The Dickinson press., 1911-07-29
FIRST ANNUAL PICNIC
DICKINSON SUB STATION
Management Pleased With Interest Shown Starter Grand
Movement Which Will Mean Large Attendance Future
suits Most Beneficial More Alfalfa Needed to
Make Farmers Successful One With Another Meals in
Station Groves Pleasing Feature.
The farmers picnic at the Dickinson

AuC AoAAA0A0 pASlllc dt luc DlChlASOu
experiment station northwest of the
city last Saturday was much greater
success than had been thought possible
owing to the shortness of time and un-
weather conditions. The rain
in the morning and threatening con-
dition of the clouds undoubtedly kept
many away. and still there were about
$50 in attendance.
The weather was cool and the picnic
parties scattered about the groves of the
station farm seemed to enjoy them
selves very much. Prof. Shepperd, Supt.
Hoverstad and the members of the State
Agricultural board present were pleased
with the affair and said that they con-
sidered it the origin of one of the
grandest movements ever started in
the state. Supt. fioverstad was in
clined to think that another year would
see fully 1000 people gathered at the
station for the annual picnic and in a
fsx ffssx years the numbers. he said, would
he much greater.
Coffee was served to all from the seed
house and Supt. Waldron and his as
sistants did everything they could to
enlighten visitors Oh methods of farm
ing. fruit and tree growing at the farm.
After luncheon seats were arranged
in the shade of the seed house. as in
dicated In the cut herewith. and Prof.
Sheppefd was introduced. He spoke of
the work started but six years ago and
the already beautiful groves that had
been out only five years, the many.
fruit trees now in bearing condition.
shrubs. hedges. ETC., all going to show
how quickly the farmer can get all Of
these comforts for the farm if he will
only set himself about it in the right
way. Those are the things, he said,
that make the farm families satisfied.
The speaker then referred to the man,
evidences about the station that proved
conclusive]y that farming in thi.
country. if successful. is not question
of one years rainfall. This season thu
country has less than 50 per cent of {
normal rainfall. as averaged for II
years. but with the proper conservation
Of the moisture in the wei years ant
the right rotation Of crops, the yields
are good this year.
Prof. Shepperd said that the farme'
who is successful in year like this
has lot of common sense as we'll al
the knowledge of scientific handling o
the soil. He also said that the maj
who had not conserved moisture in hi
land last year and the year before, ha,
probably failed this year. II is pos
sible, he said, to drive moisture dow
IL to IA feet. It had been done on th'
Dickinson experiment station and an!
farmer, on an ordinary piece of land
could do as we'll if he handled the sol
right. It would take him perhaps thre'
years. and all the time he could be rails
ing good crops of corn, In, this con
Inection he wanted every intereste.
farmer stes get a free copy Of the bulletil
prepared by Supt = R. Waldron.
The speaker explained how the mois
|ture was going up and evaporatin AM
he said it would be surprising to se
how the same could be conserved AM
held. After rain he advised tn
plowihe Of stubble and getting the dus
mulch as an example.
In some Of his travels Prof. Shopper
Ihad become acquainted with the drout
| condition in South Dakota, along tn
! line south Of us. and he said that ou
condition was SO much more favorabl