The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-01-16

augmented. Now. by deducting fronl
the above sum the value OF all fer
~tilizers returned to the soil during
the season. be they much or little.
and they are more apt to be little
than much, and the difference will
represent the net loss the state has
sustained and the extent the common
wealth has been impaired for the fu-
ture production of wealth. From these
conclusions, which are approximately
correct, at least, there is no escape.
Amount OF Fertility Great.
Were it not for the immense store
OF fertility locked up in our north
western soils, one might become pes
simistic.
No need OF that, however, vast
though 1t is, nevertheless, it is not
l-nexhaustible and the purpose OF this
address Is to encourage the production
OF ave greater crops, certainly more
grain on fewer acres, but by methods
that will to a very large extent, MAIN
tain the fertility OF the soil.
Livestock a Necessity.
The breeding and feeding Of live
stock, therefore, is rapidly becoming a
necessity. The past season has album
dainty demonstrated at least the in-
NOAANGAIACACG Oh PlduLl1E UlOE6 SAAiAA
than could be cared for after 1t was
grown. To depend upon transient la
Dor is unsatisfactory and is precari-
GUS at best and the sooner the farm
ers shape their business so that the
least possible amount OF transient
labor need be employed, the better
for them and for all other interests,
hence my advocacy of smaller farms
and more farmers who actually own
and operate their farms.
Livestock Is not only profitable as a
business but less affected by adverse
climatic conditions than growing
wheat and other small grains. The
high price of beef and dairy products
and the unlimited demand for both
are strong arguments in favor of
farmers giving more attention to AMI
NAL husbandry. Aside from the actual
profits in livestock, the fertility they
make for the farm is needed. as an
offset for the drain of fertility caused
by wheat farming.
Moreover. just about in proportion
as a farmer engages in livestock will
he be able to give better tillage to
that portion OF his farm that is re-
served for wheat, corn and other
cereals. For il one-third of the farm
is given over to livestock, he will be
able to give the remaining two-thirds
of the farm at least one-third more
attention. instead OF spreading his
energies yer the entire farm and
being able to give the larger area
only about two-thirds the attention
that it should have to produce he
best results. This observation is by
no mean intended to be universal, but
it is, nevertheless, In too many In
stances, worthy of serious considera-
ton. Nor should the question of. fer
tility be overlooked or moderated.
Though its Importance may not be so
apparent this year or next, neverthe-
less, its constant application to the
soil is of paramount Importance in
every farming community.
The Siio.
The rearing of livestock also heralds
the advent of the silo and the more
general cultivation OF corn. 1t is es-
timated that two acres Of corn 0
verified into ensilage will feed eight
COWS as long as two acres of pasture
will feed one COW. The silo thus
becomes a veritable concentrated
meadow, confined within walls of wood
or cement, and the corn that fills it.
lowing to the frequent cultivation II
requires, becomes a blessing to the
land that produces it, for cultivation
of corn destroys weeds, areates the
soil, starves fungia and conseryes
moisture for the succeeding crop.
Though North Dakota may never prove
to be a great corn state in terms Of
crib corn, yet for ~ensilage, it ranks
among the best The feeding value OF
ensilage, moreover. is almost or quite
equal to that Of crib corn, calculated
from the same acreage. There Is nc
good reaso therefore why our com
monwealth should not become a great
producer of livestock and of dairy
products without materially diminish
ing the production of small grains.
The Young Mars Opportunity.
In conclusion / wish to refer briefly
to the opportunities the small farm
and the dairy COW offer young men of
steady habits and some training in ag-
riculture. There are thousands of
young men in the state who, at present,
are looking the other way, but who
should be Interested In securing each q
quarter section of land while it is still
comparatively cheap. And by the same
token, well-to-do parents can do their
children NJ greater favor than tt start
them in life with a quarter section of
land, after giving them an education
bearing upon agriculture. With such
training and a quarter section of land.
or even with less land, in the absence
of accident or poor health, the young
farmers future is assured from the be-
ginning, If he has the right stuff in
him.
Here is a good plan to consider
never mind drudging to secure a large
farm. Instead, purchase FIVE good
COWS and, every month, deposit the
money received for the butter fat which
they produce in some reliable savings
bank where 1t will draw interest. DC
this with unfaiiing regularity. Don't
miss q single month. The skim milk,
the manure, and the calves they pro-
duce will, IL judiciously managed, al
most pay for their keep. Fifteen acres
of choice land should maintain them.
Keep this up for fifty years, renewing
the herd whenever necessary. Devote
what is made on the farm and from ad-
ditional COWS and other livestock to
living-just to living-and keep out OF
debt. IL you have to 60 In deb for the
land or the cows, live a little closer un-
til the debts are paid. Fling away am
bition TO become rich.
In fifty years, the age or about 7C
/ will rave been reached-just about the
proper age to retire from active bust
ness. And one need not be broken in
health at 20 either, on account OF
drudgery, for this scheme contemplates
a comparatively easy life. You will
have nothing to do but to make a liy-
ing and support five cows.
Now, how much, think you. would be
to your credit resulting from the sale
of cream from five good cows at the
end Of fifty years? mean principal
and interest.
IL the cows were good producers
and no farmer has a license to harbor
poor ones-and they were well cared
for, well fed, and well MIXED, you
should have to your credit not less than