The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-06-21
FARMERS
INSTITUTE
Successful One Just Closed at
Center, N. Drop Con-
ditions Discussed,
Special to The Eyeninr WINE.

ditions Discussed.
T Special to The Evening Times.
Center, N. D., June 20.--FrOm the
speakers standpoint very successful
meeting has just been closed at Cen
ter. The attendance was large and
the farmers awake and we'll posted.
During the discussion of the different
topics presented. members of the
audience would quote from the station
bulletins and scientific writings with
an ease indicating long experience.
We have not talked to better posted
or more intelligent people anywhere
in the state.
Rains have been frequent and
heavy. The low places are all thor
oughly soaked and the cculies are full
OF running water. In our drive from
New Salem to. Center, distance of
twenty-four miles, we met with con-
slant surprises. The land is all set
tied. Many fine buildings are seen att
every turn. At one place we counted
twenty-six farm houses, large we'll
furnished homes, from single view
point. Very little land remains un-
fenced. Everything indicates prosper
ity. The settlers are here to build up
pleasant and comfortable homes.
Nearly every farmer has his herd of
well-kept dairy cows. The dairy in
dustry is we'll developed. Several pure
bred, registered herds are owned here.
The enterprise and public spirit shown
by the leaders in developing the dairy
work is having its influence in all the
surrounding country. We saw five
successful creameries in operation on
our trip to and from Center. With
prominence given the dairy industry
and business method of farming
there can be no doubt about the flu
ture OF the slope country.
Center is the county seat of Oliver
county In contrast to many places
visited it is dry town. In place of
the sightless pig there is flourishing
Sunday school and bible class. Every
citizen takes pride in the country and
their locality in particular. A band
of fifteen pieces furnishes a concert
and music during the meetings.
Everything seen left a good impress
sion, and 1t was with reluctance that
we left for our next institute.
On June IL and IA we held an in
stitute at Washburn, forty miles north
of Bismarck, on the east bank of the
Missouri.
Almost daily rains had kept flax
seeding from being pushed and most
of the farmers were busy seeding.
Court was In session and this helped
lessen the attendance. The attend
ance was small but when the condi-
lions were considered the wonder was
that we had any audience A meet
ing about two weeks later would have
been much better this year. On We'd
nesday evening the band in full uni
form gave concert in front of the
hal, after which we had fine meet
ing The hall was we'll filled and we
continued the meeting much later than
usual. Farmers came in a long dis
lance to the evening meeting.
The institute held at Dawson was
very pleasing and entertaining to the
speakers. The attendance was some
what small, but very enthusiastic
The wonder here was that the farm
ers would leave their seeding to at
tend the meetings.
Through the kindness of Mr.. Kip
ling we were able to see all the sur
rounding country for twelve miles. We
first visited Mr. Kipling's farm, two
miles from Dawson and inspected his
alfalfa field. Too small quantity of
seed was used, only eight pounds per
acre, yet fair stand was secured
The next morning at 5 we arose and
started on a visit to the Niles ranch,
twelve miles from Dawson. The 100
acres of alfalfa growing on this ranch
impresses one with the possibilities of
Kidder county. Mr.. Niles intends to
seed about fifty acres each year until
one section is growing this magnificent
hay and pasture plant. Some which
had been seeded for three years, gives
every promise OF success and was a
magnificent field.
A few years ago ten enterprising
men OF Dawson agreed to seed two
acres each to alfalfa. The trial made
on ten different farms created great
interest in alfalfa growing. With all
this experience on all sides of Dawson
a few farmers when asked if they
town, said they knew of none in the
county. Such experiences demonstrate
the value of having the farmers meet
as often as possible and discuss sub
jects of interest under the direction
VI SOule pIdCIACdi QeISOu uScu " III
stitutes.
On our way back to Dawson from
the ranch we drove by the beautiful
lake of Isabel, a lake about one mile
across, almost round, with wooded
shores and fed by springs. The sides
and bottom are sandy and gently slop-
ing, making an ideal summer resort.
At Center one large party of men
came in from long distance, bringing
a tent, and camped out during the
Institute These men came to learn
and practice improved methods. Moth
ing escaped them, they were the first
to arrive at the hall and the last to
leave.
The impression received in passing
through this country on the railroad
is far from right. When one drives
forty or fifty miles away from the
railroad at several different points
things look different. The institute
corps certainly has been greatly inn
pressed with the possibilities of the
slope country under the guidance of
the energetic people who are settling