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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 1961)
TUESDAY, CHIT By JOE COWLEY Mall Tribuno rm Editor Water, taxes and land seems to be the triple threat gen erally facing Rogue Valley farmers currently and other farmers, too. Somehow, these three factors are all wrapped up to gether and taxes seem to arise out of land problems here. During this year's reclamation meetings authorities on water development have indicated the public is gaining more control over water development, but it took a Cali fornlan to frankly come out and say so. "The degree of public control over water development is almost Inevitably going to increase," B. Abbott Goldberg, deputy director, California Department of Water Resources, told the San Francisco Barristers' club Thursday. (In case you didn't know, Webster says a barrister is a lawyer ad mitted to plead at the bar in superior courts of law. We didn't know either. This comes from the English practice of maintaining two classes of lawyers: barristers and so licitors. The latter handle the more routine legal matters which never reach the high court status.) Anyway, he explained, "The magnitude of the investment (in water development) is so large, the time needed to repay the Investment so long, and the evaluation of the purposes which should be repaid ... is so difficult, that private capi tal cannot assume the burden," he said. The problem of competition between agricultural and municipal use of water illustrates the difficulties, he said. "Since the cost of water is a very small part of the cost of domestic living and of most industrial processes, it follows that the rates that a municipal or city water-user can pay are very high . . . (He should live in our little town. The water rates we pay are almost as high, proportionately, as Copco's power rates.) "But in the case of agricultural water, the situation is much more grim. Here the water is a substantial part of the cost of production." Goldberg said that If the farmers could not pay the actual cost of water, the Congress might be encouraged to pass legis lation tailored to achieve more joint federal-state participa tion "in this peculiar California (and Oregon) situation." Goldberg said the water dispute would, echo repeatedly during the current session of the legislature. "You will hear a lot about water rights, cost allocation, subsidies, acreage limitations, the grasping inequity of south ern California and the dog-in-the-manger attitude of the north," he said. .: Although California seems far removed from Oregon, Californlas have the habit of moving up here and bringing their problems with them. As this state become more popu lated there will be more pressure on the water supply. In Bplte of heavy rains recently, the water outlook here is still poor, so while people are worrying about possible lack of ' water It might pay to worry a little more and do some con structive planning on water use. Medford has announced already that It Isn't adding any more outside areas to its water system. Some small towns already are-relying on irrigation districts to boost their sup plies. As more new subdivisions come on Irrigated lands, people will want to tap the ditches for lawns and gardens. The question remains, how much of the water from proj ects farmers paid for should be used for non-farm uses? As the suburbanites demand their share of the water should rates to non-farm users be Increased to discourage too great a use of the farmer's water? And should the farmers' rates be lower since they use a larger quantity of water than the residential users? (One acre minimum rates are in effect now for each lot.) v This ties In with the land prpblerns since promoters are selling considerable farm land in tho valley for home-sites. Unless the subdlvlder makes arrangements (it's Ills obligation) to taD onto the irrigation water for people In his subdivision, all the new homeowners can the ditches. They grumble when they have to pay Irrigation district taxes for water they cannot use. Yet the law says iney must. , Yet, under the present rate system, if all non-users under a ditch were exempted the burden on the remaining water users would be either too great or the irrigation district couldn't afford to operate. This pertains to districts serving the more populated areas of the valley. As this valley becomes more settled, more people will start howling to their state legislators to change the law and exempt them. A change in the rate structure seems inevitable. The mechanics should be worked out now while the pressure of the problem is off. So much for water, now for taxes V . . Tills is something that gives the taxpayer a feeling of emptiness in his wallet and a headache about now. Our conscientious county assessor no doubt smokes those big black clgurs to keep both the 'skeeters and taxpayers from getting too close. And Jackson county Is getting increasing numbers