The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-04-05
From Tuesdays Daily.

from lucSuayS Oally,
Immediately after the session Of
the Southern Minnesota Develop
ment congress was called to order
this afternoon, Hon. J. j. Furlong
of Austin, spoke on What South
ern Minnesota Farm Can Do" His
remarks follow:
"The organization of the Southern
Minnesota Development league is a
right movement in the right dircc-
ton. What helps one section of the
state helps all the state. AS a
Southern Minnesota farmer, | am
glad Of the splendid work that is
being done by the Northern Mime
sofa Development league. This is a
big state and we can't have too
many development leagues if we
are to maintain our supremacy as
the bread and butter. state of the
Union. AS a farmer | want to en-
phasize this statement: Every foot
of virgin soil turned by pillow en-
hances the value Of every foot Of
ground elsewhere i'm Minnesota, be-
cause it adds wealth to the state.
The great seal of our state is one
of the few great seals which rep
resents a farm scene. In the fore
ground is the farmer with his hand
on the pillow. That seal is a scene
of development, not of Northern
Minnesota, not of Southern Mime
sofa, but of the entire North Star
state. .H
North Has Organized.
Our brothers of the north end
of the state have anticipated us in
organization and have set us a
splendid example of what organiza-
ton can do. These are days of
great organizations and heartily
endorse this movement in the south
to you on the Southern Minnesota
Development league from a farmers
standpoint. | have lived nearly all
my life on Southern Minnesota
farm. This farm is in one of the
oldest counties of Minnesota. Yet,
we have not stood still all these
years. From sole wheat raising
farmers, we have developed into d.
versified farmers This is not from
choice Nature compelled us to make
the change, as she will yet compel
our brothers of the grain growing
states to change. 'a' .aa
Choice Breeds of Livestock.
con our farms may be, found the
cattle, horses, sheep and swine. We
have been raising breeding animals
for the newer states Of the north
west. We are raising apples, apples
not for our own wants merely, but
for shipment. | was pleased to hear
the other day. Of the organization
of the fruit growers OF Southern
Minnesota. They have a big field
for their endeavors. We have de-
veloped the fruit industry through
the organization of few enthusiast
tic organized horticulturists who be-
gan the initial work whenwthe gen
eral sentiment was that apples could
not be raised in Southern Mime
sofa. We have done well, but we
have not done enough. Living within
the great corn belt, the great dairy
belt and one Of the great blue grass
belts, on land which we have dem
onstrated as unequaled in the entire
Union, we have not begun to get
the wealth from our. land that will
come with more intensive farming.
Awaking to Possibilities.
while we have been working, not
exactly in a rut, We are just awak-
ening to the possibilities of the land
We are only beginning to employ
methods which have been. in use in
older farming sections for many
years. Our land is not worn out
1t is in better condition for better
farming than at any time since the
soil was broken by the pioneer. No
land wears out. The heaviest crops