The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-02-23
WILL BECOME
IMPORTANT CROP
Has Already Been Grown With
Great Success-Big Con-
vention Closes Today

This afternoon is witnessing the
closing scenes of the first annual Red
River Valley Corn and Clover con-
vention, the success Of which as
sures its becoming an annual feature
of Grand Forks. activities. With very
good attendances at the several ses-
sions held. and with deep interest in
the many problems discussed. the con-
vention has been extremely beneficial
from every point of view. and those
who are responsible for it's success
are to be congratulated upon the good
work they have thus been able to
bring about.
The Red river valley is destined to
grow great deal of both corn and
clover. and for that reason it has been
extremely fitting that this city, lying
in the very heart of the far famed
district, should take steps to place the
tillers of the soil in possession of
such information as is necessary to
successfully carry on the ~"owing of
thee products.
Session Today.
The question box, which is alway S
an important feature of an agricult-
ural convention, was given attention
at the opening session of the Red
River Valley Corn and Clover con-
vention today. For the first hour this
occupied the entire attention of the
large gathering of farmers, and some
exceptionally good points concerning
different phazes of agriculture in the
vo1oaHy hpN,,~hf 1,r, Il,
speakers who made replies to the
questions propounded.
Corn questions were apparently the
most numerous, and consequently
that subject was given more consid-
GRAFTON than the several others pro-
pounded. One matter in reference to
the corn situation was that of select
ing the brand to be grown. The
1uestiOner wanted to know what va
rieties had been grown with the most
success in the Red river valley, and
the replies that we're received were
different. some of the corn growers
having made success of growing a
certain variety, while others had made
good with another variety.
Yellow dent. or Minnesota 13, was
shown to have been used with con-
siderable success in the vicinity or
Grand Forks, whereas several other
varieties had been failures. North
western dent had also been grown
with some success in some localities,
while some golden dent had been tried
but not with as much success as had
been hoped for. At Neche one farm
er grows the mercer flint corn. which
has been of the prize winning class.
Some of the northwestern dent in the
last two years has not been as good
as other varieties.
The variety of corn that is most
certain of maturing depends entirely
upon the local conditions. In the Red
river valley, which extends over so
many miles. the conditions in one sec
tion differ largely from those in an
other, and where one variety could be
grown with success in one place. in
another it would be a failure Corn
that natures early enough to be clear
of the danger of frost in the fall is
desirable. and the prospective corn
growers were urged to watch out for
that condition. Years of experiment
ing can be done away with by select
ing the right variety the first time.
Kidding Land of Alkali.
The question of doing away with
alakli was another that came up for
consideration on one of the questions
propounded by member of the audi
ence. Drainage, it was shown, was
the line along which the farmers
must work to get rid of alkali. In
Colorado. where the allsali situation
was quite bad at one time, drainage
was used with splendid effect. The
draining out of the alkali leaves it in
shape for the growing of grains.
The doing away with quack grass
was another matter discussed. To al
low piece of land to be sown to
some kind Of grass, and cutting the
first crop Just before it seeds, follow
ing this by plowing down the field at
once. has been worked with effect It
is necessary to plow deep and and
plow line. The use of a gang plow,
set deep, Is the best. 1t will require
four horses to pull such a load. and
1t is rather slow work. but effective.
Live Stock Work.
Col. r. A. Wilkinson of st. Elmo,
NTirM., formerly farmer of the Red
river valley. occupied the time of the
convention this morning by giving an
address on the live stock work. He
spoke Of now the farmer is now CON-
ing into his own. They stand higher
socially and commercially.
The demand today is equal to the
supply, and perhaps larger, and that
fact means larger prices FOR the pro-
ducts. There are now but thirty-five
;.cv cert of the people OH the farm,
and they produce more wealth than
tle o,ier siXty-tive per cent.
The farmer is conservative. He
tries the rev things before adopting
them. anI ,rows ;!tn them rather
than jumps Into ::,,,:l. Tic continuous
grain growing Of lie Past years has