The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-01-17
AGRICULTURALISTS OF THE NORTHWEST
In FARGO FOR GREAT ANNUAL MEETING

the case. He said soil was irregular IN
shape and so per cent OF 1t was air
space. The capacity for holding water
I'm the Red river soil was 65 per cent,
while 1t should only have 35 per cent
capacity and we must get rid OF the
surplus.
The draining OF one piece of land
might be a detriment 10 another. He
believed a drain should be deep and
narrow. rather than wide and shallow.
Another thing that has been against
the main drains Is that the farmers did
not follow them up with lateral drains.
Another thing that worked against the
drain was the fact that many of the
farmers insisted on having them made
to their idea rather than to the rules
and plans of the trained engineer. The
rain fall in the Red River valley dur
ing growing season does not vary much
from that of the Mississippi and other
valleys. Another thing that worked a
detriment to the drains is the fact that
they are not taken care Of.
Tile drainage would undoubtedly be
successful In this valley, and he said
that the increase of production was
nine bushels of wheat for land which
had tile drainage over other land.
AT the close OF Mr.. Atkinsons ad-
dress he was asked a number of ques-
tions which were answered promptly.
Trees and the Farm.
After some remarks from President
Worst in regard to the benefits of
scientific drainage. Prof. o. A. Thomp-
son, superintendent of the sub-station
at Edgeley, was introduced.
His subject was Trees on the Farm,
and 1t showed that he had given the
matter great deal of study. The pro-
fessor was troubled somewhat with a
cold and he could not be heard dis
tinctly in all parts of the house, which
was unfortunate, as what he said was
Of value to all the people.
He believed that there should be
more attention paid to tree planting
and this would be productive OF great
good. He thought that fully 10 per
cent OF the land OF North Dakota
should be timber land.
He said that trees as wind breaks
added very materially to the value Of
a farm and that forest trees acted as
protection to an orchard, for they
helped to keep the frost away.
There is no place In the country that
needs trees more than the northwest
prairie and North Dakota in particu-
lar.
He said the selection Of trees was a
matter of great Importance, for only
the good hardy tree was the one that
was needed here. He advised that the
tree be rapid grower.
The willow may be grown in the
valley or lowlands. while the native
green ash and the American white
elm would be good trees for the higher
trees and make good wind breaks.
He said that the farm buildings and
trees should be planned together, and
in closing asked the cooperation of
everyone in making North Dakota a
land of trees.
The morning session adjourned at
the noon hour to meet at 1880.
The Afternoon Session.
When President Worst called the
meeting to order at 1: 80 this afternoon
the operahouse was packed with people
from the city and country and a great
deal Of interest was shown. The crowd
was much larger on this the first aft
ernoon of the convention of 1911, than
on the first afternoon of any previous
convention, and this was most crafty
ing to the managers of the convention.
Governor Not Present.
After a few preliminary remarks by
the president, the name OF Gov. John
Burke was called as the first speaker
on the programme, but there was no
response and President Worst asked IL
any one in the audience knew whether
or not he was In the city and there
was no response. Mr.. Worst said the
governor would be called on later IL
he came.
Prof. L. r. Waldron OF the sub-sta-
ton at Dickinson, was then introduced.
His address in full will be found on
page Is of this issue of The Forum.