The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-10-17
WORSl'S ANNUAL ADDRESS
AT DRY FARM CONGRESS
Continued From Page Nine.

vested. would AFFORD a reliable income,
sufficient to discover and exemplify
the methods that Will ultimately es-
abilsh a 1ccessfu system OF agri-
culture, wherever the soil is suitable
Tor cultivation and the annual precipi-
tation is twelve inches or more, The
information gained also would 60 far
| toward fnsuring much larger and sur
er crops now so frequently Jeopardiz-
/ ed, even in humid and sub-hun1id
countries, for want OF knowledge bear
ing directly upon moisture conserva-
ton and other problems intimately
l associated with soil management. 1t
also would create a revival along all
/ lines or agricultural endeavor, in humid
| ana sub-humid countries as well. and
/ tend TO elevate and PROFESSIONALISM
an art as old as the race, but strange
ly enough, but little related to scien-
tific practice.
Clearing House for information.
With a foundation assuring a per-
manent and adequate income, conven-
tons Of this character would no longer
prove burdensome for those commits
stoned to finance them. Instead OF the
secretary's time being almost wholly
4
some task of securing funds. he could
/ devote his versatility and his tireIess
energies to field work; TO giving direc-
solutation OF those great problems
that gave rise to this y-farming
propaganda.
The congress would then assume the
dignity OF an institution, with pernna-
nent headquarters and with depart
ments for experimentation and DEM
onstration, with lecture bureaus. dry
farming experts and advisors, collect
ors OF statistics and other important
data and the maintenance OF an ener-
getic publicity department for the dis
semination Of scientific literature and
| general agricultural information. The
extent and effectiveness OF these and
other agencies that should be organ
lied would depend upon the funds
made available for the purpose.
II Is not contended that semI-arid
agriculture will be OF the same char
acter, or even very similar to that
practiced in regions of more abundant
rainfall; nor that the farm unit will
correspond with the smaller units of
more humid countries.
Such questions as size OF farmstead.
crop and livestock best suited for sue
cessful ry-farming and methods OF
! tillage and farm management to be
employed must be determined, uIti-
mately by experiment. The end sought
however. is to put the land to use; to
| cause 1t to create wealth instead OF
sage brush; to support population; to
make homes
1t is unreasonable to conclude that
SCI Iand is worthless IL not
worthless, then what was 1t made for7
| What liz the best use 1t can be put to?
To determine these questions with
some degree Of accuracy is the task
| that confronts us. Are they worth de-
termtning2 Most assuredly. They
should be determined at any cost and
without waitings for individual settI-
ers to find the solution. oftfimes at
the expense of their slender savings
and the comfort OF their wives and
! children.
Nc Thought Of Rivalry.
The dry-farming congress does not
aim to interfere with or supercede the
work Of the federal department OF
agriculture or that OF state experiment
stations, but to supplement them.
Each should, and does, welcome every
important truth discovered by the
| other. The department OF agriculture
embraces all agricultural interests. in
every part of the nation. It's work Is
too varied and general. however, to
give the attention to the solstion OF
ry-farming problems that their inn
portance demands.
This congress- on the other hand,
stands specifically for their solution.
1t works chiefly within it's Own erri-
tory, for the upbuilding OF dry-farm-
ing interests--for the development OF
successful semi-arid agriculture with
In semi arid territory.
The demonstrations already made
by local government experiment sta
ton men, and the results recorded by
practical farmers, isolated and unre-
lated though they may be. are In earn.
est OF what may be accomplished
when the principals OF dry-farming
are more fully developed and intelli-
gently applied.
would not be understood, In con-
clusion, as surrounding the dry-farm-
Ing proposition with veil Of mystery
1r dressing II to the public as
profound enigma. Far from It, How
ever. 1t cannot be denied but that ag-
riculture In its broadest sense has
been given too little attention; il too
imperfectly understood that eh4 chief
attention now given the subject il in
the interests of humid agricuIture:
that In addition 20 all other obstacles
that dry farming must contend against
it's chief enemy il prejudice.
When this ration and the several
states shall awaken to the Importance
OF educating the great producing class.
the farmers In the art and science Of
their calling as Ii has been laboring 10
zealously and so extensively to pre-
pare learned arfstocracy to live orr
he ofher fellow then indeed will tina
shadows rise and the mercies or Cod
be better understood by the sons &c
men.
Moreover, when the children In. our
public schools shall study the soil and
moisture. the sunshfne and the air
and their relation to plant and animal
life as zealously as they have been
compelled to study Caesar and higher
mathematics. new attitude toward
agriculture win result and more rapid
strides will be made toward acquiring
dominion over nature"
Proposals for BRIDGE.