Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1911-03-30
Telling the Farmer
Better Methods
now A RAILROAD SEEKS TO AID THE CouE1RY.MEN
More Products More Freieht!

from real life. In other cars grains
grasses, fruit and ornamental trees were
exhibited, by means of which it was nos.
slDie to make concrete and readily in
teiligible what otherwise might have
been merely academic.
The entire responsibility for the in.
dustrial work rested with the Agricul
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.
Tor instance, diversified farming. crop
rotations, soil conditions. seed selection.
weed eradication, treatment of diseases
affecting such field grain crops as wheat
and flax. home economies. the growing
OF trees for timber and protection
against wind. were among the subjects
discussed and illustrated.
In Montana the methods of cultiya
ton required under dry farming" con
ditions were emphasized in those regions
OF limited rainfall where irrigation is
lmpracticable, while in regions where
irrigation is practiced the uses of water
and methods of opera ton, together with
kinds of crops and manner of cultiva-
ton found by experiment to be most
successful, received attention according
to the local needs. In those reoicn.
where stock raising is a leading indus
try, the adaptablity of breeds TO dill,
ierent 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 expe.
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 ploughing, 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 convcniences.
The train was operated by the North
ern Pacific Railway Company at consid
cradle expense, and with no pecuniary
compensation. Professor d. E. 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 a 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 i : esting in improved
stock, by studying how to take adyan
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. that what
contributes to the success of the farm
ers. whatever brings more wealth to the
producers from the soil, increases the
business that the railroad may do; that
mere 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;
f that what helps one helps the other
| Whatever, therefore. can be done to pro
| mote intelligent and progressive methods
J of farming whatever incentives can be
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.