The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-02-25
Pork Contest Prizes

Dir. Thomas Cooper of the North
Dakota Agricultural Experiment sta
ton and secretary Of the North Dako-
ia Better Farming association, is again
going to conduct two contests which
last year proved very successful
among the boys and girls Of the state. .
These contests will be the corn and
hog contests, for which. the above lists
Of prizes have been offered. In send
ing out the announcement of. these
contests. Mr.. Cooper has the following
to say:
Corn is the. country's greatest crop.
1t has an important place in the best
types Of farming, and is receiving
more attention in North Dakota every
year. The yearly increase in corn pro-.
duction in this state is surprising. Last
years crop was more than double that
Of 1910 both in acreage n production.
Nevertheless. this means that there
was an average Of only about five
acres Of corn grown on the average
North Dakota. farm of $50 acres. Sew
eral times this acreage should be
demonstrated that all sections of the
state can produce mature cor profit
ably. and it is a question of only a
short time before it will become one of
our staple food crops. Wider knowl-
edge of the proper methods of produc-
ton and utilization of the crop are
bringing this about. 1t is hardly prob
able that commercial corn growing
will be developed, but corn will b.
grown to a sufficient extent for the
home feeding of, the livestock neces-
sary for the most profitable manage
ment of our farms.
The Importance. Of the crop cannot
be overestimated. It is. essential to
the most desirable systems of crop ro-
tafinn - ha fSntnntip1 value. nf tho nrAD
Is materially increased because of the
fact that through the thorough Guilt
walton which Is necessary in growing
corn, the soil is put in good condition
and the weeds destroyed n kept in:
check, thus giving the land good prep
aration for the grain crops which fol-
low. Then, in addition, labor. is utiliz-
ed on this crop when it is not required
in the production Of small grains. This
makes il possible. to distribute the
farm labor to greater advantage
throughout the "a - -.
In the production of the corn crop,
it is essential that varieties. shall be
planted which. are suitable to the. sec
ton of the state where grown and
which will mature. Immature corn
does not furnish the feeding value per
acre that mature corn does, nor does
it furnish as high a class Of feed. If
the crop is to become a profitable one,
it is necessary hat the larger per-
centage shall mature and produce
relatively high yields. For this rea-
son the. maturing of ear corn is con-
| sidered the most important phase Of
corn production at this time. .
Who May Enter.
Any farm boy in the state. of North
| Dakota over" 10 years and under IS
years of age on July 1, 1914, may enter
this contest There is no entry fee.
Each contestant must raise and care
for not less than one acre Of corn. AS
many acres in addition may be grown
| as the contestant. sees fit. Assistance
may be given in. the blowing of the
land by the father or brother, but this
work shall be performed i'll accordance
with the wishes of the contestant. All
other work should be performed by the