The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-02-03

DakOtd lJFy Farming COuBES5S beAA
at Dickinson, Tuesday and Wednes-
day of this week was prepared by
Prof. w. G. Palmer, Of the A. c:
The Dry Farming Congress auxil-
larry that opened at Dickinson on
January 81 brought together a record
breaking attendance, in fact 1t was the
equal of the international Dry Farm
ing Congress held at Spokane. Farmers
are anxious to learn more of this sys-
tenn that brings a crop and a good
one regardless of the season. The
programme included some of the lead
ing men of the country and the
speeches that they delivered were of
high order. The prizes offered for
grains brought in good display and
of a fine quality, so that Prof. Shep-
perd who did the judging found 1t a
problem to decide on the winners.
The meeting opened with an address
Of welcome by Mayor r. II. Johnson.
Among other things he said that he
was glad to welcome so many to the
city, was glad to see that the farmers
were so interested in learning more
of their great work, of learning how
to better feed the increasing millions
and at the same time to get a more
adequate reward for their labor.
DIR. j. II. Worst, president of the
International Dry Farming Congress
responded to the address of welcome
on behalf of the Dry Farming Con-
gress. He said that he was glad that
the business men were taking so much
interest in farming, that the way TO
build up city is to help the farmers
prosper and they will make the city.
He was glad to see so much interest
taken in the meeting and the oppor-
tunity that 1t affords for getting in
formation. Farming it the last indus
try that Is coming to the stage that an
education is required, but the time
has now come when the farmer must
work along as exact lines as the doc
tor lawyer, or minister if he is to
make the best kind of success in his
work. He called attention to the fact
that in Minnesota but A Of one per
cent of the school children are TAX
ing courses in agriculture and that
the per cent in this state is almost
as small, less than one per cent
trained in the foundation industry of
the state.
Prof L. B. Linfield, director Of the
Montana Experiment Station was call
ed on for a few remarks. The only
way to raise crops in Montana was
by irrigation was the thought Of the
farmers at first, but some OF
the farmers began growing crops
without irrigation on the bench lands
and found that they could raise good
crops by conserving the moisture.
Fall wheat was found to be the best,
it yielding fifty to 100 per cent more
than spring wheat under similar con-
ditions.
Prof. ]. H. Shepperd in discussing
varieties of grain for North Dakota
| spoke of the work that the station is
| doing in producing new varieties and
| how they are distributed. The first
step is to grow the wheat in the nurs-
cry till it proves to be superior to
| other varieties, then it is tried out
at the sub stations and then it is
grown on the demonstration farms,
| from these it is distributed to the
farmers of the state.
At the opening of the afternoon ses-
sion DR.. w. e. Taylor gave an eloquent
address on the important part that
the farmer plays in our country's
development. The man behind
the pillow is the greatest man in the
country. The men like Rockefeller,
Carnegie and Morgan behind their
piles of gold are not to be compared
to the farmers in Importance. He
also spoke of the conservation of
moisture, of plant fertility, and cited
Switzerland as a country that sup
ports a population Of over six million
people on a territory the size Of ten
North Dakota counties and yet has
dairy products for export,
Community of interests was the sub
ject of Thomas Coopers talk to the
congress, who said the railroad can
only prosper as the farmers prosper.
He related how the Northern Pacific
had spent money carrying on demon
stration farms, that they might thus
show the farmers how to increase their
crops In one sense you regulate the
prices that we are to charge as wen
as the service. Self interest is the
best protection for those who have
invested in the railroads. To de-
yelop the state more railroads are
needed and the money for them will
only come as investors think that 1T is
safe.
In discussing the rotation of crops
Prof. Shepperd started with corn as
one of the important crops to grow,
| The cultivation given it kills weeds,
saves moisture, and puts the soil In
good condition to grow good crop
of grain the following year. 1t should
be fed to live stock and the manure
put back on the land. A good crop
to follow corn with is fax, wheat win
| do well after the fax. Alfalfa is an
| other crop that should be grown. 1t
! adds fertility and humus to the land
and produces the richest hay that can
be grown. Pound for pound 1t is the
equal Of bran. It is also well liked by
| stock. Peas is another crop that
should do we'll and they make SPLEEN
! did feed either pastured, made into
| hay or raised for the grain. 1t makes
| a good hog pasture. Rape is plant
/ that forms a splendid pasture for hogs.
Diyersification of crops and the keep
ing of live stock leads to economy.
When one crop is grown the soil gets
| full of the weeds that can grow best In
/ ii. insects and plant diseases get a
/ foothold and the land gets out OF con-
| dition, so 1t can not retain moisture
plant food nor hold itself together so
| that drifting results, There are SO
/ many reasons for the rotation of crops
| that person can not afford not to
| diversity in farming.
| In an address on Dry Farming. Pres
/ ident Worst brought out the great
principles of this great movement in
| masterful manner, and enjoined
upon his hearers the need of putting