Los Banos Rotary Club History
Farm Advisor Is Rotary Speaker

William H. Alison county farm advisor, and Robert Horton, soils specialist in the farm advisor's office at Merced Tuesday noon gave members of the Rotary Club a brief example of the work the office is now doing to help farmers of this community with their soil and water problems.

A laboratory has been established at the farm advisor's office, so equipped that complete soil analysts tests can be made to determine acidity, alkali content, fertility, etc. From these tests the office can properly advise Merced county farmers as to the adaptability of the farm soil for any crop that they may wish to plant.

Less thorough, but accurate and sufficient tests can also be made to determine quality of irrigation water.

Horton set up small laboratory equipment on a table, with which he demonstrated the various tests made, with explanations as to their purpose and technique.

Alison said that this new service would be of great aid to the farmers in securing the greatest possible yield from their land and in planning their farming operations around crops that were most adaptable to the land. As soil tests are made the statistics are tabulated and will eventually be recorded on a county-wide soil and water map.

The farm advisor's west side office at Los Banos is becoming more and more popular with local farmers, Alison said, and its services are available to all. The office is open daily, Monday through Friday, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. An office attendant will be available to take messages through the remainder of the business day.

June 1, 1948

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