The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-01-20

we'll as nourish.
Population Racing With Production.
Increasing population has already
entered the race with agricultural pro-
duction. with the latter only few
laps in advance. A fruitful year sees
fair gain for the food supply, while
the effects of single bad year are
already noticeable. The margin of the
worlds food supply is not large at
any period. Moreover, future needs
can place but little dependence upon
increased acreage. The worlds chief
reliance for, food and tclothing there
fore, must be in improved farm man
agement. Fortunately for North Da-
kota and the northwest generally. we
| have not yet, to any alarming extent.
| impaired our one great patrimony.
| Though the tendency to initiate the
agricultural profigacy of every new
| country is strong, and while we have
| in many ways set a rapid pace in
soil exploitation, using the land as a
miner uses his mine instead of as
a farmer should use his farm, yet such
is the strength Of our soil and the in
telligence of our citizens that no grave
fears need be entertained of ultimate
soil lmpoverishment Warned by the
experience of other states, which cou
pied with far-reaching self-interest. if
nothing else, these should provide a
remedy.
Our principal agency for the pro-
duction of wealth in North Dakota con-
slsts or 44,900,000 acres of the most
| fertile soil, in its natural state. that
the sun greets in his daily rounds, rs
per cent OF which is admirably adapted
to the production of wheat, oats, bar
ley, rye, corn, and other forage crops.
The remaining Is per cent of North
Dakota's acreage is by no means q bar
rem waste, but rich in native grasses
upon which domestic animals thrive.
However, except for Ignite veins of
almost measureless extent, our com
monwealth has no other great natural
lresource. Upon the soil, therefore al
most exclusively must we depend for
the support of our institutions and
for our domestic prosperity. In other
words, the productive possibilities of
the state must always depend upon
the skill and intelligence with which
her farms are managed. From these,
every business and profession derives
success
the farmer depends the prosperity of
the banker, the profits OF the merchant,
the business Of the railroad. the we'll
being OF the lawyer, the drummer, the
butcher, the teacher, the dentist, the
preacher, the doctor, and all and sun
dry others, whether useful or other
wise, that go to make up the city and
village populations. How much atten-
tion, therefore, think you, should be
given to this one great, but not indie
structible gold mine?
How should the states educational
energies be exercised as toward OF
away from this one great industry
What other state interest so vital?
Wealth From Nature.
The wealth the farmer produces
comes from original sources, from the
RAIN air, sunshine and earth elements
and finds expression in the form OF
cereals, livestock, animal products
vegetables, hay etc., which are con-
yerted into gold, to find it's way, al
least about SIS per cent of 1t, into the
pockets of the non producers so vol
uminously enumerated but a moment
since. What should be their attitude
toward this potent, vet liberal in
/ dustry?
An industry thus vital to the pros.
: perity of all and upon which every
political business, professional, ans
institutional interest so signallv de.
/ ponds, should receive every possibl,
Y stimulus and encoura cement. Edu
eaton bearing directly opon agricul
ture and farm management, whetht
offered on the college campus in In
! farmers Institutes, or in convention
like this, should know no restrictions
Parsimony applied to any agency tina
stands for agricultural improvement
!. in an agricultural state is unwis
economy and comparable only to fool
ishly starving the proverbial goose tina
lays the golden egg. This type of edu
cation should stand in the forefront o
:. our educational system rather thai
! compelled, tardily, to bring ur tn
rear. Every dollar expended judicious
/. ly and efficiently here will speedil
return ten others for it's benefactors.
: Education is easily acknowledged t
: be the greatest world factor of toda
I for fixing the mental attitude of tn
: rising generation toward worthy &C
! tivities as well as for training for eff
\ ficient service in useful vacations. Pro
: gressive as we are in most things, w
are just waking up to the fact tina
the world of letters, of political llf,
OF manufacture and commerce offe
: no more scope-in fact. offer less scop
: for mental accumen, for business tai
: ent, for high ideals In service to fellos
! men, than the life where God and ma
J work so ultimately. hand In hand. i
agricultural pursuits.
Though agriculture is acknowledge
: to be the most necessary vocation /
! the world, as well as the oldest an
most honorable-the one absolutely in
despensible for mental, physical an
spiritual Development. yet from eminer
Z scholars and the educational system
! they have founded, agriculture ha
!. been given scant recognition wher
s not completely ignored. AS a conse
Z tquence. multitudes the world owe
y have erred grievously In changing fro1
Z urban to city life. because ignorant /
Z the marvellous possibilities of the Fl
{ tellect for redeeming rural life froi
: loneliness and GiigtastefuI drndger,
= only wit hin recent years has agricuItui
forced IT. way toward popular favx