Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1912-12-06
The limit of packages is eleven
pounds.
Express rates are being lowered too.
so that they may be less than the Par.
Gel Post rate by the first of the year.
FARMERS INSTITUTE
The Lesson of 1910 and 1911 by F. M. Barnes,
hghm0re, South Dakota.

Highm0re, South Dakota.
The years of 1910 and 1911 we're years
of more or less partial or complete
failure Of crops in the Stats of South
Dakota. That OF 1911 was probably the
most widely extended and complete
failare OF crops in the history Of the
state. 1t reached almost every nook
and Granny. every farm garden and
flower bed. 1t would be difficult to
estimate!in dollars and cents the loss
to the state. Certain it is that for that
year the difference between a good or
even a fair crop and the merely nomi.
nal crop which was harvested would
have to be written in millions il
measured in dollars. But the measure
of privation not to say, anguish in
hundreds Of homes caused by that
failure cannot be written In dollars
ard cents or calculated in coin.
That brings me to. q consideration of
how and in what measure the serious
consequences resultant from adverse
seasons may be in greatest possible
measure minimized or obviated.
1t is not considered the legitimate
province of the ordinary:layman scien-
titically to treat this subject. Nor will
the writer assay to treat it, but, trust
shall touch responsive cord in the
minds of our farmers when l suggest
that the solution of this;problem, In SO
far as 1t is capable Of solution lies in:
L. More diversified farming.
More scientific farming That is
to say, more scientific treatment Of the
soil according to recent tested and
tried out methods Including (a) not
only more scientific treatment of the
soil but (b) also the study of adaptable.
ity of given soil to scientific crop
and the reverse (e) Soil culture with
reference to the conservation of mois.
ture etc.
3. Rotation of crops and coincident-
ally the attainment of what may be
termed we'll balanced soil, such as
shall be best adapted to the growth of
such crops Hs are indigenous to this
latitude.
4. A more insistant pursuit of the
dairy business.
5. Breeding up to better grades and
we'll chosen varities of breeds of all
kinds of stock, horses, cattle, hogs.
sheep, etc.
6 The growth of alfalfa and all of
the tame grasses.
Z. A more seudious effort and great
or determination on the part of the
farming community to avail itself of
the munificent agricultural resources
OF this country.
incidentally this leads the writer to
remark that it is the great good fortune
of the farming community in particu-
lar, and the populace in general, that
they have resource OF reliable and
scientific knowledge aloIg all lines
pertaining to farming pursuits of in.
estimable value.
This institution is the Farmers In.
stitute corps of lecturers with Dr. H.
II. Stoner as superintendent. These
Institutes are doing q great work and
are one of the farmers greatest re
sources. 1t will do greater work
from time to time and from year to
year In proportion as its support by
way of appropriation from the state ia
sufficient for it to be- properly and
economically conducted; in proportion
as the farming community shall avail
itself of it's assistance in their localities
and of the lectures given and demon.
strations offered; in proportions as
there shall be given hearty co opera
tion with these Institutes, not only, by
farmers but business and professional
men in whatever line.
i This is an agricultural state. AS this
basic industry prospers so, and only so,
will the state prosper. The Farmers
Institutes are its greatest incidental
need and aid. Two things are neoes-
ssry for the best results: ~ Sufficient
appropriation by the State Legislature
properly to support and promote it's
labors; ~ Hearty, earnest, Jealous co.
operation on the part of the people.
Owing to the great increase of their
coal business the Roth Transfer Com
pany have found it necessary to ask
the Burlington railroad Company for
as much again space as they have in
the company's yards and this has been
promised them. They will CONNIE nee
the erection OF more coal sheds the
coming week. With their hustlina