The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-02-07

state are working hard enough all
ready, but they are spreading their
energies over too much territory. To
remedy this, a considerable norton Of
each farm should be devoted to o
n alfalfa, two crops that do not re-
qrire attention during the early days
of spring when small grains should be
planted. BY thus l~essening the area
to be seeded to small grains, more
time can be devoted to its better till
age without increasing the number Of
teams or men to do the work. More
over, corn and alfalfa are splendid
weed killers. The frequent cultivaa-
ton of the corn conserve moisture an
well, while the alfalfa lowers the tenn
p%erature when hot winds blow. Both
imply the feeding and breeding Of live
stock which act as an insurance
against total loss of income when
wheat fails, as ii sometimes will, from
one u or another, and moreover.
the fertility they leave on the and
will maintain its productive power. In
fact, a farm is hardly a farm without
livestock, nor is 8 farmer a real farm
er who does not keep livestock on his
farm.
Manure and Moisture.
1t a been determined scientifically
that rich soil, that is, soil well sup
piled with vegetable matter, such az
barn-yard manure, only requires
about half as much moisture to pro-
duce a crop as soil that is poor and
deficient in humus.
There are several reasons assigned
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tentive Of moisture. The vegetabla
matter or humus acts like d sponge
and gives the moisture up but slowly.
Second, the nj or vegetable mat
ter facilitates bacterial activity, there.
ny greatly e~nriching the soil BY MAX
ing more plant food available. The
capillary water taking this plant food
! n solution and being, therefore. more
n~ourishing, less is required to sustain
the plant, on the same prineipie that
half a gallon of milk fed to pigs In
as nourishing as twice the amount if
At is half water. From the viewpoint
OF conserving moisture, therefore the
secondary effects OF livestock on tba
farm cannot be ov-erestimated. As
profit producers, their presence is nm
questioned. And az livestock. corn
and alfalfa insure the maintenance ~
crop rotation ard. at the same time.
offer scart hospitality to weeds, and
as they tend to distribute the work
more eQuitably throughout the year
Ind insure even greater PROFITS than
wheat, IT would seem advisable for
farmers to diversity their crops and
their energy az here indicated.
In Conclusion.
It may be said in conclusion that ti,e
farm and farmer constitute the But
wark of the state. It's hope, les strength
and its pride. The farm enbodies In
latent FORM unmeasured wealth:
The farmer toiling early and-iata
wrests It from the elements ana pourx
1t out into the channels or trade and
commerce. All are belefted bv his
labOrs. All are dependent upon his
exertions. But FOR his energy and
toll, there would be no cities with their
luxurious homes and palatial business
blocks; no speeding railway trains
no prosperous banks no lucrative III
fices. "A great state thus indebted Il
= SO dependent upon 4 single nc
dustTy cannot afford to hask IL fts
b~eniheence without making ample pro
vision for It's larger edlIcationaI apa
material development. Common vr
titude ~ among the noblest as well aa
rareat Of human traits.
NZE AHNN HAEWE H