of both. Elsewhere on this page we will throw some problems in real property appraisal at you. If you come close to the an swer in the assessor's handbook you will be entitled to call yourself Assessor Junior Grade and designate yourself target of the month. Then, If you still feel like bellyachin' we will refer you to the current issue of the California Farmer head lined, "Huge Tax Increases are Running Ranchers off the Land." You will notice tho table at the bottom of the page which reportedly gives the actual tax bills from Sacramento county for 1959 and 1960. Read this and be glad you live in Jackson county. The percentages of tax increases In two years range form 139 per cent to 2,448 per cent, according to this report. The highest percentage of increase was on five acres of land with a veteran's exemption. In 1959 his tax bill was $7.04, in 1960, $179.22, for an increase of $172.18. The next highest, 659 per cent, was $289.28 In 1959 to $2,045.08 In 1960, for a difference or raise of $1,775.80, ' The article comments that since the Sacramento county larmers got their tax bills In November "there's talk of hang ing the assessor and shooting up the board of supervisors; and no one smiles when these suggestions are made." So, we don't have to worry about such increases here. There aren't enough deputies to protect either the county court or assessor against such mayhem. But, many of these Callfornians arc moving up here, buy ing land sight unseen and paying $300 an acre for land worth only $10 an acre. So what? So that's their worry? So, the ap praisers check these land sales and if your land is next door, whoosh goes your property's true cash value and up go your taxes. The assessor's office is making such a study now." The local farmers have the brains, but whore's the organization? Something should be done about it. And don't blame the asses sor and his crew. They arc merely carrying out the law and doing their job. Sleep on this! And ploasant dreams! Last week we noted the thin lino of deputies which would stand against any possible violence it it should erupt during AWOC organizing attempts here among pear pickers. And we were thinking either the growers or strikers could be the offenders. However, according to reports from the Califonia lettuce fields It has come from the strikers. Some pear grow ers read our comments and met with Sheriff Joe Walsh last week. He has sent letters to sheriffs of California counties affected by the AWOC organizing to get their experience and advice. Further plans to prevent any such trouble hero are In the making. When President John F. Kennedy was making his cabinet tppointments we wrote to Washington, D.C. for some infor natlon of Stewart L. Udall, Tuscon, Ariz., and new secretary Of the Interior. We received the requested biographical sketch y "snail mall" last week. Of course the best thing he has Jone has been to keep Floyd A. Domlny as commissioner of 'eclamatlnfl. Peonla waxklua, la tka mui cUtvaUuuujuil fluid FEBRUARY 21. 1961 CHAT do is watch the water go by In Garden Tips By JOHN W. McLOUGHLIN County Extension Agent GRAPES Grapes are pruned during February to hold bleeding to a minimum. The fruit of the grape forms on one year old shoots. Train the Thompson seedless, golden muscat, concord, Niagara and other American types to the trellis system. Place the lower wive 30 to 36 inches above ground and the upper wire 54 to 80 inches above ground. Train the permanent trunk to the upper wire. Select one or two fruiting shoots at the wire levels from this trunk to train along each side of the plant. This amounts to from four to eight shoots for each plant. Prune these shoots back to a length of eight or ten buds. An equal amount of shoots are pruned back to two bud spurs at wire level. Train these shoots along the wires as they grow. These shoots will bear next year's fruit. Remove all other growth. When vines are used on an 'arbor tile same pruning prin ciples ore followed but more shoots may be left to establish the desired coverage. Muscat, Tokay and other California type grapes may be trained to the trellis system or the spur system. In the spur system, select the best ten to 12 canes on the stump and prune back to three buds. Remove all other growth. GRAPE MILDEW For control of grape mil dew, apply a dormant spray of one quart liquid lime sulfur or one pound dry lime sulfur in three gallons water. Also, spray or dust with wettable sulfur . when new shoots are eight inches long and threo more times nt"two week intervals. Another ap plication should be made Sept. 1. . BERRY SPRAY Spray should be applied be fore the end of the month to control the leaf and cane spot disease. This fungus affects trailing blackberries such as loganberry, youngberry, boy senberry, wild dewberry and cultivated selections of trail ing blackberries. This first of two sprays should be applied between November and February. The second spray is applied when the shoots are two