The Dickinson press., 1908-06-20

given new IDEAS OF conditions IN CQlS
vicinity, so that the meeting was Of
mutual benefit.
The institute opened at 10 o'clock
in the forenoon with T. A. Hoverstad,
superintendent of Institutes in North
Dakota, as chairman. The list of
speakers present, most of whom gave
addresses on their s~pecialties, includ.
ed Professor Shaw of the Minnesota
agricultural college, a noted expert
menter in soil conditions and posi-
bilities; Prof. Lindfeld, superintend.
ent Of experiment stations in Montana,
who has made a study of alfalfa grow.
Ding and the conservation of moist
ure; Prof. Shepperd, dean of the North
Dakota agricultural college, a special
list in dairying and branches pertain.
ing to it; Prof. Cooley of the Montana
experiment stations, a we'll known
worker among all lines, and William
Porter, who has charge Of the demon.
stration farms in North Dakota.
General Discussion.
supt. Hoverstad opened the insti.
tute explaining the purpose Of the
gathering and urging the farmers to
be free in asking questions and par.
ticipating in the general discussions.
1t was brought out by queries to the
audience that the average yield OF
wheat per acre in this vicinity is only
about 9 or 10 bushels. This Is very
low and does not leave much of a
profit. The principal a is that
the soil is too dry. There is not
enough moisture. BY the practice OF
summer following, it was developed
that crops are increased n hundred
per cent.
The average rainfall in this section
Is about Is inches. The general opin.
Ion of those present was that from s
to 8 inches of rain at the right e a
son of the year would make the soil
moist enough to yield good crops of
grain.
The question OF live stock was dis.
cussed, mainly to enable the speakers
to determine what the farmers here
desired the most to have discussed. In
answer to queries as to the amount
of stock kept in this vicinity, it was
learned that most farmers keep cattle
and sheep in large numbers, and soma
hogs. It was the sentiment OF q good
many that the farmers are going into
the dairy business and more ev'
cry year. Supt. Hoverstad emphatic.
ally stated that when this has hap
pened, the grain crop will increase
two and three fold. In the raising Of
hogs, the market is generally at Dick
inson, but the home supply. is not
large enough to meet the demand, and
carloads Of pork and other meats are
shipped here every year.
Returning to the discussion Of grain
raising, It was universally conceded
that the best crops were raised by
breaking in June and planting the fol-
lowing spring. In one instance the
average yield was IA bushels to an
acre, and in another II bushels. The
discussion was then concluded, hav'
ing furnished the speakers with plen'
ty of material to work On.
Fertility Of the Soil.
The first speaker was Professor
Shaw, whose subject was "The Fertili:
ty of the Soil" Ten years ago, the
speaker said, he spoke at an institute
here and suggested to the farmers
hat corn would be grown by them
They laughed at him, but the results
of these years have proved his state
.ment, and while some of his sugges
lions at this time might prove just as
ridiculous, they yer no less liable to
iecome a fact than the raising Of
corn.
The farmers around Dickinson, he
said, were fortunate in n respect
Much of the ground remains untitled
and what has been cultivated has moi
yet lost its fertility. He urged the
farmers to cultivate their land so thai
the goodness of the soil will be saved
twenty-five years ago. according t
the results Of a general investigation
throughout the state, the average
!. yield OF wheat per acre was 20 o
rs bushels. Now 1t is only 12h bush
els, a reduction Of half. This is alarm
ING, and It is safe to suppose that
continuance Of the same methods vii
reduce the yield to only 6A bushel
in another Is years.
The farmers Of North Dakota hav