The Dickinson press., 1913-06-28
ALFALF IA DAY A SUCCESS
MANY YOUNG FARMERS Game
State Historical Society
Commissioners Flint and ebrea Pleased With Gathering at Dickinson
Alfalfa, Corn and sos Will Make Country Prosperous. Must Raise
More Live Stock and Less Wheat Alfalfa Produces Twice as
Much Per Acre as Other Crops and Builds up sol
State Historical Society

Alfalfa day at Dickinson was fairly
we'll attended and proved to be very
interesting meeting and it is certain
that another year will see a much
larger attendance. Dairy Commission
er Flint was we'll pleased with the
gathering and said that each of the 26
demonstration farms in North Dakota
would hold annual picnics from this
time on.
There were 20 to rs young farmers
from..New Salem and vicinity who came
up on the train Friday night and it was
gratifying to see the younger men
taking such an interest in the work at
the Dickinson experiment station. They
came specially to study the growing of
alfalfa. Dunn. Hettinger. Mercer.
Morton, Billings and Golden Valley
counties were all represented.
An informal meeting was held Fri
day evening at the Commercial Club
rooms in the armory. Chairman M. f.
Hall Of the entertainment committee
called the meeting to order and Fred
Maser was chosen as president and
John Orchard. secretary. State Dairy
Commissioner Flint spoke first, He
said we learn best by seeing things
with our own eyes and that was why
he had urged the farmers of New Salem,
in particular. to come to Dickinson to
see alfalfa successfully grown. In the
first place, he said the local station
was very fortunate in having as super
intendent man like L. R. Waldron,
who stood very high in plant breeding.
Mr.. Flint said that in the future he
hoped things would be so arranged that
the superintendents Of the various sta
-tions in the state would be given a
free hand to work along lines for which
they were best adapted and as far as
possible avoid duplicating work. For
instance, he believed that the Hettinger
station was giving special attention to
live stock raising. A few years from
now when our people want to see the
best in live stock breeding they would
60 to Hettineer. Likewise, the farmer
who wanted to learn more about grow
ing alfalfa and the successful raising
of any kind of crops. would come to
Dickinson.
w. C. Gilbreath. commissioner of
agriculture and labor, spoke of the i'm.
portance of getting together and talking
matters over. He said it required
study and thought to make farm ing
successful just as much as in any
other line of business. Practical talks
from men who understand the soil of
Western North Dakota are needed. said
the speaker. He also spoke of the
great wealth Of the state in coal, clay,
etc. In closing. Mr.. Gilbreath explained
the law which allows counties tt
levy A-mill tax for advertising 1t {
resources. Such levy in Stark woult
only amount to 19c per quarter section
and would raise total of ST, 365.
which he thought could he very profit.
ably expended in setting forth the ad-
vantages of the farms and natural re-
sources beneath the soil.
Supt. Waldron read on ''Fhases O.
Farm Life by John Burroughs.
W. A. Peterson, superintendent o
the new demonstration farm which ths
government is establishing at Mandan
said lie hoped to be of assistance t,
the people of this part of the state in 8
few years in showing the best varieties
of trees for our farms.
John Christensen of New Salem sale
the farmers needed more fodder for liv
stock and he believed every farm il
western North Dakota had at least
few acr es that would successfully gro,
alfalfa.
John S. Cole of Denver, Colorado
q government field man. cited the fac
that the soil at the Dickinson station
was capsule of storing 9 inches q
water available for crops. as agains
S at other stations east of the river. H
believed that soil at the Dickinso
farm was no better than the av erag
soil found in the western part q
tie state. This fact is important an
farmers should learn to conserve tn
moisture against a time of need. thu
enabling them to grow abundant fodde
crops in any season.
SATURDAY AT THE STATION
Saturday morning autos took til
farmers to the station west Of the cit
limits where they walked over tn
grounds and saw the various CROWN