inch es long, use one quart of liquid lime sulfur or one-half pound of polysulphide to three gallons of water, 4-H CLUB Boys and girls interested in participating in this year's 4-H vegetable garden club should register at the county exten sion office (SPring 3-6211). The particular project this year will be to carry out tomato trials in connection with Oregon State college.' Adults Interested in being leaders for such groups ft r e invited to register. For further information contact the coun ty extension office. Improved Rodent Controls Sough? Studies which may lead to control of rodents-an ever present national economic and health problem-are under way at the Oregon State college agricultural experiment sta tion. . The study is being carried out by F.dward , L. Hanson, OSC biologist, under an $11, 237 grant from the U.S. Public Health Service. He is studying habits of Oregon's pesky meadow mice on a ranch near Klamath Falls. Agriculture in that part of the state was hit especially hard in 1957 when a heavy Infestation of mice caused mil lions of dollars of damage. During peak population cy cles, meadow mice can dam age a great percentage of crops and range vegetation, as well as carry diseases such as tularemia. Population levels of many rodents are subject to violent fluctuation, some of which oc cur regularly. If scientists learn what causes these fluc tuations, they can predict, and possibly control thorn. Hanson is especially inter ested in finding what effect density of meadow mice has on their reproduction, mor tality and population move ments. His studies of meadow mice also could lead to a better understanding ot population changes of other rodent and mammal populations, pointed out R. E. Dimick, head of fish and game management at OSC. here all know and like Dominy so were jubilant over his reappointment. We received a nice. letter from the commissioner last month thanking us lor Our inadequate praise in tills column on Jan. 3. "I hope I may continue to carry out the program In such a way that I may justify your continued endorse ment," he wrote. Getting back to Udall Like the former secretary of ag riculture, Ezra Taft Benson, Udall is an active official in the Mormon church. He is also a lawyer, former Congressman, former Air Force aerial gunner and all-confercnco basketball uIuvbc. Appraisal Problem Presented For Figuring The following is a problem taken Irom a pamphlet. "101 Rural Appraisal Problems With Suggested Solutions.' The pamphlet was published by the American 'Institute of Real Estate Appraisers, How good an appraiser are you? Check your answers against those in the pamphlet You are appraising a 100- March 31 Date ForVool Program In Jackson County Wool growers were remind ed today that the 1980-pro-gram payments, to be made this summer, will be made only on wool and unshorn lambs which are marketed before March 31, 1961. That is the closing date for the 1960 program. Ray Vogel, vice chairman, Jackson County Agricultural Stabilization and Conserva tion committee, also pointed out that applications for such payments under the 1960 wool program must be filed before the end of April, 1961. He emphasized that ade quate records on the sales must support the information on the payment applications. For instance, producers' sales records for shorn wool should show name and address of buyer, date of sale, place of sale, if other than the pro ducer's farm or ranch, name and address of producer, net weight of wool sold, and net proceeds to producer after normal marketing deductions. Payments to producers for the 1960 marketing year will follow the same methods em ployed for i the 1959 year. Shorn wool payments will be equal to a percentage of each producer s cash returns from wool sales. The ' percentage to be announced later this year - will be that required to raise the national average price received by all produc ers for shorn wool during the marketing year up to the incentive price of 62 cents per pound. Lamb payments will be made to each producer who sells lambs that have never been shorn. The payments will be at a rate per hundred weight of live animals market ed to compensate for the wool on them on a basis comparable to the incentive payment per pound of shorn wool. Under the 1959 wool pro gram, growers in Jackson county last year received a total of $14,518.97 in incentive payments earned under the marketing year ended March 31, 1960. Hort Equipment Show Planned Corvallis - Oregon growers of fruits, nuts, vegetables and ornamentals will have a chance March 3 and 4 to see latest equipment for produc ing and handling horticultur al crops at the state fair grounds in Salem. The second annual Willam ette Valley Horticultural Equipment Display will give growers a chance to look over equipment other growers hnve made, as well as new equip ment offered by commercial dealers, according to M. G. Huber,- Oregon State college extension agricultural engi neering specialist. Exhibits