Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1901-07-18
VALUE OF

The practical value of the co-opera-
ton of the farmers OF the state with
the state agricultural college and ex-
pertinent station at Fargo, made pos.
sible by the railroads, in granting re-
duced rates for parties of farmers to
visit the college, is demonstrated by
the results of these excursions. The
Northern Pacific road is just at present
taking parties OF farmers from several
counties to the college There they
benefit from practical observation OF
the methods of scientific farming in
progress. They e and learn the re-
suits OF experiments that have been
made at the college and obtain new
ideas for practical work. Some OF the
things learned by the Stutsman county
farmers who went down to the college
are thus outlined by the Jamestown
Alert:
The growth of Bronze grass was one
thing that specially interested the
farmers from this part of the state and
the success in growing that grass
showed the possibilities Of raising a
supply of hay. Bronze grass kills all
wild barley and weeds and is a hardy
plant. After it has been grown for a
number of years on the same ground
it gives the soil special strength for
other crops. It makes a fine pasture
grass, and farmers who saw the success
of the crop are enthusiastic over the
crop.
The folly of attempting to grow fax
repeatedly on the same ground was
shown. Flax seeded in 1895 and
planted continually since, showed a
field, in which nearly every spear died.
Flax is not good for owe two crops
on the same land, and should not be
sown over one inch in depth, as that
depth is found to bring the best re-
suits. 1t will not come up to advan-
tage for over three crops and tends to
kill itself even on rich ground. :
Wheat which was sown on corn
stubble showed a fine prospect as it
did on ground following millet. By
rotating wheat on ground that has
sowed to other crops as above, a bet
ter result is had than by summer fall
lowing. The experiments are shown
by stripes of ground planted in various
crops. Wheat following bronze grass
is specially gtod. .
The different growths and varieties
Of wheat shown fully, and the work
Of trying to breed new and better va
rieties seen. r
5 The best results in killing weeds by
eultivating the ground were seen.
Summer fallowing early and blowing
back by August first gave the best re-
suits. 49,. -
The killing of pepper grass has been
a special subject of experiment by the
college force: By sowing wheat con-
~tinuously wild oats come themselves,
without seed and a field that had been
sowed to clean wheat for a number OF
years showed how the wild oats had
taken it and, how they had tended to
Improve.
The value OF rotation of crops seen on
every hand. Beardless barley was
recommended. as the leading variety
and white Russian oats were found to
be the best vaSiety of that crop, as it
generally known {:
Good success is had in growing tim
othy for hay, and a second crop is a
good yield the same year.
Another fine fodder grass is the al
falfa. At the station it grows thick
and heavy, and is a fine feed for stock,
and lis a fine dry year crop. Flax
showed well on ground that had been
soWed In bronze grass whose roots
spread and mat thick and, which will
last for ten years without repIanting,
as a prolific fodder crop, but 1T is found
advantageous to follow it after a few
years with sorne other and more profit
able crop OF grain.
The station barns that were burned
are being rebuilt and with new facili-
ties better exhibition OF this indus
try viii be seen. Experiments In de-
termining the best varieties for butter,
beef and cheese will be made with diff
ferent kinds OF feed. a silo for corn
has been built. This Important pari
Of the college work for SO large an area
ofthe state, Will be taken up in earn.
est as soon as possible, and the live
stock department made a leading feat.
ure m the station
Senator CLARK of Montana will Iose
more than he will gain III his sui
@sSAs@.EA 81 4Sa.I4ta4 80 q. 100 xB Ss&SAf5HBS