Red Lodge Daily News Combined With Carbon County News

GOVERNMENT SEED PROGRAM SUBJECT AT COUNTY MEETS
State Agronomist Talks at Roberts and Bridger Gatherings

Two meetings of county farmers were held during the week in vicinities of Roberts and Bridger under the auspices of the extension service and at which Sam L. Sloan, state extension agronomist, outlined the government policy in regard to the government seed program.

The quality and the price of this seed was discussed at length by Mr. Sloan. The price for government seed wheat, it was brought out, is $1.35 a bushel, oats, 75c a bushel, barley, $1.10 a bushel and flax, $2.25 a bushel. Government seed grain, Mr. Sloan explained, was available only in carload lots; hence it is improbable that any of this seed grain will be made use of in Carbon county. The closing date for taking orders is April 1.

A survey of the seed situation in Carbon county was recently completed by O. P. Roberts, emergency agent, which showed plenty of seed within the county. It is the policy to make use of local seed first. Therefore, there will be little demand for government seed here. The seed situation in Carbon will be a case of shifting of local seed to suit the county's needs, it was stated.

The crop standardization program was explained by Mr. Sloan and a discussion of the varieties adapted to Montana conditions followed. The source of registered seed was explained in detail, and the method of variety testing and the production of registered seed were discussed as applicable for Carbon county conditions.

The matter of producing malting barley, the varieties used and the methods necessary for the best production of good malting barley were also explained by Mr. Sloan at these meetings. A discussion of forage crops, including crested wheat grass and the building up of feed reserves, were also stressed.

The outlook for flax production was given by the state agronomist under which subject he discussed a new oil crop, known as Safflower, and its possibilities as a replacement crop. It was brought out that Safflower may have some possibilities in the future as a substitute for flax, particularly under irrigation.

The recommended method for cereal treatment of wheat, oats and barley was pointed out. A new product under the name of Organic Mercury Compound promises to replace all methods of treatment of grains. This is a new dust treatment and is easier to apply, cheaper and equal in effect for control of all common cereal diseases of all classes of crops as wheat, oats and barley.

Mr. Sloan also touched upon weed control of the perennial weeds of the county.