Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-11-04

brought up on the farm, that it was
pioneering indeed for him. But such
lessons as those learned are now be-
ing taught earnestly to many, and 1t
was here explained how Hoverstad
and Hays did their work that has led
to such results in what is now known
as "dry farming" and Mr.. Gregg as
serted that the words dry farming
were not a misnomer, but a thing to
b. proud of, and that the country
where such methods we're needed
had 50 many advantages over the
countries where they had too much
rainfall in certain seasons, and often
not enough at critical periods, that
the advantages were in favor of
country with a moderate rainfall like
central and western North Dakota.
Experiences in Colorado.
Then the speaker went into detail
and explained his work for two
years in the institutes IN Colorado,
and the lessons there learned, and
that the people of this state did not
realize the value of their inheritance,
and that he was thankful that he
could apply the lessons by dry farm
ing instead of working in mud and too
much water.
Then deep blowing and thorough
tillage was discussed until the meet
ing had adjourned for tbs noon hour.
After Noon Session.
The afternoon session opened with
a surprise to the conductors. Every
seat in the hall was occupied and
many were seated on boxes, tables,
etc.
The public school was dismissed or
rather Mr.. Brown, the principal, tran
sferred the school work from the
school building to the hall, and a
better behaved lot of school children
would be-; hard to find in any state,
and the Intelligent manner in which
these pupils followed the discussions
was indeed encouraging.
There were three addresses in the
afternoon. In the first Conductor
Hoverstad claimed that the chief in
dustry of the state must be agricul-
ture, regardless of the great value Of
the ranching, coal, and other inter-
ests, and that all matters of real
value to the people, the retaining and
improving the richness of the soil,
was the greatest, and that not for
a year or two, but for hundreds of
years this necessity must be the
chief interest of all the citizens. That
grain growing was the great essential
OF agriculture, but that this must be
so done as to increase the yield per
acre and retain and improve the fer
tility of the soil.
Mr. Hoverstad said that he had
no doubt that this could be done and
then gave his views upon the manner
in which it was to be accomplished.
This was by careful rotation OF
crops so as not to exhaust. the eEe-
ments in the soil faster then they
were replaced, by going back to ma
lures way and find the grasses to
produce and consume on the farm and
to avoid or stamp out plant disease.
But he claimed that rotation prop
er was impossible without live stock
on the farm.
Mr.. Gregg took the platform at
the close Of Mr.. Hoverstad's address
and first spoke on the value of Leg
luminous Plants"
He said that If the many chemical
elements needed in the soil that ma.
ture could be relied upon to furnish,
If the tiller of the soil used due
prudence, except three, and Of these
three, nitrogen, phosphoric acid and
potash, that the clovers would draw
the nitrogen out of the air If given a
chance, and that alfalfa would bring
down the nitrogen and dig down deep
and bring up the potash,
. Then In mastery way he explain.
how this was done.
S:7 The next speaker was J. X. Doran