will open both days at 10 a.m., stay open the first evening, and close at 4 p.m. the second day. The display will be in the 4-H and FFA auditorium at the state fair grounds. In most cases, equipment will be demonstrated so grow ers can get a better idea how a particular machine might fit into their own oper ation. Slides and movies of equipment in action also will be shown. Last year, about 30 exhibi tors displayed equipment for more than 1,000 viewers. Hu ber says more covered dis play area is available this year, so ram or snow should not hinder the exhibit. Arrangements for the dis play are being made by OSC agricultural extension service and county extension agents throughout the Willamette val ley. VERY INFORMAL Chester, England - IW'B - A Cheshire county newspaper reported: "The bride and bridegroom left for the honey moon, the bride traveling in a beach suit with black accessories. MEDFORD MAIL acre almond orchard in an area subject to frost which causes intermittent produc tion. Production, however, has averaged 1,000 pounds per year for 10 years. How ever, the orchard will pro duce 2,000 pounds in favor able years. The neighborhood is char acterized by soils of similar conditions. There are no im provements on the subject property other than the or chard. Most of the land in the immediate neighborhood is utilized for growing beans. Production is level at 30 sacks, price on a five year average basis is $8 per hun dred pounds, rents for bean land are 25 per cent of pro duction and typical lessor ex penses are $6 per acre. The capitalization rate is- 8 per cent net and the market data approach indicates that bean land of 30 sacks production is selling for $675 per acre. Average Prices - Five year average prices on almonds are 25 cents per pound and the landlord re ceives 30 per' cent of the crop as rent, net before taxes. Lessor's cash expenses on the orchard are $8 per acre. The trees are 20 years and have a remaining economic life of 20 years. From an adjoining orchard area sub ject to similar hazards it is indicated buyers are interest ed in an 8 per cent net re turn. Based on this information determine what is the highest and best use of the property, the highest and best use of the land, the important ap praisal subject involved. Answer: Highest and best use of the property is an or chard since net return is $13 more than to bare land. To cut down the trees and to convert to bean land would mean a net loss of $13 per acre. ,Most profitable use of land is for utilization as bean land. The principle is one of con formity. Beans at 30 sacks at $8 per sack would be $240, rent 25 per cent, $60; typical expenses $6, net to land, $54. Capitalization rate 8- per cent equals $675 per acre. The almond orchard produc tion is figured at 1,000 pounds per 25 cents per pound, $250; rent at 30 per cent, $75; les sor's expenses, $8; so net in come to land and trees is $67. By deducting net to land as shown above, $54. Net : to trees is $13. Capitalization at 13 per cent equals $1UU Chemical Told For Winter Weeds on Farm Corvallis-Use of chemicals to control weeds on wheat fallow land during winter months is now practical, ac cording to an announcement from the Oregon State college agricultural experiment sta tion. A chemical called amitrole, applied along with the ester form of 2, 4-D, will give ex cellent control of most winter growing weeds, reports Dr. W. R. Furtick, weed control sci entist at OSC. The new winter fallow program consists of ap plying two pounds of 50 per cent amitrole and two pounds of 2, 4-D ester per acre as a spray. Use of amitrole on wheat fields has now been approved by the U.S. Department of Ag riculture if it s applied eight months before wheat is seed ed, Furtick said. Cost of the chemicals used in tho new spray program will average about $6.50 per acre at present prices, Furtick estimated. Cost of application will have to be added to this. The chemical winter fallow program will eliminate sev eral of the early spring culti vations now needed to control cheat grass, rye, and other weeds and volunteer grains that spring up rapidly in wheat fields after fall rains. Furtick said. At present, these weeds often form dense mats that are difficult to control. Won't Control Summer Weeds However, the winter pro gram won't control weeds that grow during the summer months, and several tillage operations will still be need ed during this time. Other new chemicals, such as atra zine. may solve the summer weed problem in the future. Furtick observed, but several years of research on residue problems are still needed be fore permission can be obtain ed from federal authorities for their use. The new chemical winter fallow program will make stubble mulch farming prac tical again in many areas. Furtick noted. Many wheat ranchers have had to abandon the soil-conserving stubble mulch system and resort to plowing in order to control winter weeds. More information on the chemical winter fallow