The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1907-05-22
OUTLOOK FOR CROP
in N. D. VERY GOOD
LEWIS POND, PROMINENT STOCK
MAN OF BENSON COUNTY, SAYS
CONDITIONS IN HIS COUNTY
WERE NEVER BETTER - WILL
BE NO REDUCTION.

Lewis Pond, the Wen known agri-
culturalist and stockman Of Benson
county was down from Churchs Ferry
last night to attend meeting of the
directors of the state fair association.
Referring to crop conditions in his
county, Mr.. Pond declared he could
not help being an optimist for the gen
eral outlook all along the line was as
satisfactory as could be wished for.
The soil conditions were never better
than they are tins year. He does not
think that there win be any reduction
In acreage for the plowing was nearly
all done last fall The seeding has
nearly all been done and on early sown
land the rows of wheat are now clear
ly defined and with a few days of
warm weather the fields will look like
sheets of velvet. The farmers are
watching the markets very closely
and in more ways than one subserv-
ing their interests in directions they
formerly gave little attention to.
Mr. Pond stated that the grading for
the G. N. double track from Devils
Lake to 1Churchs Ferry is completed to
Grand Harbor, more than half way,
that steel and ties have been distrib-
uted for the work along the road bed
and there is a big supply of material
Tor the 500 foot bridge across the cou-
lie at Churchs Ferry.
Mr. Pond has recently returned from
a visit to see his parents in Denmark.
fIe left North Dakota Dec. 6 and went
via Liverpool where he spent two days.
He then crossed the midland counties
to HarWick from which point he SAIL
ed to Esberg. Denmark. After visits
at his own home swith his parents he
made a tour and spent over two weeks
at Copenhagen. His impressions
were not favorable, very different to
what he expected, especially in farm
ing methods which he found nearly
twenty years behind the times and
everything is done so slowly. For one
thing the farms are so small that there
Is little chance for a show of expan-
sion and enterprise, for there is lit
tie more than a living for a farmer
and his family. On some Of the large
farms and estates some American ag-
ricultural machinery may be seen. He
found that American mowers and
binders We're very high In price COM
pared to what the farmers Of the
northwest have to pay-the wholesal-
er gets the big end of the profit there.
Notwithstanding that the freight. ocean
and rail is a very small matter. Some
machinery is part made in this coun-
try and part made across the water
German drills are considered far su-
.perior to the American article, it is
claimed for them that they are more
durable and more accurate in the dis
tribution Of seed. He saw McCor-
mick and Deering binders on sale, but
they are almost luxuries there. The
manufacturers of Denmark make a.
reaper which they claim to be far su-
.perior to the American machine. For
one kind of plow the mould boards are
shipped from the United States and
the remainder of the work is done on
the other side Of the Atlantic.
He found in general the farmers to
be very close and saving, in some in
stances they have TO be. They deny
themselves They will sell their own
butter at good prices and buy butter
substitutes for their own use.
Mr.. Pond declared that ne took great
pleasure, in visiting the art galleries
and museums In Copenhagen and max
Ing studies of art, sculpture and paint
ing, he spent whole days iii some OF
them and he also had very enjoyable
time at Hamburg, except for the wea-
ther which was very disagreeable and
foggy.