The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-03-26
VISIT At A TYPICAL
NORTH DAKOTA
FARM
A. X. Bush Writes Very Inter
estingly Of Trip to Havana
Farm.

A. X. Bush. in Tho Northwestern
Agriculturalist: While doing work
with the farmers Institutes OF that
state. three years ago, it was our good
fortune to enjoy the hospitality of
Williamson Bros, OF Havana, n D.
We were much pleased with the large
stock CT cattle and horses on their
farm oil $500 acres, located On the
south side of the hills in the beautiful
pleasant valley.
Their artesian we'll, just completed
at the time of our visit, was an item
of more than ordinary interest to us.
The water, of temperature ideal for
the stock in winter, Game gushing
from the we'll with pressure OF more
than 100 pounds to the square inch.
The supply was piped through the
barnyards and into watering troughs
which, in midwinter, were entirely
free from ice. The overflow was at
that time conducted into shallow but
dry lake bed near the home buildings.
Sail beats, bath houses and other con-
veniences add to its attractions We
envy our North Dakota friends who
with flowing wells can make it Dos
sible to enjoy such homo luxuries.
The water is harnessed to supply
power for grinding feed and handling
grain in the 10000 bushel elevator.
This elevator is modern in every re-
spect and provides storage for sur
plus grains, which are fed or marketed
at the convenience of the owners. Car
famines do not worry or discommde
them or others who have such storage
or their farms.
The expense of sinking a two and
one-half inch we'll, the size most pop
ular with the farmer, has been greatly
reduced of late. Improved machinery
and experience has made it possible
for the we'll drillers to complete a JOB,
furnishing all material and insuring
plenty of water without mud, for less
than $500. If it so happens that nat
ural gas is found in combination with
the water, an artesian we'll at the
price named is certainly wise in
veStment.
There was time in the history of
their stock business when Williamson
Brcs. came to the city stcckyards with
matured and finished animals in large
numbers, and when sold, they bought
from the same yards high grade calves
and yearlings to take their places in
the pastures at home. They are now
able to produce these on the farm, hav-
ing fine herd OF Aberdeen cows
headed with a noble sire of the same
family of cattle. They are also breed
ing some fine Percheron horses, hav-
ing beautiful brilliant stallion at
their service.
This ranch depended wholly on the
native grasses for hay and pasture
until quite recently. Now they grow
corn for grain and fodder in large
fields.
This is supplemented with the tame
grasses in good variety. Timothy,
brcmus and the clovers are in use for
beth hay and pasture. They are now
experimenting in small way with
alfalfa. The crop gives promise of
becoming the dependable grass of that
country. It has been grown very sue
cessfullly for years on the other or
west side of the Missouri slop. When
the know how" CT managing alfalfa
is fully acquired. We believe i. will be
grown as stable crop in all portions
of the Mississippi valley. 1t is GER
tainly coming our way and taking the
same route that was travelled by the
Colorado potato bug years ago. There
are certainly great possibilities for
stock as we'll as grain farming on the
prairies of the northwest. However,
they should go hand in hand to he the
nest profitable.
In our opinion the Williamson Bros.
are on the right road to success. Live
stock is neglected by the average grain
grower, who soon so exhausts the
firtility of his lands to such an extent
that profitable crops are the exception
rather than the rule. Shall We hear
from others with photos and descrip-
items of their farms? All such things
add to the value of your own property
and that OF adjacent farms. Every
farmer should be interested enough in
his own neighborhood to work for its
advancement. Tell others what you
are doing, show them pictures Of your
improvements. and thus incite them