pro gram, along ith specific rec ommendations for individual problems, can be obtained Vow suuutv axtciisioix axcnU. TRIBUNE, MEDFORD, ORE. OSC Seeks Stop To Granary Mite, Small, but Mighty Corvallis - Ever wish you could ignore changes in the weather? Not be bothered by temperature highs and lows, persistent rain or hot sun? Would you like to get by without eating for a year or two-perhaps wait till times get better? Humans can't. But during one stage of its life, a tiny mite can. And Dr. G. W. Krantz, entomologist at the Oregon State college agricul tural experiment station, is trying to find out how the mite does it. The answer to this puzzle will help, scientists find bet ter ways to control the mite, especially during this highly resistant period. Recent research grants re ceived by OSC will enable Krantz to continue studying the small -but might -mite. During the past two years, he has received grants total ing $24,000 from the U.S. Public Health Service. ' Krantz currently is doing a series of protein analyses on the various life stages of cer tain mites. This work will form the basis for future studies to see if the resistant stage could be caused geneti cally, rather than environ mentally, as has long been supposed. Krantz is assisted by Dr. Heinrich F. Holtmann, Munster, Germany, who has a postdoctoral fellowship at OSC. One Stage Noted , The . highly - resistant (hy popus) stage of the mite is just one phase of the study. During the past year, Krantz perfected a way to rear mites in his laboratory to study their life history, and lay ground work for future work on the pest-both at OSC and other research centers. The entomologist has found 65 kinds of mites , in grain throughout the Pacific North west. Although granary mites are small, they can cause big problems for grain growers, handlers and users. Some mites feed on the whole grain. They eat the kernel so it's no good for seed. If there ore enough of them, mites cause heating in grain. They can spread mold fungi in grain. Some mites are found in livestock and poultry feed. They're a contamination prob lem in food grains, too, where they're as bad as insects, but are harder to remove because they're smaller. People who work with grain find mites can cause "grocer's itch," much like hives. Sheep Shearing Schools Slated Across Oregon Corvallis - Gradual disap pearance of old-time commer cial sheep shearers is prompt ing Oregon State College live stock specialists to train a new generation of clipper-wielders to harvest Oregon's $3 to $4 million annual wool "crop." Six two-day schools on shearing will be offered this spring to both adults and youths, announces John Land ers, OSC animal husbandry specialist. Commercial shearers who once worked the great range sheep bands oi Oregon are fading out with the shift from lame bands to numerous small flocks, Landers ex plained. Total volume of wool-near-ly 8 million pounds in Oregon Inut vp;ir-is holding its own through the years but it's too spattered tn attract commer cial shearers. This puts pres sure on small iiock owners 10 clip their own. Dales Given Schools are scheduled March 20 and 21, 22 and 23, and 24 and 25 at OSC barns, Corval- lio- Mnrrh 9.9 and 30 at Cave Junction; April 5 and 6 at OSC's branch experiment sta tion at Union; and May 5 and 6 at the Phil Farrell Ranch, Gateway. Dates for a school in Lincoln county will be set later. Applications are available frnm rnuntv extension agents. high school vocational agricul ture instructors, or from Lan ders. Completed applications should be returned to banders not later than March 1. Instruction is ODen to any one at least 15 years old or who weighs 150 pounds or more. Each two-day class will i, limitnH in ifi nersons. Lan ders says the school is de sighed primarily for folks with farm flocks ramer man as training for commercial shearers. Landers and Dean Frischk nccht. OSC animal husbandry specialist, will conduct the demonstration classes on shearing, preparation of wool for market, and care of shear ing equipment. Each student will shear about 10 sheep dur lm the two davs. Equipment will bo furnished by the school. Own or Hire Farm Equipment Aired? Corvallis - Since most spe cial farm equipment comes high these days, wise farmers - before buying - compare cost of rental or custom work with cost of ownership. A form has been worked out by Oregon State college agricultural experiment sta tion to help farmers figure which machinery they should own, and which is cheaper to hire. In some cases, farmers may find it economical to sell ma chines they already have and make other arrangements for getting the work done, note Emery Castle, OSC agricul tural economist, and Frank Conklin, extension farm man agement specialist. In a Jef ferson county study, they found at least one-third of farm operators who owned certain farm machines were over-invested. A circular which contains the fill-it-out-yourself form is free on request to Oregon resi