The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1912-10-17
WHAT Hill IS DOING
Showing the Farmers on Their Own
Farms How the Yield of Cere.
2 ais rIay Be Increased.
Three Co. operative Demonstration
Plots of Five Acres Each to be
Selected In This Vicinity. -.

Selected In This Vicinity. =
Under the personal supervision of
Mr.. ]. J. Hill, a great work is being
accomplished along the lines of the
Great Northern railway in this
state and in North Dakota, by dem
onstrating to the farmers, on their
own farms, how they can increase
the yield Of their grain from 30 to 100
per cent.
There is nothing theoretical or
mysterious about the modus oper-
andi. Mr.. Hill has established what
is known as the Great n orthern Rail- i
Way Agricultural Extension service.
This bureau costs the company many
thousands of dollars for it's mainte-
nance and at it's head is Prof. F. r.
Crane. one of the best soil experts
in the country. In a township in
each county three fve-acre plots are
selected by one of the field men un-
der Mr.. Crane. In making the selec-
lions OF plots care is taken to select
them on the farms of intelligent,
responsible farmers who will follow
directions. The plots are several
miles apart and of different soil if
possible the object being to prove
that the methods employed will be
successful on any soil. The farmer
agrees to follow directions. The
railway company furnishes the seed
and the farmer gets the crop. The
farmer is to provide, at his own ex-
pense, commercial fertilizer or
barnyard manure, or both, and to ap-
ply the same as directed, with the
express condition that such expendi-
ture will not exceed the amount paid
the farmer by the railway company
In brief, the railway company fur
nishes the seed and the farmer gets
the crop and $500 per acre besides.
The only condition imposed is that
the farmer shall prepare the ground
as directed, manure or fertilize, at an
expense of not to exceed $500 per
acre, and report the yield to the COM
pany.
The results are surprising. Mr..
Hill exhibited to the writer last
Saturday list of returns more than
a yard long. Some of the yields on
these five-acre plots were phenom-
email. Oats went as high as los
bushels per acre, and wheat Al BUSH
els to the acre.
Here is fair sample report from
one township in the northwestern
part of the state: On the Hill five
acre plot, wheat, 32.O5 bushels per
acre; remainder Of the same field, %
bushels per acre. Barley on the Hill
five-acre plot, 44.4O bushels per acre,
remainder of the same field, 3O.12
bushels per acre. Oats on the Hill
five-acre plot 70. Is bushels per acre;
remainder of the same field, 81 BUSH
els per acre. Let it be understood
that the farmers made special effort
to make the remainder of their fields
yield as much as the Hill plots.
How. are these results obtained?
By properly preparing the soil and
supplying what is lacking in the soil
by barnyard manure, commercial
fertilizer, or both. Nothing mysteri-
Gus or theoretical about it.
Here is something also that must
not be overlooked: Once fertilizer
is applied beneficial results will be
apparent for several years afterwards,
and by applying homeopathic doses of
the fertilizer annually the increased
yield of grain can be maintained in
definitely.
The railway company is expert
menting with wheat, oats and barley
only, the three staple grain crops
If the yield of these cereals can be
increased one-hundredfold by i'm
proved methods of farming, the same
results can be obtained with pota-
toes, corn, ETC.. ."':
In few days either Prof Crane
or one of his men will be in Prince
ton to select three cooperative dem
enstration pots in this vicinity, and
probably one at Zimmerman. The
publisher of the Union will be busy
and out of town most of the time for
the next two weeks and farmers who
may be interested can talk the mat
ter over with Mcmillan & Stanley at
their land office.
Candidates by Petition.
The following have filed by petit