The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-07-28
DRY. FARM PICNIC
GRAND SUCCESS

Dickinson, N. D., July 2s.-About
400 farmers were in attendance at the
first annual dry farming picnic at the
experimental farm adjoining this city
on Saturday and spent the day in pic
nicing and studying the crop condi-
lions under the supervision of Profess
sor Waldron.
Profs. j. H. Shepperd and T. A.
Hoverstad were here from the agricul-
tural college and made interesting re-
marks along the line Of scientific farm
| ing. Professor Shepperd said that he
was impressed with the increased
yield of crops where conservation of
moisture had been practiced, insisted
| that it could be done year after year.
| that proof of the same at hand was
| self-evident. advised the farmers to
visit often the experiment station and
| observe the work being carried on as
pit was being done. The idea Of plow-
| Ing under such crops as rye for the
purpose Of getting vegetable matter
into the soil was commended as was
the effect produced by manure. Pro-
fessor Shepperd paid a nice tribute to
the women as practicing economy and
urged the farmers to talk over and at
tend the meetings with their wives. He
said that he had great faith in this
part Of North Dakota, as an alfalfa
district, because he said, he had been
no pace where the alfalfa bore the
amount of seed as it does here.
Professor Shepperd proved a very
interesting talker.
Inasmuch as there were many Ger
man speaking people there, Secretary
Maser addressed them and arranged
for demonstration as he talked. by
showing them the different plats on
the farm. These derived great bene-
fit through Mr.. Maser's ability to de-
scribe to them the exact meaning of
the certain plats.
After noting the results OF crop ro-
tation and summer fallow, the Ger
man farmers were impressed to the
extent that they informed Mr.. Maser
1t was their intention to follow, here
after, the instructions of the Dry
Farming congress Of last winter which
they admitted having ignored and at
trfbuted that fact as the cause Of fall
ure to get better yields this year.
Professor Hoverstad was then intro
duced and he told Of conditions now
and in earlier times, how things had
changed; how scientific farming was
increasing the value of land and pre-
dicted with attention paid to farming.
that within few years we would see a
farmer on every quarter. He urged
the farmers to plant trees but to first
prepare the soil by proper cultivation
and to cultivate them for few years
after being planted and to plant them
on the south and west sides Of the
farm, In groves. Then, after q growth
was secured, to plant fruit trees where
they would be protected by the grove
as they are at the station under Pro-
fessor Waldron's care. He said he
thought he would see the day when
this state would ship fruit by the car
load. The professor was at his best
and gave an interesting and valuable
lecture much enjoyed by all present.
The meeting was a success In every
sense OF the word and those farmers
with their families who partook of the
free lunch. and the cool shade pre-
pared by Superintendent waIdron.
went away feeling amply repaid for
the time spent ana viii no doubt visit
the farm mere frequently when they
desire information. 1t was an excel
lent meeting and the only way 1t could
be improved, would be to have several
of the same kind during the year.