The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-30
FOR SOIL CULTURE
NORTHERN PACIFIC WILL OFFER
THREE PRIZES FOR THE NEXT
SEASON
FOR THE BEST ACHIEVEMENT
IN THE LINE OF CROP PRODUC-
TION ON ITS NORTH DAKOTA
LINES.
WILL COAL RATES COME DOWN.
If Not, Then Northwestern COnsum-
ers Are at the Mercy of the
Coal Combine.

General Manager Kendrick, of the
Northern Pacific, has issued to the
farmers of the great Northwest a cir
cular of much Importance regarding
the result of the roads experiments
with the Campbell soil culture system.
In the spring of 1895 w. H. Camp
bell, of Sioux City, brought to the no.
tice of the Northern Pacific system
of soil culture of his own discovery
designed to prevent the too rapid evap-
grafton of moisture and to check Its
absorption into the ground. The sys-
TEN was intended to hold the mois-
ture as near the surface as possible.
or the greatest length of time posi-
bic. 1t was intended to store the water
from the snow and rain for the use of
the growing plant. The Northern Pa
cific engaged an expert to look up the
matter, and being convinced that the
system was a success, a system of ex-
tensive experimentation was decided
upon. Contracts were made with five
farmers at different points in North
Dakota to try the system for the next
two years. The company agreed to
furnish the special machinery for the
use of the farmers, in consideration Of
the prosecution by the farmers of the
Campbell plan. The farms so located
were as follows: Forty acres at Lis
bon, forty acres at jamestown, ten
acres at Pingree. forty acres at Daw-
son, and twenty-eight acres at Glenul-
len.
The inventor Of the system believed
that the proper working of the surface
soil would insure a bountiful crop,
even In years of drought Mr. Camp
bell believed that a simple and mex
pensive change in the method of work.
ing the soil would keep in the ground
for the benefit of the summer crops
all the moisture which had accumu-
lated during the winter and spring.
The circular issued by Mr.. Kendrick
contains the details of the new sys-
TEN, which includes the pulverizing of
the top, and so turning the soil as to
exclude all the air.
The experiments carried on by the
Northern Pacific were varied. At Daw-
son the system was used in growing
oats, barley, corn, potatoes and five
acres of garden truck. At Jamestown
wheat, oats, barley and potatoes; at
Pingree, barley; at Dawson, wheat,
rye, oats. barley and corn; at Glenul-
len, oats and potatoes.
In summing up the experiments, the
circular says that although the results
We're by no means uniform in no case
was there failure. In every case the
superiority of the crops raised upon the
Northern Pacific experiment farms un-
der the Campbell system over those
cared for under the old system, was
very marked
For time the heavy rains of May
md
pertinent in places. At Pingree, this
was especially true, but ten acres of
barley sown under the new system was
such an Improvement over ten acres ad-
joining. sown and treated under the
old system, that the farmers were much
taken With the system. At every point
similar improvements was seen. The
circular also contains the verbatim re-
port of an investigating committee of
Intelligent farmers. The report is
highly enthusiastic over the system.
The success of the first years ex-
perlments has induced the Northern
Pacific to carry on the work still further
and next year so acres of ground will
he treated in each of the following
counties: Stark, Morton, Burleigh
kdder, Stutsman. Foster, Wells.
Griggs, Richland, Eddy, Benson. Bar
mes, La Moure, Dickey, Ransom and
Cass. Three premiums will be offered
Tor the best results, the premiums be-
ing one 3.0OO-nlile book, two 1,OOO-nlile
books and one 1,000-mile book. The
premiums will not alone be awarded
upon the size of the yield secured. ON
account of the difference in the charac-
ter of the soil in the different places
The awards will therefore be upon a
scale of points of percentages. covering
markings upon thorough blowing and
packing thorough cultivation and care
crop. 1t is estimated that the ratio of
increase upon the different farms this
year, owing to the adoption Of the sys-
tenn has been as follows: Lisbon. 90
per cent; Jamestown. rs per cent: PIN
pree, 70 per cent; Dawson, 25 per cent:
and Glennullen, SO per cent
RISE FOR MCCULLOUGH.
CHICAGO. Sept 29.-The reorganiza-