The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-01-05
ROBINSON SPEAKS
FOR CONSERVATION
Declares It Is a Fundamental
Movement for Larger Returns
to Earnest Effort.

D. u
impress upon the people of South Da-
kota the great Importance attached to
the great joint meeting of conserva-
tionists, developers, good readers and
Try farmers which liz to be held In
Pierre on January % to 2s inclusive
II do not think so much Of gen
uine educational and inspira tional val
ue was ever before crowded into a
weeks program for any gathering In
this meet :, The states most vital
interests will be discussed by the men
most competent to treat the various
topics, many of the speakers being OF
national reputa ton. and In addition
every opportunity will be afforded the
delegates to express their views on
every proposition advanced.
1T is hardly necessary to dwell upon
the benefits to be derived from the
conservation OF our natural resources
In soil, in waterpower, timber and
manhood. 1t is the way of accom-
plishing II that interests every one and
1t is these ways which have been tried
out that will be discussed.
The most vital problem OF all per-
tains TO the conservation, cultivation
and development OF our soil. Climatic
conditions In South Dakota are such
that in the average year scientific cul-
tivation along the lines best adapted
to our condition will add 80 per cent
to the productiveness of the soil over
ordinary cultivation by old methods.
The significance Of this fact is tre-
mendous.
Under ordinary methods the aver
age yield in South Dakota for the past
f.r ytan hn
about II bushels TO the acre. Let us
reduce the advantage Of approved
farming to terms of wheat. The in
crease would be six bushels per acre
annually. We have 25,000,00O acres of
land upon which this increase can be
secured. The general adoption of the
most approved modern methods OF ag-
riculture in South Dakota developed
to its maximum means, then, an addi-
ton OF the equivalent of 10000 900
bushels of wheat annually over what
we can hope to produce by the old line
operations.
Indeed, IL reduced to terms OF corn
the increased profit would be vastly
greater. There is not a single ques-
ton about the accuracy Of this state
ment. Enterprising farmers have prov
en- the truth Of IL In every portion OF
the state. Time and again In good
sea sons I have examined fields where
the results of good cultivation was
much more than a so per cent increase
above the average for that particular
region.
1.-The past season was below the N8v-
erage for the central portion of the
the new methods produced really bump
er crops. ! do not know an excep-
ton to this rule where hail storms did
not intervene. On a lot OF farms which
came within my own observation, saw
10 to 20 bushels of wheat to the acre
and % to so bushels of corn to the
acre, where neighboring lands badly
farmed were practical failures. The
only reason for the difference was in
the quality of cultivation. The meet
ing last June where 1000 citizens We're
in attendance had a powerful influence
in awakening land owners to the adj
vantage and the duty OF adopting
modern methods.
I'VE hope to have a much larger at
tendance this winter and to set a fire
of enthusiasm blazing which will ulti-
mately result in inducing the great
majority OF land ownsrs 20 following
the scientific principles of agriculture,
which mean tremendous additions to
the product of labor and positive in
crease in the cash supplies OF the peo-
pie. Nothing can be more pre-eminent-
ly practical
There are many other features Of
the program, but the chief thought
want to advance Is that this is a move
ment which is to result in making all
of the people more prosperous and con-
sequently more happy. 1t is move
ment worthy the assistance and pa
tronage Of every public spirited citi-
gen. 1t Is q movement in the line
Of public benefaction commended in the
farmer who makes two blades Of grass
grow where one grew before.
1T Is difficult to emphasize q
proposition after continuously speak
ing in superlatives OF IL, but am sure
nothing the people of South Dakota
can undertake is so pregnant with cash
returns as Is effort expended in devel-
oping modern scientific agricultural
methods adapted to our peculiar con-
ditions and that the conservation and
development congress Is fundamental
movement in that direction"