The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1911-12-28
WIDE MOVEMENT
AND A LOCAL NEED.
Present Day Activities Dis
cussed by One Of Our
Young Farmers.
Let Better Farming Be the
Slogan All Along the Line
Discussion Invited.

By A. T. johnson.
The enterprises in this state, outside
of farming. are few and insignificant
as compared with the great enterprise
of agriculture. Every business in the
state is dependent upon the farm for.
profits and maintenance, and many
Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth mer-
chants and bankers depend largely up
on the North Dakota farm for trade and
deposits.
Therefore, single crop that falls
short of average not only affects our
farmer, but the merchant, the banker,
the railroads and outside interests, all
whose prosperity is limited according
as the farmer is efficient as producer.
That recent sectional crop failures have
caused a depression in the general
trend of business, is very evident.
The best interests of our state de-
mand stability to its business, which
can only be assured by increasing the
productiveness of our lands. If North
Dakota is to become leader among
the agricultural states, any movement
for bettering the North Dakota farm
should not be sighted, but I've given
every encouragement. There are many
things to combat with our crops and a
system of agriculture should be prac-
ticed. that such effects be reduced to
the least. There is great need of sci
entific knowledge.
The diffusion of agricultural knowl-
edge through organized extension
work is popular in foreign countries,
and gratifying results have been
brought about in increased production
by the foreign farmer. Each year has
seen a great extension of the move
ment for spreading similar knowledge
to our rural people. Our state is now
in the midst of this great movement.
Sectional crop shortages during re-
cent years have given impetus to the
movement in this state, and the work
for better methods in farming is sure
to be met with popular enthusiasm.
The movement consists of many agen-
cies working with different methods
but towards common result.
Every citizen feels the Importance of
the present movement and tenders
freely his services to the cause. The
country editor plays largely in the
movement: his paper reaching every
home. makes publicity possible to vol
umes of valuable information. There
fore, to the agency of the country
newspaper. the movement is greatly
indebted.
The county corn contests are but
phases of the movement. While the
school children strive for the prizes,
the farmer notes the Importance of
proper seed selection and better tillage.
Our banks and business houses, to en-
courage better methods, have offered
liberal prizes for corn and other grains.
For a similar object in view, Fargo
bank gives prize of a thousand dol
lars for best specimens of corn. The
farmer, in competing, finds, perhaps,
that his grain is lacking in prize-win-
ming qualities, and he returns deter
fn. hotfon ,ooi11fo
The North Dakota exposition at Bis
marck, the Northwest Land Products
Show, and the Tri-State Grain Growers
Convention at Fargo, while seemingly
of merely advertising nature, are
strictly further movement ae encles in
the movement for greater results in
agriculture. a
The drouth Of 1910, losing millions Of
dollars to this state, gave rise to the
Dry Farming Congress at Dickinson
Local organizations have been affected
on the Missouri slope, demonstration
farms have been laid out, and the prin
ciples of dry farming are being taught
Z We are coming to realize that scien
tiic farming only will in the future
bring results.
The North Dakota $1OO-an-Acre
Association, is a unique name and re
presents the power behind an idea Q.
education for the farmer. With asso
citation headquarters at Fargo; witt
s an able president; with influential bust
I ness men of this state and Minnesot'
on the board Of directors; with thou
sands Of dollars available for thei
working fund; and with manager VIII
comes with wide experience from Min
nesota and who for many years wa
connected with the agricultural schoo
ofthat state, the work that is beinI
planned is surely to become Of grea
influence for the betterment Of ou
farming interests. n; s
Advertising land as being cheap 9
$50 and 500 per acre does nothing i
the way Of making for stability Of higl
4 land values. Every man has bee
boosting land prices. We must nov
boost our lands to greater productiv
possibilities. Don't you think 70
4 would sit up and take notice Of On