The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1909-02-25

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There never was a time in the
history Of farming when there
was such a demand for education
along scientific lines in this work.
North Dakota is essentially an
agricultural state. While some
manufacturing is done, and there
are rich mines of coal through
out the western part Of the state,
without farming and stock-rais.
ing, this state would hardly be
heard from in the outside world.
Therefore, it is clearly seen that
it is upon the farmer whom we
depend, in the main, for the de-
velopment Of North Dakota. Dur
ing the first two years after the
virgin sod has been turned over,
the average farmer, with fairly
good seed and a reasonable
amount Of moisture, can raise a
crop that will make him some
money. But, to make q success
of farming, year after year, to
increase the yield steadily in
stead of decreasing it, the farmer
has to combine good common
sense with scientific methods.
How is he to learn those methods?
Thro the report of the expert
ments from the agricultural col
lege-from the bulletins publish
ed by the agricultural college
one will say: Very we'll. But
how many of your farmers have
ever seen any Of these bulletins
that have been published year
after year at great expense? Per-
haps not one in Is have seen .ne
of these bulletins, let alone read
ing it. How is the best way of
disseminating this news, then?
The Independent believes that
the proper method is thru the
channels of the state press. The
average North Dakota editor
realizes that his farmer readers
will appreciate any efforts that
are made in his behalf. We came
to this conclusion when we start
ed our farm department. We will
venture to say that our readers
have a better idea of what is go
ing on in our agricultural college
since we have started this farm
department, than they ever did
before. Other papers should ke|
up this work that farmers the|
state over, who cannot take al
course in the agricultural college.
get the advantage of these ex-|
periments. The North Dakota
editors ought to be glad to pub
lish news that means dollars and
cents to the farmer readers. The
Independent believes that the|
state should provide for a full de-
partment at the agricultural COLI
lege. with a man Of strength and
force at its head, given no other
work than that Of acting as con-
sulting editor for the state press.
He should be given a chance to-
get out over the state and see for
himself what the local needs are.
he should get into personal touch
with the editors, and he should
have at his back the full strength
of the station staff. This would
call for an initial outlay of say
$4,000, but it would mean but a
few cents to Zach farmer, and
this would be practically all the
expense attached to this depart
ment: In return, each farmer
would get thru his local paper,
each week, a report from the ag-
ricultural college that would bel
worth a great deal of money to
him during the year. Much of
the bulletin printing could be
dispensed with, it would not be
needed at all. The state would
actually be saved a lot Of money
by this plan, and the farmers
would be better off. There is
nothing like this plan in America
to-day. The Independent knows
that the plan is a good one, and
we hope to see it worked out. It
does not mean a cent in the pock-
cts Of any North Dakota euitor.
only in an indirect manner, yet
we believe that every editor in
the state will join US heartily in
seeking for the betterment Of az.
ricultural conditions Of the state.
The Grand Forks Herald says
that Taft is not built on the right
lines to play tennis, and disputes
the statement made by the editor
of an eastern magazine that Taft