The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-10-01

FOLLOWING Is the complete address
that was delivered by Jas. j. Hill at
the Richland county fair at Wahpeton
last Tuesday. He was introduced by
B. f. Lounsberry.
Mr. Hill said: Ladies and gentle
men. 1t is always a pleasure to me
20 speak on the subject of agriculture.
II is always pleasure to me TO be
able to raise my voice at any time and
any place in behalf of an interest that
is so important to all the nation. And
If it Is important to the nation, ii is
particularly important to the people
of North Dakota. You have as your
great asset, soil and climate, and il it
were not for your soil and climate you
could not live here, there would be no
city, no town, no churches, no schools,
no people. The agricultural interest
In this country, as it has been
throughout the history of the world,
is the foundation of all other indus
tries. The value Of the annual crop
taken from the fields Of this country
has been eight and one-half to nine
billions of dollars. All other indus
tries grow out of it. Eight and one
half to nine billions of dollars, not
made by taking other materials and
putting them together but creating II
anew out of the ground, that is what
we measure, or may measure in the
mind as the value of the agricultural
crop. And the value and Importance
OF the agricultural crop for the people
of this state Is paramount, and it al
ways win be paramount.
VcGknrlaNr T..
kota, at Mitchell. l had not been
there for ten or twelve years. When
was there the last time land was sell
ing at from $40 to SIS per acre. Yes
terday / saw farms which had been
sold at 800 to Sis an acre, and some
that could not be bought at any such
figure. Now, their land is In no par
ticular better than yours. They may
have little advantage in the matter
OF climate, but ten or twelve years ago
they did not know and were not sure
that they could raise corn, and / am
not sure but you can raise as good a
crop Of corn as they can.
Boosts Alfalfa.
There Is another crop that thew have
started to raise that If / had to
choose between corn and alfalfa. 1t is !
4 new crop in this country, and is not |
we'll understood. The average farmer
loes not understand the nature of the
plant, he has not had the experience. |
but alfalfa today under reasonable |
conditions will yield $40 an acre. There |
S no reason why alfalfa would not |
grow here as we'll as it will grow any |
where in the whole country. They are |
aising the best alfalfa that / know |
If in the United States, and that
which brings the highest price for
iced in the Milk river valley, $50 |
niles north Of Wahpeton.
Two young Germans who, when they |
anne to this country, worked as sec
lon men on the Great Northern rail-
Dad, took up piece of land, and they
AVE been raising alfalfa and selling
eed to the government, and 1t has
letted them over $50 an acre for seed,
nd they had the hay left, and there
5 no limit to the use to which this
rop can be put. Today they are grind
ng 1t into meal, the alfalfa hay ground
nto meal, shipping the meal into Neb-
aska and other western states, and
asst as far as New Jersey, Connecti-
ut and Rhode Island, and so on, US
lg the meal even to feed the poultry.
Alfalfa and Corn.
Alfalfa and corn, a little corn 20
nish with, Is the best feed for cattle.
Or fat cattle, that we have. There is
othing better for hogs. Hogs win do
n an alfalfa field in the summer, keen
rowing and be finished off in the ear
fall and early winter and there is
money In hogs. When a man can
aise pig in eight months that will
7eigh from 21O to 23O or 24O pounds
nd will bring him $40, it does not
AXE much of a mental effort to settle
q your own mind, whether you would
ather raise that pig or cultivate an
ere of corn. Now, $40 for an acre of
orn would not be very good income.
ought to leave about S12 net, and
land will yield $12 net, 1t is paying
0 per cent on $3.50 an acre, and there
not an acre of land anywhere in
he valley that is not worth more than
100 per acre if it Is we'll cultivated.
In the matter of land, there has been
90 much left for providence to do.
providence Is good and providence al
rays points in the right direction and
lways has and always will point in
ne direction in which, or to which
re- must look for our prosperity, and
re must do our share. Providence has
one her share and we must do ours,
nd with good cultivation you can I
ct good return.
If a man will not cultivate his land &
-
ntil feel am making myself liable
, be indicted as common scold- !
ut IL a man will not cultivate his ;
IND. let him get off it, and get out ]
the way, sooner or later he will be
AIKEN out of the way, and in the grave
ard, and someone else will have an .