The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-09-23
HIGH SCHOOL BOY
gets HIGH MARK
PRESTON BROWN, OF FARGO
HIGH SCHOOL,, WROTE HIS I'M
PREssIoNs OF THE FARM BOYS
ENcAMPMENT, AND GOT LET
TER OF coMMENDATIoN.

Preston Brown, member of the Far
go High school, who attended the
Farm Boys encampment at Valley
City, early in July, wrote his impress
sions of the encampment for Sec.
Thos. Cooper. Of the Better Farming
association. His paper received a
mark Of 95, and a letter of special
commentator was sent him by Mr..
Cooper. The paper follows:
I had the honor to be a regularity
appointed delegate to the Valley City
Chautauqua Boys encampment
through the kind effort of Supt. J. w.
Riley of Cass county and Thos. Coop
er, secretary of the Better Farming
association. This e~ncampment, being
under the direction of the Better
Farming association of North Dakota,
Is an effort to bring the farmers OF
this state in closer touch with a more
scientific method. Of farming. III.
Il arrived at the camp ground on
Monday, June 80. and was kindly re"
ceived by the directors of the encamp-
ment. after which / was positively
sure of. kind treatment and valuable
information in regard to a more scieu-
tiic way of farming
The class periods Of the day began
at 8 o'clock. On Tuesday, July i, Pro-
fessor Richards of the agricultural
college, delivered a lecture on horses.
This proved very instructive to me,
especially in regard to breeds, care in
handling and judging of the farm
horse. We were also instructed in re-
gard to the different soils of North
Dakota by o. D. Center. There was
another class period in the afternoon,
after which the boys were free to do
as they pleased till supper time.
On July 2 we were addressed by
Professor Shepherd, the subject of his
lecture being beef cattle. Mr.. Shep-
perd delivered much valuable inform
alton to the boys about the necessity
and pleasure of having good breeds
which are adapted to conditions in
North Dakota.
Crop Rotation was the subject taken
up on the afternoon Of July 2, treat
ing of the necessity of correct rota-
ton of crops in North Dakota. On the
morning Of July 8, Mr.. McNary and
Mr.. Nelson were the instructors In
studying the conditions and the adapt
ability Of hogs in North Dakota. Mr.
M~ayland's lecture in the afternoon
was based on North Dakota feed
crops and their value. The most i'm
portant feed crops for hogs are forage
and other dry feeds.
On July 4. Prof. Lars Frederickson.
the cattle expert of Denmark, deliver
ed a very interesting and instructive
address to the farm boys. He was
deeply impressed with the manner In
which the association was carried on,
and gave all an idea of how Denmark
had progressed during the last thirty
years. He expressed the value of crop
rotation, comparing North Dakota
with the small country of Denmark,
showing the necessity and value of
crop rotation to both places.
The staple farm crops of North Da-
kota, their value, their place and their
future were thoroughly discussed, in
Guiding cash crops and forage crops
by Mr.. Center on July 4, Mr.. May
land and Mr.. Burns spoke on corn.
potatoes, clover, grasses, and alfalfa
on Saturday, July 5. Mr.. Burns proved
himself a well qualified authority on
the raising n feeding of alfalfa in
North Dakota. On July 3, Mr.. Nelson
lectured on hogs, n explained the
different breeds eXpertly.
The Fourth of July was celebrated
by all the boys in the camp, and there
were numerous festivities for the day.
-Four of the city boys camping in the
c~hautauqua grounds had the pleasure
of an early morning bath, much to the
pleasure of the farm boys. The CITY
boys began with some rather strong
jokes, which ended with a wet recep-
ton for them. There were a number
of events in the afternoon, such as
baseball, throwing and foot races,
which were stopped by the heavy
rains in the afternoon. Nevertheless,
the boys had a good time in the as
sembly tent. In the evening, when
they had all gathered about the camp
fire, which was built for the purpose
of drying blankets. prizes were offered
for the best story and the best song
for the occasion.
On July S, the subject of the lectures
was corn, potatoes, clover and alfalfa.
Maryland, Burns and Unborn were the
lecturers. Dairy cattle, feeds and the
compromising of rations were the sub
jects of study on July Z.
n Farm Boys encampment con-
sisted of eighteen tents and about 100
attendants, including the farm bows
n the instructors. For my part,
am quite sure that every boy in the
encampment meant we'll in trying TO
learn to be a better farmer, and, fur
thernore, L don't ever remember of
seeing a better group of boys to get
along with. L feel that. they treated
me squarely, as I tried to treat them.
AS far as the instructors of the
! camp are concerned, it is almost USE
less to try to thank them sufficiently.
The Kind treatment that I have re-
ceived at their hands. the valuable
information, the inspiration for better
farming in North Dakota that is very
seldom found in such an institution,
were certainly received with great
pleasure, and I can say that I wish
them success in their work to improve
the poor farming conditions now so
prevalent in our own state of North
Dakota. . -.., ~v~a ~,"