Jamestown alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1878-1882, 1882-02-03
Killing the Country With Wheat.

A late number of the Minneapolis Tri>
bune strikes the keynote on the subject TO
diversity ofcrops. giving actual facts in the
experience of Southern Minnesota and
holding them up as an example TO the far
Northwest. The burden Of the matter is
that Southern Minnesota gave all her els
ergy 10 raising wheat for the first few years
after settlement, and exhausted the wheat
producing qualities of the soil. Then driv.
en- 10 crops and other methods offarmtng,
they found that more money could be made
and farming could be made more successful
in every way by diversity Of crops and
industries.
These facts have been urged IN these
columns to the verge Of making them a
hobby, and yet further enforcement is
needed. AS is we'll known, there are cer-
tain elements in the soil necessary to the
maturing of the cereal grains, among which
are potash, soda. lime, magnesia the OK.
ides of iron and manganese, sulphuric acid,
phosphorlc acid, silica, and some think
chlorine Different grains use different
proportions of these elements, most of
which it Is difficult to supply by any sys-
TEN of fertilizipg. Any crop raised for
long series Of years On the same ground
will exhaust the soil of the substances it
makes special drafts upon, and thenceforth
that soil will be more or less unproductivc
for that particular crop, though it may pro.
duce others abuudantly. Corn does not
nearly so soon exhaust the soil Of its par
ticular food as wheat, and can be raised
for long series of years. But wheat, with
is shallow, small roots and quick growth
soon uses up certain clements of t.Ic soil
which can hardly be replaced. A soil once
exhausted with wheat does not recover by
following or manuring as readily as when
exhausted by most other crops.
The time will come, in the lifetime Of
most of the present farmers ofthis wonder.
full productive soil, that the Red River val
ley will be forced to raise Other cops
Which, then is best, to begin by degrees
and and out what other crops can be best
raised, applying the principles ofrotation
as extensively as possible, and outstanding
the strength of the soil, or clinging exclu-
slvely to wheat till it can raised no logger
and we are forced to su almost exclusive
cultivation Of other crops? Wheat means
quick returns and ready meney. If the soil
IS not robbed in The next few years. good
whest crcn alopg VII Other products will
greatly add othe X rrGsrs of the ftltrre.
| The greater variety g. eraiis snv co,n.r-
can raise, and the gre~:er number of en-
| Dliyments its peop can crcace in 20
make q living AMI liz greater security
against 'ail,rrs or glr;s in any particular
| product The plan If killing ans ofthcse
| ltsnurces, esp aciallv ,ne 50 mrra- as the
wheat crop, will be permanent injury tn
| the cnuntrv.
| On opening farms i is 70 81 eIpeatei'
! that wilca! will be tiiF crnn Cor the first
| years. But after tht sec, nd crap variety
ought t" begin A ssog!l area of other
crops, Annually CHANGED t. relieve the old
est wheat ground. vii! make much differs
cnce. Many of these other crops will pre-
dpce mo;c money per acre .hsa wheat.
| Every year siiis cnin Fry pays ont twice or
three times as mueh ior Cor feed shipped
here as it would cost to raise it at home
The station agents renort for 1881, show
ing 147 car loads Of feed received at Grand
! Jerks is startling revelation. This feed
| is sold at Sl.T5 per ! SO pounds. Instead
OF wearing ont our sol with wheat, would
it not he wise for somebody to raise $50,
900 or 500. 600 worh of feeds Would it
not be well to raise enough peas to feed
enough stock for holne consumption? Is
| not the qualify of butter we are forced to
use enough to start somebody to produc-
ing enough of tie G. nulne article for the
home demand? Spring will soon be here,
when the years er, IS will he planted.
Will not number of the older farmers in.
crease the variety and demonstrate the prof.
J it Of other thugs bes .dss wheats