The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-09-20
PORTER TELLS OF
PROFITABLE CROP
SUPERINTENDENT OF NORTH
DAKOTA DEMONSTRATION
FARMS TELLS HOW A GOOD
CROP WAS RAISED AT WAHPE-
TON STATION THIS YEAR.

TON STATION THIS YEAR.
In an interview with The Forum, w.
r. Porter, superintendent of the dem
onstration farm at Wahpeton told how
good crop was raised there this
year. During his interview he gave
the exact procedure so that 1t will
be of benefit to the farmers OF the
state generally. He said:
This demonstration farm was es-
tablished in the spring of 1909 just
south Of the city limits Of Wahpeton.
The land selected was dn grass which
had been seeded down the year before.
1t was piowed up that spring when the
soil was little too wet. This puddled
it somewhat and that was followed by
drenching rains which increased this
bad soil condition. Late In the autumn
of 1909 a ditch was dug along the
south end of the farm. This ditch
empties into the Red river. A lateral
ditch was run along the side of each
field emptying into the main ditch,
This season this drainage system was
not necessary although it carried off
considerable of the snow water which
could have been used to good advan-
tage later on. Nevertheless this drain
age system will prove very valuable
in future wet seasons which are GER
tain to come.
Plot No. l produced a crop of hay
dn 1910 which yielded 1888 pounds per
acre. This land was plowed Aug. Is,
1909 which was approximately a month
too late to get the best results. April
2, 1t was disced. On ApriI IS, it
was narrowed twice with the peg
toothed harrow, and the next day it
was seeded with one and one-uuarter
bushels of Minnesota No. 1853 fife
wheat per acre. On April 25, before
the wheat was up the field was drag
ged once. The wheat was seeded
rather shallow which was an advan-
tage this year, as the weather was
very cold during May and early June.
The stand was good cary in the sea-
son but during June the drought af-
fected it very adversely as the soil
became very dry and large cracks
formed in the soil all over the field.
A heavy field as we'll as all other
fields in the vicinity of Wahpeton.
This field was cut July 81, and when
threshed ii yielded 1925 bushels per
acre machine measure. This land will
be MANFRED at the rate of ten loads
per acre this fall or winter. It will
be fall plowed and will be put in corn
next year.
Not No. was in barley last year
and with the barley medium red clover
was seeded at the rate of twelve
pounds per acre which proved to be
| considerably too thick. The clover
made ali excellent growth last wear
and went into winter in good condi-
ton. A few spots winter killed but
the stand in the spring was very good
1t withstood the very adverse weather
conditions last spring but the drought
OF June caused it to make very
feeble growth. 1t was in full bloom
when cut June %. 1t yielded 1878
pounds of excellent clover hay per
acre. The second crop never seemed
to grow any, the clover was able to
remain alive and that was all. A few
blossoms came out and such heads
are we'll filed with seed. but It will
not pay to cut. This field will he
piowed this fall to depth of five or
SIX lnches and 1t will be seeded to
ME wheat next year.
Plot No. 3 was in fife wheat last
year 1t was plowed to a depth OF six
inches. Sept. Z, 1909 April 13 II was
olsced May 2 it was narrowed and
on May 6 1t was seeded with one and
one-half bushels of N. d station No
Stl barley and ten pounds of medium
rcd clover. 1t was narrowed again the
Following day. The barley and clover
bcVh came up we'll and made an ex-
cellent growth early in June But the
drought proved very detrimental IN
both as the month advanced. On June
20 the barley was in the shot blade and
the stand was very thin. After the
| heaNy rain on that date it began to
puck up and seemed to gain every day
The barley was cut July 81 and yielded
twenfy-two and three quarters bush
els per acre machine measure. The
clover all died for lack of moisture
1nls Held will be plowed to a depth OF
OF fVe-s!x inches this fall and NEXT
spring 1t will be seeded with Canada
field peas at the rate of one and one
| half bushels and oats ait the rate of
one-half bushel per acre as soon as the
ground is fit to to work
Plot No. was planted to corn in the
spring of 1909 but as this drowned OUT
crop Of millet. was grown instea,
This field was plowed in the latte
part of October, but otherwise 1t re
ceived exactly the same treatment ~
plot No. l this year. The yield OF
wheat was sixteen and one-half bush
els per acre machine measure. Next
year this field will be put in barley
and clover as plot No. 8 was this Yea r
Plot No. was in millet last year 10,
the same reason plot No. was, II
was MANFRED at the rate of ten loads
Of manure per acre in the spring. II
was disced twice, April Is and Nav /:
respectively, and lit was narrowed thre,
times, May IL, 81 and 80 resnectivelv