The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-05-23

- AAGN 0RRAa&AAk0A VA - %&RSt go
which North Dakota may not have the
patent for originality, but which that
state Is the first to make practical use
of. j. J. Hill was driving at the samAe
thing when in recent talks on better
farming he has rather mininized the
Importance of agricultural education
in the schools OF agriculture, and in
sisted that no agricultural teaching or
demonstrating was worth anything
that was not done on the farm under
the conditions with which the farmer
himself had to contend.
1t is not necessary to underestimate
the value Of experiment station work
and such work as is done at the school
of agriculture in order to lay proper
emphasis upon the Importance OF car
rying out theories of improved farm
ing in actual practice. North Dakota
is doing both, but t.e undertaking
which Is now attracting most atten-
ton is that under the direction of
Thomas Cooper OF Fargo, secretary
and managing director OF the North
Dakota Better Farming association.
Where 1t Commenced.
Six or eight months ago there was
a movement on foot in North Dakota
to promote better agriculture under
the name Of the Hundred Dollar An
Acre club. This was largely a COM
mercial club boosting proposition and
engineered mainly by business men in
the towns.
Before 1t had proceeded very far,
however, another movement was or
gained which has taken it's place,
adopted its name and then discarded
the name for its present designation.
Better Farming association. It is not
without Significance, that in spite OF
the unfriendly feeling entertained in
some rural districts against the cities
and all who live there-a feeling
which Is fostered by small politicians
and others who are hoping to profit
by 1t in some way-successful business
men in the cities have become greatly
interested in the Improvement of con-
ditions under which people live in the
rural districts. The bankers have been
the most active promoters Of agricul-
tural education in the rural schools.
and OF other agencies calculated to
stimulate interest on the part of young
people in rural communities in their
rural pursuits.
A City Business Man Takes the Lead.
1t was a city business man who took
the initiative in this better farming
movement in North Dakota. A. r.
Rogers, q Minneapolis lumberman,
He found conditions so variable de-
mand in excess of supply one year aud
had a number of yards in the state.
practically mt demand the next, and
no stability and little growth in the
business from rear to year in sections
where his yards existed that he took
the matter up with responsible men OF
the state in public and private life. and
insisted that something ought to be
done to make farming in North Da-
kota a more uniformly successful Oc-
cupation. He succeeded In interesting
a number Of active men and particu-
larry residents OF Barnes, Stutsman,
McHenry, Wells and Ward counties.
The problem was to secure the
adoption of better methods on the
farms. An association was formed
which engaged as director OF thar
work, Thomas Cooper. for q long time
identified with the agricultural de-
partment Of the University Of Minre-
sofa, and working in the Red river
valley. Mr.. Rogers put up the impor-
lance of work OF this kind so strongly
TO railroads, to business men, that he
was able to raise In North Dakota ana
the twin cities $4,000 each year for
three consecutive years. What to do
and how to do it was left to Mr.. Coop
or.
Demonstration Farms Discarded.
The plan as first contemplated was
demonstration farms. That meant a
did not then create conditions Iden-
teal with those on the farm, produc-
ing results with the facilities with
which the farmer was obliged to work.
So the demonstration farm proposition
was abandoned. The name Of the or
ganization was changed from the One
Hundred Dollar An Acre club to the
Better Farming association.
Mr.. Cooper, with a keen practical
appreciation of the problem before
him decided that the only thing to do
was TO secur q stair OF field workers
who should go among the farmers,
deal with the conditions with which
the farmers have to deal, and show
them how to produce better results
with the means they have to work
with.
Scientific Farming Pays.
Seventeen men have been engaged
for that work and are now In the field.
Such men command good wages, some
Of them more than $4,000 q year, while
the average is about $1,000. Their ex-
penses are paid while they are away
from home. Their business is to go
among the farmers, advise with them
as to what is best to do under exist
ing conditions and with the benefit OF
their training and experience seek TO
improve methods generally prevalent.
AT first. as might have been expected.
many farmers did not look with much.
favor upon the profered advice and
assistance OF these field workmen, but
that is no longer the attitude OF the
farmers. They have come to UNDER
stand thoroughly that these men, who
study their conditions and advise
them, are actuated by no motive what
ever except TO advance the interests
Of those who win accept their serv-
ices, and from a state Of cynical in
difference or hostility there has de-
veIoped a degree of interest and app
probation which is illustrated by the
fact that two young farmers on q re-
cent Sunday drove twenty miles
through q snowstorm to meet the Held
d and get his advice as to what 90
do with their land under the condi-
tions existing.