The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1911-01-12
Telling the Farmer
Better Methods
HOW A RAILROAD SEEKS TO aid The COUNTRY -nEl
More Products. More FREIGHT!

from real life. In other cars grains,
grasses. fruit and ornamental trees were
exhibited, by means of which it was pos
sible to make concrete and readily in
telligible what otherwise might have
been merely academic.
The entire responsibility for the ill.,
dustrial work rested with the AgricuI-
tural Colleges, who bore all the expense
of providing the exhibits and fitting up
the train. The special conditions that
exist in each state were thus met by
those who were especially fitted for
dealing in an effective manner with the
problems involved. In North Dakota,
for instance, diversified farming, crop
rotations, soil conditions, seed selection.
weed eradication, treatment of diseases
affecting such field grain crops as wheat
and flax, home economics, the growing
of trees for timber and protection
against wind, were among the subjects
discussed and illustrated.
In Montana the methods of cultiva.
tion required under :'dry farming" con-
.ditions were emphasized in those regions
of limited rainfall where irrigation is
impracticable, while in regions where
irrigation is practiced the uses of water
and methods of operation, together with
kinds of crops and manner of cultiva-
tioa found by experiment to be most
successful, received attention according
to the local needs. In those regions
where stock raising is. a leading indus
try, the adaptability of breeds to dit
-ferent conditions and tastes, methods of
breeding and feeding, were accorded due
emphasis. In Western Montana, where
apple growing has come to be one of
the leading industries. greater emphasis
was placed upon the consideration of
conditions that surround the cultivation
Of apple orchards. the protection OF the
trees from diseases, safeguarding the
fruit from the ravages of insects, the
care of orchard trees, and harvesting and
shipping of apples.
In Eastern Washington, where the con-
ditions as to rainfall and soil make the
problems to be dealt with peculiar to
that section of the country. the men
from the State College, trained by cxpe-
rience and study to know the needs
of the different localities, met the eager
inquiries of the farmers with prompt
answers and discussions of questions of
time and depth of plouglling, methods
of cultivation in order to secure the
greatest conservation of moisture, sue
cession of crops, the raising of forage
crops, dairying. stock breeding and feed
ing, care of animals, construction and
arrangement of farm buildings. sanitary
surroundings, and home conveniences.
The train was operated by the North
ern Pacific Railway Company at consid-
cradle expense. and with no pec,miarv
compensation. Professor D. f. Willard,
Development Agent of the Company, who
accompanied the train, stated that the
Northern Pacific was glad to have this
opportunity of contributing to the devel-
opment of agriculture in the Northwest.
The operation of the Better Farming
Special" the Company did not wish to
be regarded as philanthropic movement,
but rather as business proposition, the
Company having the same purpose, and
acting with the same hope and expec-
tation that impels any progressive and
intelligent farmer to seek to increase his
yearly earnings by investing in improved
stock, by studying. how to take advan-
tage of conditions, by learning new and
better methods. In short, the Northern
Pacific believes that its interests are
inseparably associated with those of the
producers in its territory, thai what
COuCl AUuSCS w VIC oUCSC5S VI IAAC Adi uA-
ers, whatever brings more wealth to the
producers from the soil, increases the
business that the railroad may do; that
more bushels per acre, and those bushels
Of better quality, more pounds of butter
and that of greater excellence, greater
diversity in farm products, and hence
greater security against crop failure,
greater wealth from any source, means
increased business both in amount of
freight hauled out and in commodities
hauled in, and increased numbers of pas
sengers to be carried; in fact, that the
relationship between the farmer produc-
ers and the railroads is that of an inter-
dependent community or partnership;
that what helps one helps the other.
Whatever, therefore, can be done to pro-
mote intelligent and progressive methods
of farming, whatever incentives can he
offered toward improving the quantity
and the quality of the products of the
earth, all these are of advantage to the
railroads as well as to the farmers.