The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-06-30
Good Farming and It's Relation
to the Bankers of North Dakota

! milk can. only they were after tn
farmer; but the good Lord decreed tina
tan the cream should not be taken witt
rev miikings. This particular form
OF dairytng was short-lived. The farm
er found the state good place ii
which to live, and instead OF movinl
out, stayed. More came. not as for,
tune hunters, but home builders. TIL.
total number Of farms in North Dakota
In 1900 was 45sS32; in 1910. 74,l65: al
increase of s. per cent, with an i'm.
proved acreage of 9,645. 900 in 1900. and
zo,4SS,O0O In 1910; an increase of IL:
per cent. But these home builders
were not all educated in farming. Some
nave studied, and by knowledge ac-
qpired through literature and exper-
renee have succeeded as scientific
farmers.
Catastrophies in Disguise.
some catastrophies are blessings in
disguise. The results of the civil war
the Galveston flood, San Francisco
earthquake, and more recently the
great forest fire in northern Mime
sofa, when thousands of acres were
cleared practically ready for the plow,
all furnished great evidences of bless
ing.
only last year your short crop was
a blessing catastrophe" If / NAV he
permitted to call it such; an educa-
uonal campaign for better farming
followed in its wake, such as you
never before experienced, Everyone
IN the state took an active part in it.
through your efforts, lecturers on sci
ehtlnc farming were secured Some
on You hung up corn prizes to stimu-
late better farming, and as a result
or that one item the corn acreage this
year will be double, possibly treble
that or any previous year. Last spring
our company sent to each of our bor-
roWers a circular containing a few,
concise, meaty suggestions on scienti-
nc farming; and / wish to thank you
now Tor the assistance you gave us in
distributing these. In all about 90
goo were distributed through North
Dakota. The newspapers copied 1t and
published many other excellent articles
Tor the better education of the tilIer of
the soil. Best of all, the farmer was
not only in a receptive mind, but was
eager for knowledge how to improve
his methods and increase his income.
Scientific Farm Methods.
AS a result of the campaign last
winter and spring. thousands of farm
ers adopted scientific methods. The
seed bed was never better prepared.
and 1t is the general consensus of opin-
ion that better farming methods have
been general throughout the state.
with the farmer, it wasn't the cues
ton Of how little can I'VE do" this year
TO get the crop in, but how well can
we do 1t. 1t is the general opinion
or experts and business men that with
me same atmosphere and moisture
conditions from now on as prevailed
m the same season last year, the state
VIII harvest fair crop as the result
Of the better farming. Every business
man realizes the initial work in an
advertising or educational campaign
brings small results, and il is the fol-
oW-up work which is effective in pro-
portion as he keeps hammering away
at the same subject.
A great majority Of farmers are tired
Of the original milk can" brought into
the state thirty years ago He is look
ing into the future and wants to leave
q complete producing and increasing
productivity farm for his sons and
daughters. He doesn't want to 60 into
MS grave with the predesigned epitaph
on his tombstone: "a Soil Robbar
He has more time and greater inclina-
-lon 70 devote to study and scientific
experiment than he did years ago. In
ne matter Of wheat production, from
1880 TO 1894 the time Of human labor
required to produce one bushel Of
wheat declined from three hours and
thirty minutes to ten minutes, The
heavy, clumsy pillow of 1880 had given
way to the disc pillow that both plowed
md pulverized in one operation; hand |
oWlng-displaced by the mechanical |
'eeder drawn by horses; grading and |
hreshing with fails, and and hand
now performed by the
combined reaper and thresher;-each |
rear produces new time-savinR farm |
machinery. The farmer has imbibed |
he spirit Of the times. We are all |
seeking better and more efficient |
Methods, and he doesn't propose to be
eft out Of the game.
Guardians of Prosperity.
AS guardians of the prosperity of
his great state, you want to assist in
lis soul awakening. He is seeing the
light you have reflected. He is en- |
husiastic now. The iron is hot and
he 'follow-up' work must be carried
m II you want permanent dividends
rom the investment already made.
Because of my belief in this system |
I'M here today.
1t is to be-hoped that the abundance
II moisture which has fallen over the
northwest this season will not make
he farmer over confident, but Won
now human nature is optimistic. and
While the farmer is fired with an ambi-
ion to reform, he must be nursed by
'ou not only with moral but financial
Import.
The educational campaign conduct
d during the past eight or nine months
las been in a way spasmodic. Each
# you are interested in it. and only