The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1913-01-08
Farmers Urged to Put Twenty Head
on Five Acres and to Follow
s. With Cattle Pasturage.
ROOM FOR 100 CAR LOADS HERE
Can Be Herded on Unbrokeu Tracts Of
Several Townships-Big Meet
ing Planned. +.

AS result of the meeting of the
Commercial club last evening and the
discussion of the sheep industry
which it developed, it appears that
a number of car loads will be shipped
into this country next spring. Freight
Agent Griffin, of the Great Northern,
promised to get into communication
with the Montana sheep men and as
certain their exact position In the
matter.
J. J. Opsahl and A. e. Nelson were
appointed a committee of two to write
out the information available as to
the lands which could be used for
large focks and the number Of farm
ers who will take sheep enough for a
small flock. This information is to
be filed with the secretary of the
Commercial club for the use Of the
railroads, sheep men and farmers.
Mr.. Opsahl presented to the club a
proposition advanced by a merchant
at Nebish.: This merchant will furn-
ish one sheep to a farmer for each
cord of wood the farmer will lay
down at Nebish this winter and will
wait until next winter, for pay for the
difference in the price of the sheep
and the value of the cord wood. He
says that he can dispose of at least
one car load on such a proposition.
Discussion at the club last evening
centered on the number OF sheep
which can be best used in clearing
land. It was generally considered
that twenty sheep put into five
acre plot would be of the most benefit
to he farmer. The plot is to be
fenced so that the sheep will be con-
fined. The second year the flock is
to be moved to a new plot proportion
ed four sheep to the acre and white
clover or Kentucky blue grass sown
in the first plot and it turned over to
cattle for pasture. At the end of the
second year, the stumps in the first
plot will be ready for pulling and the
land ready for the plow. This meth
cd of rotation will clean up five acres
q year for the farmer. =: &
In order that the farmers may have
the proposition presented to them by
an authority, arrangements are being
made for a farmers meeting to be
held in the High school here sasme-
time during the next two weeks. Mr..
Chamberlain, agriculturist OF the
Great Northern railway, is being
consulted as to the time when he can
best come here for meeting and as
soon as date is arranged With him,
Mr.. Nelson will send out invitations
to the farmers. Professor Dyer told
the club last night that the High
school would serve a2free lunch I'd the
farmers any time the meeting was
lheld. ~s.1 ~*- -
Speaking for the banks. 4. 2.
White, r. H. Schumacher and H. 6.
Baer said that the banlA were ready
to loan responsible farners who wish
to buy sheep and will furnish the ND
ney at low cost. They believe that
no farmer should take more than
twenty sheep at the start. which
would make the investment about
500, but that the focks should be
added to once their success is estab-
lished. ~-e~
AS one car will carry 200 sheep,
the freight cost for shipping from Be
midji to any adjacent point amounts
to but few cents q head.
Farmers who have talked to the
Pioneer are enthusiastic over the plan
and state that there is no better way
of clearing land than by doing it =
little at time and with q small dock
| Of sheep. They point out that sheep
cannot be fed two successive years on
| tle same pasture in this country un-
less grass is planted and favor the ro-
ltation method which will keep the
sheep constantly on new land.
Az soon as Mr.. Chamberlain an
nounces the date on which he win be
in. Bemidji. active preparations for
1.-the farmsrs' meeting will be started.