Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-12-26

peadntendent OF the work, and he will
make a visit to the North Dakota ter
ritory in January, to work with MI.
Merrill for q period. The Dakota
work is of a different nature from
that in the other states.
The government expert is strong in
his advocacy of the concrete sllo Tor
North Dakota, and in this season five
such silos have been constructed un'
der his supervision. Plans and bills
OF material are supplied by the gov
eminent. and the expert remains on
the ground, working with the farmer
until the silo is completed, or until the
work has advanced to such a point
that the farmer can complete it him.
self.
The silos of this nature, built In
Walsh and Pembina counties during
the past six months, cost from $275
to $3.50 each, have capacity of from
100 to 100 tons of ensilage. being
sufficient to feed between thirty and
thirty-five head OF cattle during the
winter period. The ensilage can be
thrown on from eight to twelve acres.
The reinforcement of the concrete
silos furnishes the biggest problem
for the average farmer. The silo Is
made perfect by lining of coal tar,
about twenty gallons being applied,
while. cement wash is used On the
outside of the structure.
The expert also is interesting farm
ers in the improvement of their barns
and in the erection of modern sani-
tary structures for housing cattle.
The department that is maintained at
Washington has designed a special
two-story barn suited to North d.
kota climatic conditions, but there
are from fifteen to twenty other vari-
GUS barn plans on file in Mr..
MerrilIs Office, and which, with modl-
dcations are suited to the needs and
circumstances of any farmer.
In the work of creating interest in
the maintenance of dairy herds great
progress has been made. Ninety
head of pure bred cattle, Shipped
from Wisconsin, have been sold to
the farmers IN the district. and the
expert makes bi-weekly visits to each
farmer for the purpose of helping IN
the solution of the problems which
may arise in connection with taking
care of them.
This step is taken in order to keep
the farmer from becoming discour-
aged or dissatisfied with his invest
ment, for there are many farmers
who are not entirely fitted to care for
the pure breds.
A movement that is designed to
show the farmers in dollars and cents
what dairy cows mean, Is That or
keeping records Of cows and herds.
In one instance at the Haggren Bros
farm near Grafton, such a record has
revealed the fact that for every dol
lar invested in feed, labor, ETC., three
are returned by the cow.
The semi-weekly night school IN
the city Of Grafton is newer venture,
and it is growing rapidly with indi'
cations that the enrolment will be
high. One of the encouraging feat
ures in connection with the school Is
found in the fact that the young farm.
ers are showing particularly deep
interest.
Another feature of the educational
campaign will be the holding OF
twelve two.day dairy schools in Janu'
airy. Superintendent Riser will be
present, and a veterinarian from the
department at Washington. and Com
missioner r. F.. Flint II North Dakota
will participate in these sessions
Forest River, Grafton. Park River
Pembina, Cavalier, St. Thomas. Necne
Walhalla Drayton, Adams. Hamilton
and Bathgate. are the cities in when
these Institutes will be held.
Mr.. Merrill was brought to the
state through the activities of Com.
missioner Flint, and he was assigned
to Walsh and Pembina counties be-
cause of the favorable action of the
Grafton Business Mems Club, which
is cooperating in a material manner
In the work