dents. Copies are available from local county extension offices or from OSC bulletin clerk, Corvallis. Ask for "Farm Machinery - Own or Hire." With charts and examples, the circular explains how farmers can figure for them selves whether to buy, rent, share with someone else, or hire the work done. 4-H Club Members Enroll En Mew Gun Safety Project Corvallis-A new 4-H gun safety project offers Oregon youngsters experiences more exciting and challenging than those depicted in popular TV westerns. . This is the opinion by Cal Giesler, hunter safety super visor with the. State Game Commission, Andy Landforce, Oregon State college exten sion wildlife specialist, and 4-H leaders and parents around the state who helped develop the new program. The 4-H gun safety project objectives are to teach safe use of firearms, prevent hunt ing accidents, create an inter- New Tomato Type Released Here By Local Station ,V By H. H. WHITE Experiment Station Superintendent A new tomato for home gardeners is being released by the Southern Oregon branch experiment station. It is a selection developed by Dr. A. W. Frazier of the Oregon State College Horti cultural department and is known as OSC 395. It has been included in the local station variety trials for the past three years and has been outstanding each year because of high yield of smooth, dark red, meaty fruits of excellent flavor. The fruits are firm with notice ably smaller seed cavities as compared with most commer cial varieties. Vine growth is vigorous but not excessive. The abundance of leaves and rather compact nature of the growth provides adequate protection of the fruit from sunburn. It has a rather deli cate skin hence is not being recommended at this time for commercial use. Supplies Liir.ited Seed supplies are limited and not available to the pub lic. Plants for transplanting in May will be available at local greenhouses and stores selling plants. The Southern Oregon experiment station would appreciate having local home gardeners plant OSC 395 along with their favorite variety and then report their opinion in the fall of 1961. In the station variety trial last year (1960) OSC 395 yielded 20 per cent more mar ketable fruits that did Ace, a prominent commercial va riety. The fruits averaged a little smaller than Ace but were smoother and more uni form in size. It is an early maturing variety. In the 1960 Station trial plants were set in the field on June 1 and ripe tomatoes were available by Aug. 15. Stray Stock Count High in January Salem-Highest in months is the number of estrays re-; ported for January to the state department of agricul ture. Only cattle and horses were lost this month according to report. About 165 animals in all were said to be gone. This included 41 heifers or calves. 20 steers, 88 cows and 16 horses. Reports of loss came from areas near Lookout Mountain, Harper. Sutherlin, Rye valley basin, Rieth, Oontario. Jun tura. McMinnville, Willow creek, Silver Lake and the Umpqua National forest. I OSC Conference Covers Wide Fie BY KEITH HOCKERSMITH Grange Cooperative A wide range of subjects, from beef feeding to poultry feeding, to Food Drug Admin istration regulations was cov ered during the recent Ani mal Industry conference in Oregon State college. Keith Hockersmith and Carl Hover, both of the Grange Co-op here attended the session. Dr. James H. Meyer of the University of California, dis cussed forage evaluation. He suggested that alfalfa be cut at 10 per cent bloom or less to get a crop low in lignin and higher in digestibility. He thinks it is better to pro duce forage low in lignin than to try to use lignin in overmature plants. One trial indicated that 1,800 pounds of overmature hay was re quired to get 100 pounds gain while it took 1,440 pounds of hay cut at one tenth bloom to get the same amount of gain. Dr. J. E. Oldfield, Oregon State college, talked of the work done with selenium in relation to white muscle dis ease and other livestock prob lems. Egg Shells Discussed Dr. George Arscott, of Ore gon State college, indicated that environment, disease load, rate of production, strain est in wildlife conservation, develop shooting skills and interest in one of the safest and most enjoyable uses of leisure. Oregon youths, between 9 and 19 years of age, have the worst hunting accident" rec ord, according to Giesler. Last year, this age group was in volved in twice as many hunting accidents as 20 to 29 year olds, and three times as many as the 30 to 39, and 40 to 49 age groups. Progressiveness Featured The 4-H gun safety project fosters "progressive" educa tion, notes Cal Monroe, act ing state 4-H extension leader. Youths advance at their own rate and ability to various stages of the project. Begin ners, 11 year olds, study and practice to become "4-H Safe Shooters." Their first require ment - is to pass the Oregon hunter safety training course offered by the State Game Commission. During the two years this training has been offered, 6,300 