Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1903-08-07
REDUCING Big FARMS.
How Great Tracts In the North
west Are Being Broken Up.
SETTLERS PREPARING HOMES.
william +. Curtis Writes of the
Changes In Minnesota and the
Dakotas-DiversiAed Farming In
Popularity-NRture of Crops Raised
In Arid sections.

Dakotas-biNersihed Farming In
creasing In Proftableness and
PopuIarity-Nature of Crops Raised
In Arid Sections.
The bonanza farms Of Minnesota and
North Dakota, which for many years
were the wonder of the world, where
10000, 25,OO0, 10000 and even 10000
undivided acres were planted to wheat
under the same management. are be.
ing broken up and reduced in size,
writes William L. Curtis from st. Paul
to the Chicago Record Herald The
reasons therefor are too many and too
complicated to be discussed in a news
paper letter, as they vary in almost
every case. There are advantages as
well as disadvantages in bonanza
farming" but as a rule few men are
capable of handling more than 5000 or
5000 acres. One reason worth men
tioning, however, Is that after the
financial depression of 1898 wheat
went down and remained down. while
land went up and remained up in price,
farms realized upon their property,
selling out large tracts to newcomers.
1t is also true that diversified farm.
ing is becoming more and more profit.
able and popular in North Dakota and
Minnesota, where poultry raising, dai-
rying and the cultivation Of vegetables
for the city markets is being gradually
adopted by the farmers. Minnesota
butter has been fortunate in taking
high prizes in several interstate compe-
titions, which has advertised it to the
world and stimulated prices. Flax and
corn are also being raised to a consider
able extent, and barley, oats and other
grains are now considered necessary
part of farmers crop, the proportions
being about the same as in other sec.
tions of the country.
Freak farming" is now obsolete In
the northwest In North Dakota par
ticularly flax has been gradually in
creasing its acreage and production
and is especially advantageous for
what is called "a breaking crop"-that
40, tAS NlOp Oll ItN ~ DIOhtlI
farms-because it more nearly pays
expenses than any other. The corn
acreage Is also constantly increasing in
North Dakota, and, although the fact
has long been disputed, there is no
trouble in raising good corn and large
crops. of it on that dry soil. In Mon
tana clover and alfalfa are receiving a
great deal of attention. A large area
of fine clover is now being raised in
the Gallatin and Bitter Root valleys,
and heavy acreage of alfalfa is now
to be found in the Yellowstone valley.
These valleys, with that of Clark's
fork and the Tongue river, are espe-
cially adapted to heavy forage crops,
and the so called arid section of Mon
tana, where irrigation is impossible, is
being slowly redeemed. In recent in
terview Frank W. Hail. assistant to
the director of the state experiment
station, said that good crops could be
raised in all or nearly every part Of
the arid section, provided care is TAX
en- In the selection of the grain or veg
etables.
Excellent wheat is being raised in
the arid district" said Mr.. Hall, 'and
a number of farmers are growing fine
crops of alfalfa and red clover where
irrigation is impossible and where the
land was believed to be hopeless des-
ert. Only one crop of forage plants
can be raised, however, without irri-
CATION instead Of two and often three,
as in the we'll watered regions. 1t is
expected that the result of our expert
ments will create an active demand for
land which has gone begging till now,
and steps are being taken to organize
q colony"