The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1911-02-09
THEIi FARMERS, NST|TUTEIi.WAS
BR|N full OFsz,C00D THINGS
Babcock and Ignite Coal PosbePoeor Shaw Alfalfa
Organize with O.
M. ChanpIn President and J. M. Devne Secretary III

The two days Farmers Institute
brought In . good number OF farmers
in spite Of The large amount Of snow
and the bad conditions of the roads.
After . few questions a. to condi-
lions, Col. r. A. Wilkinson gave a
good discussion of the live stock pro-
blem. He took the ground that every
farmer should raise some stock as
that is the only way to put some
thing back into the land. He thought
that We ought to profit by what has
been the result in the older Countries.
TAsy III started in growing one crop,
but soon had to quit that system, as
The land would not raise paying crops
Il ut Way. He would not buy any
fancy stock. but would start with the
common native cows, selecting those
that were the nearest the type that
one wants. Then select the sire from
tie breed that one wants and breed
With the native COWS, then keep on
using sires from the same breed. The
third generation win for practical
purposes be as good - the pure bred.
For breeding they will not be IS
good. Another advantage besides
the economy of such system. is that
one learns how to take care Of blood
"a stock az one progresses in this kind
Of breeding.
Prof. Shaw gave a strong talk on
corn growing. He said that it should
be. grown for the fodder and for pre-
pairing the land for a crop Of grain.
He predicted that in an average year
. third more grain could be grown
after a crop of corn than after grain.
And that in dry year the increase
would be fifty per cent. AS 4 pre-
paration for q crop Of grain, It is ex-
.celIent - it saves up moisture and
hills weeds. He said that it was also
Q good preparation for crop of win
ter wheat. He would either SOW it
Nth q ope horse drill in the standing
corn In August And in cutting the
corn, leave = part OF it standing to
hold snow. Another way that he sug-
sested, was to plant variety of corn
as the Gehu and SOW the winter wheat
with the common drill and then turn
he hogs in to pasture 1t down. The
hogs will not hurt the grain. And tue
stalks will form an ideal protection
for it during the winter.
In his talk on the feeding of live
stock. Col. r. A. Wilkinson stateu
that corn and alfalfa made q balance
ed ration for the growing animal as
we'll as for the dairy COW. Alfalfa
10 about as valuable as bran. It Is q
crop that should by all means be
grown. Prof. Shaw felt sure that 1t
would do well and he urged that the
farmers plant some alfalfa. Not a
large acreage, but small piece to
begin with. The land should be man
ured, then summer fallowed or q crop
Of corn or potatoes raised on it.
Gov only eight pounds per acre. pat
in with drill in last Of May or early
in June. Sow 1t alone. A nurse crop
would take moisture that the alfalfa
should have. When 1t is eight to ton
inches high. cut It back. Let it grow
Up in the faA 10 that there will be
good covering to hold snow.
Prof. G. w. Randlett was called on
to tell of the short course work that
he is conducting at Towner. He sad
that he was giving ten day course
in agriculture there. That the at
tendance was good and that great
interest was being taken in the work.
He conducted weeks course at May
vile, beginning Jan "a, and had good
attendance. The average being 81. In
this work, lectures and demonstra-
tons are given on the different farm
topics 6, crops corn. how the plant
grows. its food. tho care It needs, how
to Judge, how to select seed, how I.
test and other subjects treated in the
same way.
At the evening session, Prof. Shaw
gave very plain talk on the growing
Of small fruits. Telling how easy
It was to have currants, gooseberries.
raspberries and strawberries. Col
Wilkinson talked on the subject Of
farmers getting together and ex-
changing their experiences.
Tree growing was discussed by
Prof. w. G. Palmer Of the Ayr. col
lego. He stated that treas will DO
real we'll on the prairies II they are
given the proper care, but that II they
are left to fight the weeds and the
grass. they will sure be failure -
these have the roots nearer the sur
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