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.