The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-03-31
THE OR AIN GROW Frs.
q Successful Convention Of Three
ssSs States Held at Fargo.

Matters Were Discsused Relative to the
Improvement Of Grain Growing in 4
SE44e the Northwest A Permanent tsrzS
S. Organization Effected. 3F
The Interstate Grain Growers Conven-
ton at Fargo, N. D., March %, q and a.
Is pronounced the most enthusiastic and
successful assemblage in the interests of
agriculture ever convened in the North
west. Interest increased rather than
abated from the opening session until the
close. Grain Growers from the two Da-
kotas, Minnesota and Manitoba were
brought together in the common purpose
to promote the cultivation of the staple
cereal. No. hard wheat. The workers
IN attendance were thoroughly represent
tat1ve OF all branches Of the agricultural
industry. The college professor and ex-
pertinent station director, the bonanza
farmer and the tiller of the quarter Sec
ton, worked together for the common
end, the study Of approved methods to in
crease the yield and improve the quality
OF the staple product. There were the ut
most harmony and unity of interest In the
statement Of theory and principles and in
the comparison of observation, and ex-
perience and results. The work was en-
inently practical, instructive and enjoya-
BILE. The one idea made prominent in all
instruction and discussion was that crop
rotation, diversified farming, stock grow
Ing and the cultivation Of forage plants
all have the same purpose, to put the
land In condition and keep it in condition
Tor the highest stage Of productiveness In
the culture of hard wheat.
The convention did effective work in
popularizing the agricultural colleges and
experimental stations. The work of these
educational institutions was brought to
the attention Of the rank and file of the
farmers more directly and more favorably
than ever before. A general insight into
the scientific work Of the experiment sta
ton was afforded the average farmer, and
a strong impression created that these in
situations are maintained expressly and
solely for the common benefit of all farm
ers, and, above all, that the officials in
charge of these institutions earnestly de-
sire to make them as practical as posi-
BILE, and to assist the farmers to freely
avail themselves of all the information
and all the help that scientific research,
painstaking experimentation and faithful
conscientious work can afford. An admir-
able beginning was made In this direction
to bring the wide-awake, intelligent, pro-
gressive farmer into touch and sympathy
with the farmers college and the farm
ers' experiment station.
The committee appointed on the first
day of the convention to report plan for
permanent organization, which was I'M
derstood to look in the direction of an
expression concerning inspection, proved
to have only minority in favor of such
action and the committee did not go into
the question, confirming their report to the
nomination of the following executive
committee, who are to select the place of
the next meeting and formulate plans for
further work. At large-Budd Reeve, Jr
North Dakota, J. H. Worst and Charles
McKissick; Minnesota, E. D. Childs and
G. O. Gregg; South Dakota, President
Heston of Brookings and Charles N. Har-
ris of Aberdeen. 1t is possible the ques-
ton of grading may come to the surface
at some future time.
Mayor Johnson introduced the great
railroad magnate, James J. Hill. He paid
a high tribute to Mr.. Hill and referred to
him as the boon of the great Northwest.
The farmers wildly applauded the great
capitalist and all bad feeling for corpora
Mr.. Hill urged the planting of good
clean seed and keeping the soil rich. He
said: You can't grow grapes from thorns
nor figs from thistles, no more can you
grow good No. / wheat from weed seeds.
The speaker advised covering the soil
with light coat of manure. For illus
trating the above he supposed man had
a 1OO-acre field. The average cost of
70 N fret ho
would be IS per acre. It is not unreason-
able to suppose that he should realize q
bushels per acre. Now suppose he farms
200 acres with less care and at So less
cost per acre which would be S. The av-
erage crop from such farming is about
121a bushels per acre, so he would get the
same number of bushels from each farm
every Is bushels on 100 acre farm costing
s. while every Is bushels on 200 acre farm
would cost SO. This clearly demonstrates
that good farming pays the biggest prof
it's. Now in regard to manuring, If you
keep on taking away from the soil with
out giving anything back your land will
some day become exhausted. BY keeping
cattle and pigs you can feed them on
straw damaged grain, etc., and from
their manure for fertilizing purposes
alone realize one-third the cost of feeding,
having left handsome profit on the live
stock itself.
The last congress appropriated a billion
and a half dollars, but not cent to ben
eft grain growers.
The Japanese line of steamships was
discussed. They charged So a ton. He
held he could take wheat across the ocean
at $3.50 a ton-if properly conducted. Jap
an and China could use more wheat than
the United States could export. There
would be no danger of getting too much
II that market could be opened it would
do more to raise the price of wheat east
of the Rockies thar the value of the 40,
600, 900 bushels ,shir Jed east. But the laws
of the United States would not permit a
ship flying the stars and stripes to COM
pete with other ships. so wheat will re-
main cheap.
Mr. Hill spoke of a government appro.
priation of million dollars for improve
nent of the Mississippi river between
Fl Smelling and Minneapolis, which would
be the university students boating course
St. Paul got million and a quarter, but
the Northwestern wheat growers didn't
get a cent.
The supply and demand In Europe reg
ulated the price of wheat. They knew
the United States had a hundred or two
million extra to SELL. There was one way
to help tais-by extension of our CONNER
cial rele lions.
The gayernment alone could do this. In
the liiv.ory Of thirty years an 1ntelligen,
,,++oro,ce NV nuhlic men could not he