The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-06-17

work for that period of time. Various
methods were adopted in different
counties to secure the necessary funds,
in a few a direct appropriation was
made by the board of county commits
sioners, in others, the commercial
clubs guaranteed the funds, while in
still other counties, funds were raised
by private subscription.
At the present time there + eleven
counties carrying on definite work and
contributing to the movement to the
extent of one-half of the cost Of the
work in their county. These counties
are located throughout the better agri-
cultural sections of the state and are
representative Of conditions. They
are as follows: Ransom, Barnes,
Stutsman, Wells, Eddy. Ward Botti-
neau. Cavalier, Grand Forks, Bowman
and Adams. In addition work is being
carried on to a limited extent in parts
of Towner, Billings and Hettinger
counties. Work will be taken up in
additional counties as rapidly as COM
petent men can be secured.
The Method Of Work.
The principle which underltes the
field work is that the adoption Of more
profitable methods of agriculture maj
be materially FASTENED through direct
contact with the individual. In the or
binary course of events better methods
would be adopted even though nc
special effort is made. Economic
forces will slowly bring about these re.
suits but the cost in the loss of poten-
tial wealth is terrific. 1t is vastly
more desirable to assist the producer
by direct demonstration and study OF
his W. problems than to leave him tc
slowly discover how to apply the best
agricultural knowledge of the day. II
is a we'll known fact that the greatest
efficiency of education is obtained from
the more direct contact of instructor
and student. Our field experts take to
the farmer the results of experiment
and show how 1t can be applied in a
practical way to his own problems.
Each farm presents an individual,
problem and each farmer has different
conditions to meet. These may not be
differences in soil or climate or live.
stock, but If nothing else, there is in
variably a difference in economic con.
ditions. The problem is not a lack o.
intelligence on the part of the people
but a lack of knowledge of how to ap.
ply the methods of progressive agri.
culture to their own conditions. Otter
there is a lack of initiativ& in making
these applications. The farmer does
not differ from the average business
man in this, for in all of our industries
we find that the great rank and file o.
men consider that 1t is easier to della!
in doing the things which would b.
advantageous to their business. They
do this either through conservatism o
because of a positive lack of desire
The work of the field men Of the Bet
ter Farming association is to leve
this wall of conservatism and to in,
duce the initiation OF new and bette
ideals and methods.
Specifically a field man is located il
a well defined area of between 400 AM
TOO square miles. He is assigned t.
this district and is required to carry OIL
work only in that district. He live
with his family in some town that i
so located that he ma reach the PEG
pie with the least amount of travel am
at the least expense. He becomes al
essential part OF the life of the com
munity, assuming, as 1t were, a rela
ton to the farmer similar to that o
the doctor or the lawyer to their eli
ents. He is placed in the locality to b
of value to the peole, to help them t
make their farm business more profit
ADELE and the farm live more livable.
Several lines of work are carried OF
to illustrate methods which may b
advantageously adopted. This worl
consists of the demonstration plats-
areas of twenty to eighty acres tina
are put down to crop rotation. Thes
are superintendent by the field man an,
operated under his direction by tn
farmer. The methods of tillage, tn
way the crops are sown and cultivate,
are determined by the field man, Will
the seed. the implements USED and tn
actual work are furnished by tn
farmer. The crop of course belong
to him. These demonstration plats ar
laid out in order to illustrate the fact
that through proper methods of Gro
rotation the fertility of the soil a b
maintained, that weeds may be eradi
Gated. that there viii be a decrease i
the ravages Of plant diseases and in
sects, that moisture will be saved, la
Dor distributed to better advantag,
the soil built up, the hazard of Gro
production decreased and through til
proper combination of grain, cultivate
crops, grass and livestock, the return
OF the farm will be greatly increased.
The second form Of demonstrate
work consists of the demonstrate
fields. The crops grown On thes
fields are those that are not produce
extensively at the present time an
that are desirable in the agricultur
of the state. BY this method interes
will be aroused and the Feasibility {
their production demonstrated. Sue
crops as alfalfa, red clover; corn plot
special varieties OF the small grain
wheat, oats; flax and barley, are dem
onstrated. The method TO tillage, cul
ture. ETC., is prescribed by the hel
agent.
The third form Of demonstrate
consists Of demonstrations with live
stock. 1t is desired to demonstrai
definitely that livestock can be pre-
duced at a profit under farm condition
in North Dakota and that this is true
all classes OF stock. The herd
flock is turned over to the demonstrat
or. He assists and determines as /
methods Of feeding and breeding.