The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-02-01
Necessity Of Farmers Knowing
Something About the Soil

knowing something about soils and
how to conserve them, was delivered
by Arthur Murphy, a student Of the
agricultural college, This address was
especially interesting to the farmers
who have no children In the college
as 1t gave them an idea OF the manner
in which the subject rs handled at the
institution.
Mr.. Murphy said In full as follows:
"That this Is a subject of the ut
most importance to the farmer, cam
not be doubted by the most skeptical
observer OF agricultural progress. III
you were to ask me what / consider
one of the most important diversions
OF agricultural study, ! would not
hesitate TO tell you that the study OF
soils is one of the most important,
IL not the most important Of all study
pertaining to agriculture.
"I'he production OF our soils affects
directly our whole great rural popula-
ton. 1t affects indirectly the whole
group OF living organisms. every class
of society, from the day laborers to
| the great captains of industry, every
instructor from the common school
teacher to the heads of our largest
educational institutions. whether
our work lies In religion or politics,
| we are dependent upon the products
produced from the soil for our daily
support whether this means food,
clothing or shelter. There is no class
| of people who are more directly forced
TO consider this subject than the
farmer of today. There is no nation
to which this great subject of our
l. uH,n ~
America. In the United States there
are over 5,500,000 farms. The produce
OF these farms in one year supplied
our over S0,00O,000 people with agri-
cultural products, besides exporting
ga per cent of the total exports of the
nation for that year. This in itself
| is proof of the vast Importance of the
subject under consideration. Yet, In
| spite OF it's great significance, / win
| say that there is no agricultural SUBJ
ject of Importance on which the av-
erage farmer is so poorly educated.
THAT the average farmer is almost
totally ignorant of the formation OF
soils or methods of proper tillage is
only made too evident by brief dis
cussion and study of some of our AM
erican agricultural sections. The
dents are not educating themselves
on this important subject as thor
oughly as the demands of our condi-
tions require. We find great many
farmers educated as well as a maiori-
| ty of our agricultural instructors
when it comes to the knowledge of
some particular breed or live stock
We also find great many gardeners
! having good knowledge of the prod
ucts they raise, and the general mar
Eket conditions affecting the same. we
again find many poultry and dairy
men pursuing their occupations with
great skill, but scarcely ever do we
4 find any of these or any other farmer
possessing a fair knowledge of the soil
| that he tiIls.
why these conditions exist at
present Is hard to tell. Il may be be-
cause soil is the most common ma
terial with which we are brought in
| contact. 1t may be because It is con-
sidered by the great majority of q
minor Importance. 1t may be on ac-
count of lack OF artistic attraction
TO the human eye. Perhaps It Is be-
Ecause the problems OF soils Is difficult
for the average individual to compre-
hend. 1t may be one, all or none OF
these suggestions, but whatever is the
reason for the farmers not possessing
a good knowledge Of soils, the build
ing and, maintaining of more pro-
ductive soil, 1t should be banished at
once. We have not the time to con-
tinue the extravagant methods Of the
past, to see how low our soil may be
brought in plant food and still pro-
duce plant growth
"Statistics show that the Yield OF
cereals have been gradually decreas-
ing in the past score OF years In this,
the once greatest large grain growing
lcountry in the world. The yield of
wheat has decreased until now the
average is only about thirteen BUSH
els per acre. Other small grains have
decreased in about equal ratio. When
we thus see our yields decreasing
from year to year, and our population
increasing annually, by the thousands,
1t becomes very evident that most
important problem confronts the
whole farming nation. However, this
is not a problem for the purchasers,
the politician, the day laborers, or
lsven the capitalists, but It is a prob
lem that must be lifted exclusively to
the farmer or the agriculturist FOR its
solution. II the problem OF son de-
Ecreasing in fertility does not Gym
mand the most worthy attention of
the farmer, then to what class of peo-
pie can 1t be referred? who OF ali
our great classes should give more at
tention and study to this important
problem Of soil fertility than the
farmer?
/ = 4.
+T do not believe that every farmer
must be a soil specialist, in order that
he possess the necessary knowledge to
keep his farm at d high standard But,
i do believe that every farmer should
know the fundamental principles that
govern soil fertility The more the
tialer knows about soil and its man
agement, the better fitted he will be
to keep HIS farm in a profitable condi-
ltion. We find ourselves now at d
thine when we must produce large
Yields in order to meet our increasing
national expense, ana provide for our
increase In population. IL we are to
lprogress up the scale Of citizenship
IL we are to be admirers OF aesthet-
les, II we are to provide food and
uther material Of comfort and pleas
ure. we must hrst see that our soil
producing power Is kept at an increase
rather than allowed to decrease by
wastef,ll methods.
"Our great northwestern grain fields
have been brought to their present
low yield principally through lack
Of common knowledge OF the soil. ]
do not blame the hard working, honest