The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-03-28
RAILROADS HELPING
FARMERS
INCREASING NUMBER OF DEM
ONSTRATING FARMS, GIVING
PRACTICAL POINTERS.

For some time the Northern Pacific
railway has been engaged in conduct
ing agricultural demonstration farms
in North Dakota and Montana, both
for the benefit of the various farming
communities where the farms are To-
Gated and for its own purposes of in
vestigation and Improvement.
In Montana these experiments have
been in charge of officials of the Mon
tana agricultural college and the
United states experiment station and
have had most beneficial results. In
North Dakota these farms have been
superintendent and developed by Pro-
fessor Thomas Shaw, the We'll known
agricultural authority. An addition
to the agricultural staff for 913 has
been made. r. +. Murray will give
| special attention to the demonstration
work and professor Shaw and he will
work in earnest cooperation. The
object of these farms is to determine
the best conditions under which crops
Of all kinds can be grown by means
of the so-callcd dry farming methods.
This includes soil preparation and
cultivation, crop rotation, the dotermi-
nation of varieties Of grains and Vege-
tables best adapted to particular soils
and localities, etc. Professor Shaw
has just concluded his studies of the
results of the demonstration farms for
1912. These results have been such
that the number of farms the North
crn Pacific will operate in 1913 under
the direction If Professor Shaw and
Mr.. Murray Will be doubled. They
will be located in the country between
the Missouri river and the Montana
boundary line in North Dakota.
The farms consist of six or more
acres each. ana they have been handled
in a thoroughly practical as we'll rs
scientific manner by resident farmers
under Professor ShaW's supervision.
The conclusions of Professor SahW
regarding the various crops, briefly
summarized, are as follows:
Winter Ryc-This crop will produce
large yields when soNvn on corn land
in late August, whether amid standing
or cut corr stalks. When drilled in
grain stlhhIc at the same time, it
grows well. but does not yield so
heavily, It is of great assistance in
cleaning the land and is one OF the
safest n sur"St grain crops that can
be grown in North Dakota. The yield
Of corn ground was &c % bushels an
acre, ana on stuhhlc II bushels.
Winter Whcat-GroWs well when
soWn during latter part Of August on
ground Whcr" thu" corn stalks are still
standing, but there is great risk in
sowing it in corn Stubhlc or even on
summer falloW where unprotected.
P~asturing destroys il. Yields 40
bushels al acre on corn stalk land.
Corn foddor-Dnc Of the most i'm
portant crops in North Dakota. AS
siSts greatly IN cleaning the land and
furnishes dry fodder or silagc for live
!. stock, also c0nscrvos moisture for
crops that follow. Experience shows
that the ears of corn will generally
mature even with Minnesota No. 10,
Corn grows we'll on stubble land
Yields > IL tons to the acre.
Peas and barley-Canada field peas
and white hulless barley make a splcn-
did combination for producing grair
hay. Three to four pccks of peas anG
two of barley to the acre should be
soWn. Yields three tons or more tC
the acre.
Alfalfa - Experience demonstrates
that while there is no difficulty in Sc.
curing a good stand, yields on land no
properly prepared are unsatisfactory
More experimentation is called for il
growing this crop which promise
much for North Dakota.
At the demonstration farm at Elgir
IS acres We're plowed in October, 1911
and disced and narrowed as early il
1912 as possible. Land had previousl