The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-12-27
Railroads Active
As Teachers of
" Better Farming
D. E. Willard, Formerly of North Dakota A. G. Has New
Scheme for Follow Up Work After Special Farm
Development Trains Visit a State

as a means OF encouraging diversified
farming. And only recently South
Dakota heard the principles Of dairy
farming. with corn and alfalfa. grow
ing, from a train operated over the
lines Of the Chicago & North Western
road from Brookings to the Black Hills
and back.
That results have been obtained by
this method is apparent from the fact
that other trains are to be run, and
from the further fact that The roads
are trying to work out a follow-up
plan as already stated.
But better-farming trains are not
the only means being used by the rail-
roads to further the cause Of better
agricultural methods. For several
years the Great Northern company
has had Thomas Shaw at work,
especially in Montana, working out
the dry-farming problem. All along
the company's line Mr.. Shaw estab-
lished small experimental or demon
stration. farms. These were worked
by the owners of the land, but under
the close supervision Of Mr.. Shaw
himself. They were widely enough
scattered to show the effects of the
varying rainfall Of different regions,
and thus furnished bases for general
conclusions. There is no. doubt that
! tllAc WIZ "a bSCt d 6SlJ lklSIIu-
mental in developing an interest in
the growing Of wheat along the Great
Northern's lines, in northern Montana
especially, and the influence Of the
work spread to other parts of Mon
tana and to every dry-farming region
OF the northwest.
Working on Soils Problems.
Again, the Great Northern n Nor
thern Pacific companies have their
agricultural extension agents, +. r.
Crane for the former, company and r.
F. Murray for the latter. These men
are working on the soils problems
along their respective lines, testing
soils, trying out various fertilizers.
And as their work is cooperative,
done with the aid of farmers them
selves, In regions where considerable
groups Of farmers may see what Is
being done and how, it is highly
e~ducative.
Speakers for Conventions.
MI. Crane also is in great demand
as a speaker at all sorts of agri-
cultural meetings. He is a fluent
talker, full of enthusiasm for his
work, and able to hold the attention
Of the crowds that hear him.
This indicates another line of the
railroads activities. The railroads
better-farming men are in demand as
institute workers. Development asso-
Citations holding their annual or other
meetings call upon the railroads to
send out speakers, not to talk about
railroads, but about farming,
The fact Is the railroads are becom-
ing the best of farmers. They want
to know all the ms and outs Of the
Industry from which they derive their
largest share Of traffic. 1t is good bus-
mess to do this. and they are. doing It
thoroughly and exhaustively. Only
recently 1t was announced that the
Burlington system was to develop the
strips of and along its tracks as al
falfa' fields. The success Of this plan
will have a tremendous influence in
encouraging alfalfa-growing through
out the middle west and such inform
alton as is gained will be passed on
to the farmers.
Railroads as Neighhors.
Still another effect coming from the
activity Of the railroads in the better
farming movement is q better under-
standing between the farmer and the
railroad. Mutual enlightenment be-
tween the productive and the carrying
agencies Of a country is O. wonderfully
good thing. Both sides cannot fail to
profit by it. 1t must mean profit for
both, and all around a happier state
VI h4AAu' as the result OF Iranker buSl-
ness intercourse. In other words, the
farmers are learning the problems of
the railroads, even as the railroads
are learning those of the farmer, and
the two agencies are learning again
the significance Of their mutual rela-
tionship.
The railroads, then, in these very
direct ways. as well as in other ways
are among the great influences in the
present country life movement. They
are doing much to further better
agriculture and to create a clearer an
Outstanding between interests thai
have been too much at war. The out
come cannot be other than beneficial.