The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-04-27
GILBREATH FOR
MORE INSTITUTES
COMMISSIONER or AGRICULTURE
DISCUSSES THE COMMERCIAL
VALUE or BETTER FARMING
METHODS USED IN NORTH pA-
koTA-eooD INVESTMENT.


THE farmers Institutes have per-
formed great work for this state
said Commissioner of Agriculture Gill
breath to a Forum reporter. dur
| Ing the past ten years the farming In
dustry OF North Dakota has made won
derful strides in the advancement OF
better and more successful methods OF
cultivating the soil. This has been due
to several causes among which might
me enumerated the farmers Institutes,
the influx of farmers. who came from
such states as Indiana, Illinois, Wis
consin, Iowa, and other states, who
have been induced to come to this
state by reason of the advantages set
forth through the means adopted OF
state advertising. both by literature
sent out and exhibits made of the ag-
ricultural products at the different
state and county fairs held in these
respective states. The farmers who
have more recently come to North
Dakota are from states where land
values are high and rentals excessive.
As a consequence they were forced
to employ the most approved methods
of cultivating the land to obtain a
fair interest on their investment or
pay rent. A partial failure of crop
meant TO them the loss OF their entire
seasons labor. These men who have
acquired an excellent system of farm
ing through sheer necessity, have come
and are making their homes among us
and are applying the same system of
intensified farming that they were
compelled 60 follow In the states they
a financial success OF tiIling the soil,
but are setting a high standard In
their respective communities. where
hitherto the farmers were either in
different In their methods of cultiva-
ton and rotation OF crops or depended
largely upon other sources of income
Nov mind you.' said the commits
sioner, 81 do not wish to be understood.
as saying or inferring that North Da-
kota at any time, since its existence,
has not had plenty Of energetic, sys-
tematic, and successful farmers, for
an inference of that character would
be false in the light of events and
facts. The truth Is, this state has
had, and has, today, some Of the most
thrifty and financially profitable farm
ers that can be found in any state
in the union. But we want more of
them in every township in the state.
They want the assistance Of the farm
ers institutes, with their progressive
ideas and we want them to tell the
farmers the best and most advantage
eous way Of filling the soil; how to
conserve the moisture and what crops
are the most profitable to follow each
other.
'The farmers institute is purely a
question Of commercialism. CONNER
cial clubs are organized for the pur-
pose OF building UP their respective
towns and cities and promoting their
best interests. Their cities and towns
exist principally through the success
of the farmers. If commercial club
wants to boost its town, it must of
necessity help the farmer. Every in
crease In acreage or advance in average
yield per acre, not only helps the farm
er financially, but aids the town where
he does his trading. proportionately
Therefore the merchant and trades
man Of every village, town and city