The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-02-22
BARNES COUNTY
SOIL SURVEY
HUsTLING FARMERS HAVE IN
pUcED COUNTY COMMISSION
ERs TO MAKE APPROPRIATION
FOR WORK UNDER THE pIREc-
TloN OF A. C. PROFESSOR.

TIoN OF A. C. PROFESSOR.
"A wave Of progressive spirit has
struck the citizens Of Barnes county"
says Prof. Herbert A. Hard of the A.
c. This has shown itself recently
in a number of ways. We have been
reading with interest of late of the
connnendabIe activities of the 800 an
Acre Farmers Club recently organ
lied for the purpose of encouraging
every interest tending to promote the
welfare of their very agricultural COM
munity. With this achieved. land val
ues will go up as inevitably as does
the Thermometer with the heat.
Tn this organization the most wide
awake farmers are uniting with bust
ness men in successful campaign
in introducing the scientific methods
of production and economical meth
DDS Of marketing of farm produtcs.
1.-THE energetic and efficient presi-
dent, e. S. Delaney of Valley City,
is well supported and surely has the
organization back of him in the en-
terprise. Acting, as they are, in close
sympathy with the agricultural coll
lege workers, they are fostering the
widespread adoption of scientific meth
DDS of soil management and crop Gull
tivation. Crop rotation in diversified
farming is more and more being recog-
nized as indispensable. These with
dry farming tactics, it is felt, will in
few years largely aid in Boosting
land values.
'The latest mark Of up-to- dateness
in Barnes county," continued Mr.
Hard, "is shown in the action Of the
county commissioners who have just
appropriated $500 for the purpose Of
securing the ste te soil and agricultural
survey conducted through the A. c.
department of geology. This survey
as these columns have set forth be-
fore is for the purpose of determining
the extent and exact area of the diff
ferent soil types-the water table and
it's accessibility ana the adaptabiIity
of certain crops to the soils found un-
der the existing conditions.
Every two weeks President DeI.an-
cey secures for the enthusiastically at
tended meetings some out of town tall
ent who have knowledge along some
lines of soils, crop and farm manage
ment.
Feeling the need Of extending the
agricultural survey over the entire
county the club recently invited me
to address the bi-weekly meeting on
the advantages to be derived from this
work. spoke upon the methods of
the federal and state surveys of soils
and their study of crop adaptability
to different soil types which the de-
partment samples and analyzes. So
impressed are the wide-awake leaders
in the county with the advantages to
be derived from the survey that they
Immediately took steps to induce the
county commissioners to make certain
the securing of the survey. This pro-
gressive body readily expressed their
willingness to aid.
Like men of Richland and other
counties which have come forward
with material assistance, the men of
Barnes are not blind to the desirable
ity of securing the expenditure Of sew
eral thousands OF dollars OF state and
federal money on their lands. Further
they see the greater good given in the
preparation Of a good basis for better
farming in definite knowledge of
predetermined soil types and condi-
tions. Again like others they express
themselves as well approaching the
impetus which the publishing of def
mite information about the lands and
land values will give the fuller settle
ment of the county with the most de-
sirable farming class. In a large wav
the maps and reports advertise a coun-
ty. They are to be congratulated in
being next in line to secure the sur
vey.
by thus acting early in the season
Of 1911 the progressive spirit of the
men of Barnes, has put them in line
for the survey for the coming season.
Other communities wanting the survey
should write at once This survey
carries with it a several thousand dol
lar federal fund-an appropriation
quite dependent upon the size of the
states own generosity in setting aside
money for this important work Rem
resentatives Of other counties have
been consulting me relative to secur-
ing the survey, and the speedy action
Of tn Barnes county citizens through
their commissioners has landed a part
OF the plum for the season of 1911.
In fact their action is sufficient to
secure the completion of the survey
OF the entire county. Seven townships
We're surveyed in 1903 and the thirtv-
FIVE remaining will be cleaned up this
summer If plans carry"