The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-07-27

nesota heretofore claimed to be the
timothy and clover region of the Uni
ted States. Elsewhere throughout the
state these tame fodder crops are also
found in the thrifty growth and album
dant yield and the practicability of
their successful culture in any part
of the state is now conceded.
Alfalfa, at one time deemed to be
incapable of successful growth, has al
SO proved its entire adaptability to
our soils and climate This has come
about entirely through the better, I'M
derstanding OF the plant growth of
this variety disseminated from federal
and state sources relating to the prop
er preparation of the land by bacterial
inoculation, and wherever this plan,
has been intelligently pursued, a
bounteous crop has followed.
+ Alfalfa Is Now Grown
as a permanent pasture and fodder
crop all over the state, especially along
the southern and wester tiers of coun-
ties, three cuttings per season being
obtained in many places. -..
No recital of the agricultural pos
sibilities of the state would be COM
plete without references to the wonder
, full conquest of natural obstacles as
demonstrated in the evolution of corn
as staple crop. For many years it
was claimed that it would not thrive
in so northern a latitude and but lit
tie attempt was made to prove the
contrary. A few doubling ones how
ever in the more southern counties be-
lieved otherwise and quietly under
took the development of hardy dent
and flint varieties which would mature
in the somewhat shorter seasons Of
North Dakota.
Success crowned their efforts, and
for the last fifteen years the northern
boundary south Of which corn could
be ripened has advanced northward
at the rate OF from ten to fifteen
miles per annum, until at the present
writing the state has at last been
firmly established within the
Corn Belt Of the United States.
In some counties along the southern
line yields Of from so to 20 bushels
per acre are by no means unusual,
while everywhere farmers who proper
ly tend their fields are certain of re-
munerative returns.
While North Dakota has been gen.
orally considered as state almost
exclusively given over to small grain
raising. the impression is by no means
true, and stock growing of all kinds
has thriven amazingly within its linn
'ts; cattle, sheep, and hogs raisel
here topping the markets in their re-
spectiye classes. ~ .#
In territorial and early statehood
days the larger part of the cattle be-
longed to the range class and were to
be found on the rich prairie plateaus
Of the western part of the state. With
the steady advance westward of the
farmer however free range became so
circumscribed and broken up that
change of methods was necessary.
| The old time ranch disappeared and
the large outfits of cattle were disper-
sed and sold. Inr their place the in
dustry is now represented by smaller
herds OF better bred and more profit
able animals. The same conditions
prevail in the horse and sheep indus.
tries. 81 "a.
The State tIs Gamer
BY the change, and while for time
a shrinkage in numbers was noted It
is certain that a few years will see
the number of livestock greater than
ever before.
The assurance that corn can be rails
ed plentifully and economically win be
a strong factor in securing this re-
suit and a promise of future state.
wide. conditions can now be seen in
the southeastern and southern coun.
ties where corn fattening Of cattle and
hogs has become an established BUSH
ness. W
SO rich is our soil in humus and 9TH
er plant-forming ingredients that buc
little artificial Fertilization with COM
mercial fertilizers has been practiced.
The most enduring soil, however, has
It's limitations and the policy of our
Instructors and students of soil1 con-
ditions has been to educate the farm
er Ito the necessity Of forestalling any
possible deterioration by the adoption
Of weli-balanced rotation which viii
practically maintain the fertility Of
the soil in Derpetuity.
il Fruit Raising Successful.
| The evolution which has already
been carried to successful issue with
regard to corn culture is now in pro.
cess OF being carried out with fruit
raising. Many. hardy varieties Of
small fruits are Indigenous the ststs
and the skiiful grower who follows
along these indicated lines has but
little difficulty in .acciimating many
tame varieties or the same kinds.
,wm~M Ad;nev v,aeraA