The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1900-02-03
Valuable
mi
Cleaned by
Farmers at
Fargo.
Fargo.


The second annual session Of the
Td-State Grain Growers convention,
which was held in Fargo last week,
was a great success. The program
was happily selected and the majority
Of the subjects discussed were along
the lines Of immediate and special in
ferest to the people Of the spring
wheat growing section Of the North
west. Practically all the points Of in
terest to the farmer were touched
upon, each different phase being ex,
planned by acknowledged experts. The
Intelligent farmer Sits the results
through and retains that along the
lines in which he is most interested,
and profits by the experiments of 9TH
ers without being compelled to waste
years and money in experiments.
There was a large attendance on
the opening day from North and South
Dakota and Minnesota. Mayor john
son Of Fargo welcomed the delegates
in behalf of the city, in a few we'll
chosen words, E. w. Randall, of
Hamline, Mimi, secretary Of the Min
nesota State Fair association, was
chosen president, and Maj. r. e. Elem
Au6, VI IuISO, SCCASIoAJ.
Papers were read by Former Secre-
tary Worst, E. w. Randall, Fl. r. Shell
lenberger, B. +. Clayton, Prof. Wal
dron, DR.. T. D. Hinebauch and others.
The subject of H. r. Shellenberger's
address was Diversified Farming"
He said:
II believe there are few farmers
who will deny that some time the
present practice of raising grain and
selling the same will have to be aban-
doned, for the reason that it will no
longer pay. The soil will a to
produce crops even under the most
favorable weather conditions. This
has been the experience Of all the old
er Western states. When I went to
school the geography told us that I'LL
nois was the greatest wheat producing
state. Now, 1 believe, she stands fifth.
The leading wheat states are the new
er ones farther west. But in spite Of
this knowledge about the older states
we continue to confine farming to
raising grain and selling it. In East
ern Pennsylvania, about twenty years
ago, when farmers began to feel the
effects Of Western competition, many
farmers ceased to keep stock and sold
their hay. This was aptly called sell
ing the farm by the ton. We might
Just as aptly say u present practice
is selling the farm by the bushel. The
value Of the farm is reduced by every
crop we take from it without in some
way putting back the elements we
took from the soil. If we intend to
make the farm our home, and farming
our business for life, we must change
our tactics " the plant will soon be-
com worthless. We are killing the
goose that lays the golden egg."
At the second days session George N.
Lamphere of Moorhead delivered his
interesting address on the "History Of
Wheat in Red River Valley" about
the same as the recent st. Paul effort.
The subject Of the effects of Wind,
Climate, Soils and Seed Selections on
Wheat" was ably handled by Prof.
Sheppard Of South Dakota.
The paper by DR.. Herbert ]. Web
Der, in charge Of the plant-breeding
laboratory of the United States de-
.partment Of agriculture was interest
Ing. He discussed at some length the
origin of the cereals of the United
States and the importation Of all to
{his country from Europe, except corn.
&he growth Of the wheat industry was
discussed from a statistical standpoint.
Improvement by selection vas gone
Into scientifically, and the system
thoroughly explained and the history
Of the success Of this work related.
Improvement by hybridization, selec-
ton Of parents, composite crossing
with the improvements and selections
Of chance varieties were all explained.
MI. Weber is regarded as n Of the
highest authorities on the question in
The United States.
Condo Hamlin of St. Paul delivered
an address on Newspapers and Farm
ers.
III. u. Thomas, commissioner Of agri-
culture for North Dakota, said:
1.-THE raising of wheat is n Of the
principal industries of this Northwest
and how to secure q good yield and a
profitable one is the question. Every
farmer should raise what grain he
needs for hs own consumption, but I
am sorry to say that it is not always
done. Too many farmers buy more
feed than they raise. How many of
you know the best sort Of ground to
SOW wheat on? How often should II
be eown upon the same ground In
succession? How do you, and how
should you prepare the ground? Have
you carefully studied what kind of
wheat is best adapted to the soil on
your farm? What part Of your farm
is best suited for fax, corn or barley?
Do you put into the soil enough seed
to insure a good crop. Are you sure
you pillow deep enough to keep the
soil from washing and for the purpose
of holding the moisture? Have you
kept account of what it cost you to
raise an acre of wheat, oats, barley
or fax? And what profit there is in 1t
at the present market price per
bushel? Have you ever thought it
necessary to improve your seed? Do
you keep an account of what you do
each day? Do you open a wheat, fax
and other grain account?
1--WE are living in a very progressive
age and the wheels Of progress are
making many revolutions in a single.
year, and he who fails in whole or
mart to observe and inform himself
upon the leading topics connected with
his business, is liable to be turned un-
der and eventually ground to powder
by the car of progress. 1t is not the
educated few that need to be reached,
hut the masses, and while the agri-
cultural paper is doing o good work,
vet many who read cannot SO fully
understand and separate the true from
the false meat contained in an article,
however well written 1t may be, as
they can by having 1t brought on BY
TOU AE 49,