Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1910-07-14
BETTER FARMING TRAIN
ENDS TR|f 10 COAST

MOST ATTENDANCE AT Lee
TUREs. TRAIN A BUSI-
NESS PROPOSITION
The better farming train which
visited North Dakota on the lines of
the N. P. continued its trip of in
struction westward to the Pacific
coast. 1t ended the journey at the
last meeting at Sprague, WASH, July
8. Two weeks were spent in North
Dakota, the train made 33 stops and
10000 people visited the train.
Two weeks were spent in Montana.
Forty-four stops were made. The at
tendance was light. One week was
spent in Washington; twenty stops
were made and 5000 people attended
the sessions held.
The North Dakota and Washington
exhibits were quite similar, both in
cluded stock and quite complete ex-
hibits of grains, grasses, dairy equip
ment, horticulture.
The Washington train, however,
had no home economics exhibits or
poultry exhibit, but was especially
strong in horticulture, having exhi-
bits illustrating insect diseases, right
and wrong methods of pruning and
grating, spraying and pruning equip
ment.
In Montana the train carried no
stock and the equipment was such as
was needed for illustrating the lee
lures.
North Dakota Had Auto Record
North Dakota furnished by far the
larger attendance, and in no state did
SO many farmers come in automo-
biles. In no place was there so much
evidence of prosperity, or SO many
farmers living on their own farms.
In Montana and Washington the
main topics were dry farming and
fruit growing.
It has bee very dry in Washing
ton and Montana as well as in North
Dakota. There has been practically
no rain since the middle of April. In
fact the driest year known since
farming began. Those who have
practiced dry farming have fine crops,
while the crops that put in any
old way are suffering, and it will
take rain to make crop. The last
few years having been exceptionally
favorable for crops, most farmers
have neglected cultivating to save
moisture and this year this will in
many instances result in failure. On
this account the teaching of the Bet
ter Farming" lecturers came with
unusual force, and many farmers
wished that they had taken heed to
the teachings of the agricultural col
lege experts.
D. E Willard, development agent of
the Northern Pacific railroad was
with the train throughout the trip.
He was very much pleased at the
fine attendance in North Dakota. In
North Dakota he was assisted by w.
E. Alair, assistant general freight a.
gent. In Montana by w. H. Merri-
man, division freight and passenger
agent and through Washington by
w. ]. Jordan, general agent of the N.
P. railroad. Many of the other Off
cials we're with the train.
In North Dakota T. A. Hoverstad,
superintendent of farmers institu-
tes, had charge of the demonstration
work. Through Montana F. S. Cool
ey, superintendent of farmers iHsti-
tutes of. that state, had charge, and
in Washington r. w. Thatcher, dr.
vision superintendent Of farmers in
stitutes, was in charge.
1t was the eleventh demonstration
train run in Washington and the
fourth one sent out by the Northern
Pacific railroad.
This closes a 1000 mile trip sent
out by the Northern Pacific railroad
for the purpose of bringing the in
struction of the agricultural college
to the people. 1t will not be easy to
estimate the increase in crops that
will result, the increase in dairying,
the increase in fruit growing, and the
increased conveniences in the home.
Prof. Willard in explaining the pr.
pose Of sending OUT the train stated
that it was q business proposition,
that as the farmers grew bigger crops
there would be more business for the
railroad. and the railroad is willing
to stand some Of the expense In sett-
ing these larger yields.
There is no agency In the United
States that has so much to do with
creating prosperity and good homes
aa the a1ricu1turAl colleges and the