The Dickinson press., 1911-02-18
IS WORTH
GREAT DEAL


inson Means Millions to Farm
ers in Alfalfa and Wheat
Impro> emcnts Alone.
Very many people in the state. in
cluding some farmers, do not under
stand the Office or the function of an
experiment station. Rather unfortu-
nately it is regarded by many as merely
a show" place. or convenient ad-
junct to q real estate agency. There
are others that give the station some
what higher place, and consider it of
value as q demonstration for farm
methods. incidentally, a good expert
ment station does the things indicated
above. but to sell land or to demonstrate
methods is merely q side issue.
The main work Of an experiment
station is to learn new things in
science, and to apply them to the busi-
ness Of agriculture. To carry on such
work requires men trained in science.
Reasonable salaries have to be paid to
such men, and to get accurate results.
much duplication of work is necessary.
Experimental work, therefore. is rather
expensive.
SCIENCE AIDS THE FARMER
We all know that science has done
wonders for civilization, and in the
course of time science will do as much
for farming as it has for civilization as
a whole. 1t is pretty certain that aeri-
culture as an industry has scarcely be-
gun to be benefited by the application
of science.
Our local experiment station was an
experiment in itself when it was estab-
lished here nearly six years ago. its
early work was the demonstration of the
possibilities of crop growing. 1t could
do no better work for the first few years
of its existence. Il has finished that
portion of its work. and is ready to
undertake the study of good stiff
problems.
WORK WITH ALFALFA
| AS a matter of fact. some of these
have already been solved. The Dickin-
son station has pretty we'll settled the
important problems regarding alfalfa
culture. 1t has shown that there are
alfalias that can be depended upon in
regard to hardness. 1t has also indi-
Gated what methods to follow to obtain
alfalfa crops under semi arid conditions.
These results. when applied to the agri-
culture of the state, will pay for the cost
of the station for all time 10 come.
IMPROVE WINTER WHEAT
There are other problems demanding
solution. which. when worked out. will
be as valuable to the farmers as the
work with alfalfa. Winter wheat has
been grown a little in this state for 20
years. but during that time it has not
increased in hardness. 1t can be made
hardy enough to be reasonably safe in
this state. With the help of more funds
the Dickinson station is prepared to
increase the hardness of winter wheat.
Where successful, winter wheat yields
4 or bushels per acre more than spring
wheat.
WORK is WORTH MILLIONS OF
/ DOLLARS
The moral is obvious enough. The
increase in the wheat yield 4 or S
bushels per acre would mean an increase
of millions of dollars to North Dakota
farmers. Is not this a prize worth striv-
ing for?
There are other important problems
that the Dickinson station wishes to
take up, the solution of which would
prove of great value to the farmers and
to the state as whole. The increase
of hardness in winter wheat is merely
cited as an example OF what ought to
be done and what can be done if money
is furnished.
us UP TO THE LEGISLATURE
| 1t would seem that the Legislature and
the Executive would be glad to grant
the aid requested by Senate Bill No.
274. The idea is not to get more money
for Dickinson, but 10 increase and de-
velop the agricultural industry of North
Dakota. The proposition is placed on
broad, patriotic grounds. North Dakota
will thrive only as the farmers thrive,
and it is possible for the Twelfth Legis-
lative Assembly and the Governor, by
making into law the bill introduced by
Senator Simpson, to greatly increase the
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