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