The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-03-10

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District presidents were elected
as follows: Ea z. Chase, Hebron;
A. Burmeister, Glen Ullin: Arthur
Gibbs, Almont; c. F. Miller, Har-
mon; August Nickel, Judson;
George Quentzer, Crown Butte.
Mandan, n D., March 10.-The Nor
ton County Dry Farming association
held its first meeting at Mandan on
March 8 and 8. II brought together
farmers not only from Morton county
but also from Oliver and Hettinger
counties. II was one of the biggest
gatherings that has been held in the
state. A separate meeting was held
for those who could understand Ger
man better than English. A German
Dry Farming association was organ
lied. The German meeting was adj
| dressed by s. w. Unkenholz, John
Christianson, S. Maser and Mr.. Tim
norman, president Of the North Da-
kota Dry Farming congress auxiliary.
| Mr. Unkenholz had translated the ten
commandments Of dry farming by
Professor Palmer into German. The
Mandan First National bank has also
issued the commandments in English
and sent them to all their patrons and
farmers in the county.
On the evening of the first day the
citizens Of Mandan had provided a
programme largely by the public
schools. Addresses, songs and music
were the main features. The most
striking of the parts was the singing
by the sixth grade pupils. They all
| carried banners. The first one had on
it II am saving my money to buy
North Dakota land" Another, visit
our public schools others as follows:
IF you are sick, my papa can cure
you" Visit our library etc.
The following took part in the regu-
lar programme: Supt. L. r. waldron
Of Dickinson, Alfalfa; D. E. Willard
of the Northern Pacific, Soils; Com.
X. F. Flint of Bismarck, Corn and
| Cows; r. A. Wilkinson of Lake Elmo,
Mimi, Farming Conditions in North
Dakota; L. c. Martin, Using Dyna-
mite as Subsoiler; T. A. Hoverstad,
| Weeds; w. c. Palmer, Soil Culture.
The two most striking addresses were
made by Pres. ]. Fl. Worst, The Pos
sibilities of North Dakota, and Prof
Thomas Shaw, on Dry Farming
Worst's Address.
President Worst in his address called
attention to the fertility of the soil
and the climate. He thought that the
rainfall Is just right. That If it were
heavier it would carry away plant food
The point is to save, to keep it in the
soil so that the crop can have it and
not to let it run. off from the surface,
n wa ta n lnt ~f
weeds to pump 1t out He called at
tention to the wonderful progress that
has been made in Denmark since the
state turned its attention to develop
ing It's agricultural resources. From
being the most backward of the Eu-
ropean countries 1t has in some thirty
years risen to the front rank II has
done it by providing agricultural edu-
cation for all so that when a person
manages a farm there it is done ac-
cording to the principles that under
lies soil management, plant growth,
animal production. To such a state of
productiveness they have brought it
that the exports of agricultural prod
ucts amounts to SO per acre after
feeding their home production. An
export about as large as our total pro-
duction.
1t is one of the best demonstrations
of what the fostering of agricultural
education, experiment station and
farmers institute work will do. On
the other hand here in North Dakota
the yields are decreasing in the face
of the facts that we have new soil that
is very fertile while that in Denmark
Is mostly sand thrown up by the ocean.
How shall We arrive at the vast pos
sibilRies in the great industry OF the
state? 1t can only be done by apply
ing the principles of agriculture to the
great industry of the state. BY fos-
tering the training of those who are
TO farm, by carrying on Investigations
and by carrying the results Of them
to the farmers.
The possibilities are all here it is
merely a matter of learning how to
make use of them. We must learn how
to save and use the moisture economi-
cally, how to maintain the unequalled
fertility Of our soil, how, to feed the
crops which are of a high quality
and how to market the highest quality
products that can be produced.
We can not afford to fiddle along
with thirteen bushels per acre crop
and an occasional crop failure when
we have the soil, the climate to pro-
duce at least twice that much and to
make 1t sure thing every year. Then
again 1t ought not to be sold as a
grain but should be manufactured into
animal products which will much en-
nance the value and at the same time
enrich the soil making 1t possible to-
grow larger crops, to produce larger
amount OF products for the market.
Professor shaw's Talk.
Had the land been farmed in 1909
and 1910 as 1t should be the crop in
North Dakota could have been twice
what It was and with the rainfall that
you had here the crop should have been
ten bushels per acre instead Of what
you have reported" This Ii cne OF
the statements made by Prof. Thomas
shaw, the great agriculturist at the
meeting here. Below are more re-
marks;
4 had charge q forty ave demon