer ad vice concerning disease prevention and sanitary conditions in the community in which she is located. It is primarily important that the teacher understand the faetors whieh tend best to conserve the health of the pupil. The place which the teacher should occupy, therefore, should not be limited merely by his degree of learning derived from books. With this end in view at the summer school session there will be offered a series of lec tures, given by the heads of the Bacter iological and Zoological Departments to the teachers in attendance. The sub jects are those of most importance in dealing with the diseases of children, The lectures will be elementary and popular in character. They will be as fallows, and will be illustrated by lan tern slides: 1. "The Teacher as Guardian of Ru ral Publie Health." 2. "School Inspection and Disease of Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat." 3. "Tuberculosis." 4. "Water Supply and Sanitary Con veniences in the School House." 5. "The Teaeher and Sex Hygiene for Pupils." "Colds, Lagrippe and Other In fectious Diseases of Children." 7. "The Importance of Self Study." 8. "Light and Sight in the School- Boom." 9. "Air, Temperature and Attention in the Class Koom. " 10. "Furniture and Physical De formity." 11. "Clothing Yersus Comfort." It is deemed important likewise that the Collego give certain instruction along these general lines to the boys who may be in attendance at the sum mer school encampment. Such instruc tions, therefore, will be given them in order to better fit them to live. It is believed that instruction concerning these matters, cannot be started too early the child. pest, secure the standard spray and pply it according to directions." Pro fessor Wilson also gives some very general evidences by which tho nature and habits of tho insect may be judged, but perhaps the best source of identi fication available to Oregon farmers is the Biennial Crop Pest Report in which the most important insect pests are described and illustrated with photo graphs and drawings, many of which are printed in natural colors. I have used this book in school agriculture and by means of it succeeded in identify ing and controlling every important in Bect pest that attacked the home and school gardens. Copies of this report may be had free of cost by writing for them to the Experiment Station, O. A. C, Corvallis, Oregon. material. The other ingredients exer cise insecticidal qualities by absorbing oxygen necessary to the insect's respi ration, by resolving into free sulfur in oxidation, by melting tho wax -like coat ing of certain small insects and thereby gluing them to the plant, by liberating a poisonous gas in absorbing carbon oxide from the air, and possibly in some other ways not yet known. The eco nomical ratio of mixing lime-sulfur is one part lima to slightly more than two parts of sulfur. at "0T Knowledge of Insects Necessary, A great deal of time, money and garden and orchard products could be saved if all producers would follow more closely Professor II. P. Wilson i oft-repeated advice that knowledge of the insect should precede the applica tion of spray to destroy it. Without this knowledge tho grower is likely to apply a spray that is not effective or he may destroy a harmless or ' even beneficial insect. "The mere fact that insects aro present in large numbers on the plant is not sufficient warrant for applying spray," says Professor Wil son. "Begin the work of control by carefully studying the insect. If you know what the insect is uiid it is a Bee Keepers Will Make Exhibit State Fair. REGON bee keepers will have an exhibit at the state fair next fall," says Professor H. P. Wil ton, entomologist at O. A. C and su perintendent of the bee and honey ex hibit. "It is time to begin preparing for this exhibit and it is hoped that as many as possible will send material to the fair. The fair commission is veTy generous with premiums offered this year as the following schedule of prizes indicates; Lot No. 1 Specimen ef eornb honey, not less than 24 pounds, quality and manner of nnttine no to he considered. First $5.00; second, $3.00. 2 Most attractive display of eomb honey. First, $10.00; second, $5.00. 3 Specimen of extracted honey, not less than 24 pounds, quality and manner of putting up for market to be considered. First, $5.00; sec ond, $3.00. 4 Most attractive display of extracted honey. First, $10.00; second, $5.00. 5 Specimen of beeswax, not lees than 10 pounds, soft aright yellow wax to be grven peTferenee. First, $10; second, $100. 6 Most attractive display of beeswax. First, $10.00; second, $5.00. 7 Honey vinegar, not less than one gallon, shown in glass. First, $3.00 second, $2.00. 8 Single comb nucleus three-banded Italian bees. First, $3.00; second, $X0fl. 9 Single comb nucleus Golden Italian bees. First, $5.00; second, $3.00. 10 Single comb nucleus Camiolan bees. First, $5.00; second, $3.00. 11 Single comb nucleus Caucasian beeB. FirBt, $5.00; second, $3.00. Sweepstakes. 12 The largest, best, most interesting, attractive and instructive exhibition in this department, all things con sidered, $15.00. Further directions and rule for pTe. paring and offering tho exhibit will be furnished exhibitors by press "notices and by letters, and any information de sired may be bad by writing to Pro fessor Wilson at Corvallis, or to Frank Meridith at Salem. Beet Sugar. Science has demonstrated that beet sugar is identical in composition with cane sugar and that it is just as valu able for all purposes when pure. This is contrary to the general belief and a knowledge of the fact should enable housewives to purchase sugar for pre serving fruit according to the price, re gardless of whether it is cane sugar or beet Bugar. In many parts of the state it is Bometimes impossible to secure the cane sugar, called by certain dealers fruit sugar, at the same priee that it asked for the beet sugar. A general knowledge of the equal value of the two sugars should tend to equalize supply and price. Forest Conservation. The people of Oregon are manifest ing approval of eertain phases of the government's forest conservation policy m the most practical way possible bj imitating it. While there were some ob jectionable features connected with the administration of the law the features of saving the range, the additional features of protecting forests from for est fires, using only ripe timber for manufacturing purposes and resecding of deforested areas, are widely ap proved. The extent of approval is shown in the unusual demand for trained foresters. Every member of the graduating elaas in forestry at O. A. C. was appointed to positions in forest work before finishing his course. agricuf. receive $14,000. Extension Work. Under the Lever Bill for tural extension, Oregon will in the yesr 3915-16 about During the following year the state, is eligible to receive $18,000, and for the next five years $21,000 annually. Af ter 1922 the state will be on the eli gible list for $40,000 annually. Fol lowing this date the National govern ment will appropriate annually for all tho Btatcs $4,580,000. In order to se cure their share of this enormous fund the states must add by direct appro priation $4,100,000 annually. This makes a grand total of $8,680,000 avail able for agricultural extension work, These funds cannot be applied as pur chase or lease prices of land or to any teaching or lectures in college. During the present jear Oregon receives $10, 000. Lime Snrphur Spray. Tho lime-Rulfnf spray contains neither free lime nor free sulfur when applied to tho plants, according to in vestigations made by Professor H. V. Tartar, agricultural chemist at the college. Professor Tartar has made ox- tensivo investigations with a view to determine the exact chemical composi tion of the lime-sulfur spray, the sources of its action, nnd tho most eco nomical and effective ratio of mixture. In there pests ho identified the pros once of sulfide, polysulfido and thio- sulfide. There is also present as a re sidue an unsoluble sulfide. This latter is useless and represents a waste of Look Out For Hog Cholera. Indisputable evidence that hog chol era in epidemic form is rapidly ap proaching Oregon is seen in tho federal government's apportionment of the anti-hog cholera funds. A very little of theso funds has been appropriated for Oregon, but extensive appropria tions have been made for some of the neighboring Btat.es, notably Idaho, The simple directions for avoiding conta gion, found in another column of this issue of the Farm and Home Magazine, should be followed very closely by overyone engaged in the swino indus try. Immunity from this scourgo can bo secured almost without expense by following the few simple directions given by Dr. Simms, while to fight it after it has been once introduced costs vast sums of money.
