The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-05-29
Railroads Interested
In Better Farming
NUMBER OF DEMONSTRATION
- FARMS INCREASED. VAlu-
49, ABLE CROP POINTERS.


For some time the Northern Pa
cific railway has been engaged in con-
Quoting agricultural demonstration
farms in North Dakota and Montana.
both for the benefit of the various
farming communities where the farms
are located and for its own purposes
of investigation and Improvement.
In Montana these experiments
have been in charge of the Montana
Agricultural college and the U. S. en-
pertinent station and have had most
! beneficial results. In North Dakota
these farms have been superintendent
and developed by Prof. Thomas
authority. An addition to the agri-
cultural staff for 1913 has been made
Mr.. r. F. Murray will give special
attention to the demonstration work
and Prof. Shaw and he will work in
earnest, cooperation. The objects Of
these farms is to determine the best
conditions under which crops of all
kinds can be grown by means of the
so-called dry farming methods. This
includes soil preparation and cultiya-
ton, crop rotation, the determina-
ton of the varieties of grain best
adapted to particular soils and local
ties, etc. Prof. Shaw has just con-
cluded his studies of the results Of
the demonstration farms for 1912.
These results have been such that the
number of farms the Northern Paci-
fic will operate in 1913 under the d.
rection of Prof 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, and they have been han
died in thoroughly practical as Well
as scientific manner by resident farm,
ers under Prof. Shaw's supervision.
The conclusions Of Prof. Shaw re-
garding the various crops, briefly
summarized, are as follows:
Winter Rye. a .
This crop will produce large yields
when sown on corn land in late Aug
ust, whether amid standing or cut
stocks. When drilled in grain stub
BILE at the same time, 1t grows we'll
but does not yield so heavily. 1t Il
of great assistance in cleaning the
land and is one of the safest and surest
grain crops that can be grown in
North Dakota. The yield on corn
ground was Is % bushels an acre.
and on stubble II bushels.
Winter Wheat.
Grows we'll when sown during lat
ter part of August on ground where
the corn stalks are still standing, but
there is great risk in sowing 1t in
corn stubble or even summer fallOw
where unprotected. Pasturing de-
stroys it. Yields 40 bushels an acre
no corn stalk land.
Corn Fodder. @
One of the most important crops
in North Dakota. Assists greatly in
cleaning the land and furnishes dry
fodder or silage for live stock, also
conserves moisture for crops that fol-
low Experience shows that the ears
of corn will generally mature even
with Minnesota No. IL. Corn grows
well on stubble land. Yields IL
tons to the acre. rts
Peas and Barley.
Canada field peas and white hui
less barley make splendid combine
ton for producing grain hay. Three
or four pecks Of peas and two of bar
ley to the acre should be sown. Yields
three tons or more to the acre.
Alfalfa.
Experience demonstrates that while
there is no difficulty in getting a good
stands, yields on lands not properly
prepared are unsatisfactory. More
experimentation is called for in grow.
ing this crop which promises much
for North Dakota.
! At the demonstration farm at ElgiD
% acres was plowed in October, 1871
and disced and narrowed as early in
1912 as possible. Land had previous
ly been worked for several years, but
at this time was a mass of Russian
thstles, rose bushes and weeds.
Corn.
This crop covered IA acres and in
Guided seven varieties Of corn, one
Continued on page seven)