The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1893-08-05
THE AGRICULTURAL WORLD
PROFITABLE READING FOR AGHl-
CULTURALISTS.
Farmers VIII Find an Advantage IN
Developing Their Own Seeds-!he
Horse Breeding Industry-Notcs o.
~IntcIest. p

The agricultural error is the attempt
to cultivate more ground than can DE
well done. The low and lowering
yield OF all farm crops is a clear proof
that cultivation has not been directed
on true and philosophical lines Tor
ages past. A less acreage well attend
ed with seed developed to its fullest
capacity will give greater yields in the
| aggregate. A thousand bushels Of po-
tatoes have been grown on n acre;
2o4 bushels OF corn have been produced
from a single acre Of ground. These
crops show demonstrably that mother
earth would ''pan out" literally If
the cultivator would pursue a course in
harmony with the demands Of the nat
ural laws which govern the growth OF
plants. If it is the nature Of small
grain to branch and produce several
stalks from each grain, then it is per-
fcctly clear that the seed should be
grown in the way that favors this habit
to the greatest extent. II it is the
truth that a single stalk Of corn or
potatoes will DO better than where
several are crowded together, then
it is clear that the seed should be
| grown in that way.
But it is objected that farmers can
not take time to monkey in this
way to improve seed. 1t is freely ad-
mitted that this objection is well taken;
that is, it is true that under the pre-
vailing system of attempting to cult
vate more acres than can be well done,
the farmer has no time to devote to
the Improvement Of seed. But the
facts already adverted to show that he
is not justified in proceeding any fur
tier with a false system Of agriculture,
Better lessen the cultivated area by
devoting u larger portion to grass for
pasture or for hay, so that the live
stock will not be pinched for pasture
when a short ""dry SPELL comes in the
summer, and when an u~nfavorable win
ter overtakes the farmer he may have
an abundant supply Of good hay on
hand. Who does not Know that it is
the rule to see stock stinted both in
| summer and winter for feed? Make
the soil do it's best for all the time,
both in the production Of grain and
grass crops.
If one-half the land now devoted to
growing grain crops is properly cult
waited there will be as much obtained
rs is now realized from the Whole and
this alone will give you time and op.
portunity for seed development. This
broad gauge" system of farming is
at fault. Organize the system SO that
the true principles of agriculture may
be applied. Seed development and
| your cultivation must not only raise
the low yields of crops, but the deple-
ton Of soils that has been going on
since the settlement of the country
must be arrested. Good culture of the
soil will do this. Nothing else can.
Nature has applied an abundant and
inexhaustible supply Of plant food, If
the cultivator will but conform to the
demands of the laws that govern plant
growth. Twelve bushels Of wheat to
the acre and tw~enty-four bushels of
corn to the acre will not do much
longer, and these are the average yields
throughout the country for the last
ten years as reported by the agricul,
tural department of the government,
Who will object to improvement?