youngsters have completed this course. Not one has been involved in a gun accident, Giesler reports. Later project offerings are the 4-H marksman, sharp shooter, expert rifleman and the 4-H hunter. All instruc tion emphasizes good sports manship, respect for private, public and personal property, and wildlife conservation. An other objective is to improve farmer-sportsmen relations. Enrollment in the project can be made through county extension offices. Weights, Measures Total Year's Check Salem - Over 33,000 small and heavy duty scales, petrol eum meters and pumps were tested in 1960 by the weights and measures inspectors of the Stale Department of Ag riculture. Last year, gas pumps reach ed the third highest total in a ten year span of checking. The total pumps checked in 1960 came to 12,782 with 667 con demned, as compared to 13, 253 in 1959, with 2,486 con demned. Petroleum meters checked came to 2,800, with 428 con demned, somewhat under the totals reached in 1959 which were 2,877, . with 51 con demned. There were 12,142 small scales checked in 1960 and 12.571 in 1959. Condemned in 1960 were 481 small scales, and in the previous year, 441. Altogether, 5,939 heavy duty scales were checked in 1960. In 1959, there were 6.315 checked. Condemned in 1960 were 455 and in 1959, there were 360. The amount of equipment checked by the division has grown considerably in the last 10 years. FRANKLIN CUTTER WW West Main Pharmacy kaai (oj vvesr main and brooding of birds, body size ana nuirmun iwvc an effect on egg shell thickness. He said he could get no re sponse from Vitamin C added in the ration. Dr. H. M. Scott, of the University of Illinois, talked about amino acids in poultry rations. This is not a new field but a different approach to the protein level in ra tions. - Several members of the staff at Oregon State college gave research briefs empha sizing some of the work be ing done at the college. Dr. W. E. Babcock reported on Coccidiossis (9) immuniza tion with the hope that under proper supervision this could be of great value to the poul try industry. J. R. Haag discussed cop per deficiency in range cattle which is a problem in some areas ' but the prevention is not a matter of giving quanti ties ot copper since this can be a toxic material, he said. Treatment should be restrict ed to areas of demonstrated need. Discusses Swine L. M. Larsen presented a paper on Barley Improvement for swine. Barley is a high fiber grain that can be im proved physically by pellet ing, however, there is no chemical change, Dr. H. S. Wilgus, the Ray Ewing company, Pasadena, Calif., talked to the feed dealers concerning the Food and Drug Administration reg ulations covering the vari ous additives used in the feed industry. There is considera ble confusion and misunder standing presently but the sit uation seems to be clearing. Care and supervision by tha feed manufacturer is needed, but the whole thing is not hopeless. S. E. Knapp, Oregon Stata college, reported on parasito problems in livestock feed ing. Some of the parasito problems can be handled easi est if the farmer understands the life cycle of the parasite and attempts to control it when it is most vulnerable. The various parasite problems should be identified and ap propriate action taken against them. Chemicals Boost Farm Earnings In This State Salem-At least $15 million was added to Oregon's farm economy last year through the use of agricultural chem icals, the state department of agriculture said today. The department based its figure on the first statewide survey of its 253 licensed spray chemical applicatos, 130 of whom submitted replies for a 51.4 per cent return. The 130 applicators esti mated grower benefits from sprays applied on more than one-half million acres at $8 million. S. R. Kelso, herb icide control supervisor for the department, says he be lieves the returns represent close to half the total pic ture. He places the overall state benefits at the $15 mil lion figure. Benefits Listed The benefits stem from the use of herbicides (chemical weed killers) and other sprays used to control plant pests and diseases. The value to crop production was split fairly evenly between weed and other controls. The added value to crops is after the costs of spraying were deducted. On the 130 returns, payment to applica tors was $964,728.71 which leads Kelso to conclude a conservative figure statewide for costs to growers is $1.5 million or one-tenth of the total benefits. The 130 applicators said they sprayed 401,882 acres for weed control at an average cost of $1.79 and 99,336 acres for pest and disease con trol at an average cost of $2.47. Roughly three-fifths of the weed control was on grain lands. NO DIVORCES Brazilian law makes no pro vision for divorces. VACCINES! MED1CINALS! INSTRUMENTS! And Other Supplies to Keep Your Livestock and Pets Healthy and Well Groomed! w rn. br z-zszu "Where Prescriptions are Filled Up to i Standard, Not Down to a Price." I
