The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-05-23
OUTLOOK FOR CROP
IN DAKOTA IS
VERY GOOD
Prominent Stockmen of Ben
son County Optimistic
Conditions Fine.

Lewis Pond, the we'll known agri-
culturalist and stOckman of Benson
county, was in Fargo yesterday from
Churchs Ferry to attend meeting of
the directors of the state fair associa-
ton.
Referring to crop conditions in his
county. Mr.. Pond declared he could
not help being an optimist for the
general outlook all along the line was
as satisfactory as could be wished for.
The soil conditions were never better
than they are this year. He does not
think that there will be any reduction
in, acreage for the blowing was nearly
all done last fall. The seeding has
nearly all been done and on early
sown land the rows of wheat are now
clearly defined and with few days
Of warm weather the fields will look
like sheets of velvet. The farmers
are watching the markets very close
ly and in more ways than one sub
serving 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 Churchs 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 big supply of material
for the 500 foot bridge across the cou-
lee at Churchs Ferry.
Mr.. Pond has recently returned
from a visit to see his parents in
Denmark. He left North Dakota Dec.
and went via Liverpool where he
spent two days. He then crossed the
midland counties to Harwick from
which point he sailed to Esberg. Dem
mark. After visits at his own home
with his parents he made tour and
spent over two weeks at Copenhagen.
His impressions were not favorable,
very different to what he expected,
especially in farming 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 expansion and enter
prise, for there is little more than a
living for a farmer and his family.
On some of the large farms and es-
tates some American agricultural ma
chinery may be seen. He found that
American mowers and binders were
very high in price compared to what
the farmers of the northwest have to
pay-the wholesaler 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 country and part
made across the water. German drills
are considered far superior to the
WITH q
them that they are more durable and
more accurate in the distribution OF
seed. He saw Mccormick and Deer
ing binders on sale, but they are al
most Injuries there. The manfuac-
turers of Denmark make a reaper
which they claim to be far superior
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 he took
and making studies of art, sculpture
great pleasure in visiting the art gal
leries and museums in Copenhagen
and painting. he spent whole days In
some of them and he also had very
enjoyable time at Hamburg, except
for the weather which was very dis
agreeable and fOggy.
Time. xanta xill supply your wants.