Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-01-24
THE FARMERS
INSTITUTE
ENDS SUCCESS
full SESSION
INTEREST AND ATTENDANCE
KEEPS UP TO LAST HOUR
OF SESSION
COMMERCIAL CLUB ENTITLED TO
GREAT CREDIT FOR ITS
WORK THEREFOR
FARMERS GREATLY ENJOYED
MEETINGS AND WANT THEM
REPEATED

The second days work of the Farm.
ers Institute was well attended at
the forenoon session and the inter.
est shown at the close of the previous
day had. not abated nor lessened in
any way, but was rather more in.
tense. The attendance was large and
the work went off with vim that
was exceedingly satisfactory.
| The general discussion was along
the same lines as that taken the pre-.
vious forenoon, but more in detail
and closer to the special branches of
the subject under consideration.
Mr.. Gregg took up the first part of
the work by talking about the vast
ing Of soil by the wind. This develop.
ed into the fuller subject of soil rob.
berry and it was discovered that the
land robbers of the country did not
consist solely of swindlers and land
grafters who despoiled the public
domain, but that the winds and weeds
were far greater robbers, and that
where the loss to the people was large
in the first instance, it was mere
bagatelle compared to the more quiet
robbery of every farmer in the state
by natures elements And how to
prevent it was the question The first
effort was to find out how it was done
and then the application of the rem
edy would the more easily follow.
Shelter belts and farm groves ma.
turally came up as thief catcher to
prevent soil robbery. Grass roots and
humus were other agencies relied up.
on to prevent much loss from these
despoilers of the soil fertility. Then
came the true methods of culture
whereby means to an end could best
be attained.
Next came up the subject of alfal-
ia and the clovers. This subject soon
turned the institute into an expert.
ence" meeting and real love feast"
! Senator Alex. Mcdonald of Emmons
county, started the ball rolling by
making some assertions as to what
was being done in his county and
then introduced s.. E. Kurtz of Hazel.
ton, who for about six years had been
recognized as one of the successful
men in cultivating alfalfa.
/ Mr.. Kurtz denied his ability as a
public speaker but said, perhaps, he
could answer some questions. Well,
the way he had to face a running fire
of questions for the next half hour
would have proved the undoing of any
man not fortified by actual expert
ence
But MIR. Kurtz had the facts and all
the theory of dry weather, lack of
bacteria, winter kill, depth of water
in the soil and every other question
that experience or skepticism could
suggest was answered clearly and
frankly to the satisfaction of all and
there can be no doubt that there is
at least one farmer in the state that
is making a real success Of alfalfa.
i But the discussion developed the
| fact that not one, but many men in
this and neighboring counties, were
successfully growing alfalfa and clov-
ers.
1 Prof. Shaw explained how the rich
ness OF the soil was being depleted
by the present way of growing grains
and how to stop this depletion. This,
too, was ably handled
The enthusiasm was intense when
the chairman adjourned the meeting
on account of the arrival of the noon
hour. but he did not succeed in clear
ing the hall, as there remained little
groups and knots Of people discussing
4 the various subjects, and instead Of
one general institute, there were a
dozen little ones working with renew.
ed zeal and energy.
The subject of organizing business
club of the farmers was spoken of
and a formal discussion was decided
upon for the afternoon.
i Afternoon Session
! The afternoon session Of the farm
ers' institute was short one, as the
conductor had to take the train for
Valley City, yet in that short time
much was accomplished.
! The responsibilities of forestry were
discussed and the needs Of certain
kinds OF wood to meet the absolute
demands Of the farm were consider.
ed. Willows for posts and as shell
ter breaks for houses, orchards and
as means to allow other kinds Of
| timber to get started was recommend.
| ed.
! A number of people spoke of their
experience in growing apples and it
was. surprise to the uninitiatad IN