Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1916-03-23
FREE DISCUSSION OF
VITAL FARM INTERESTS
FARMERS MEETING OF UN-
USUAL INTEREST RESULTS
FROM G. N. OFFER, MONDAY
rs FARMERS ARE PRESENT
HOGS, ALFALFA, SOIL MANAGE
MENT, CATTLE, DISCUSSED
BY CRANE AND WILSON

II have been in every county of
North Dakota touched by the Great
Northern lines, and in nearly every
agricultural district of the Northwest
and can say that believe you farm
ers Of Williams county can raise as
good alfalfa as they raise any place
I have been, and I am not talking
about your irrigated land"
Prof. F. R. Crane.
"From the Investigations carried on
for the Northern Pacific road, through
demonstration farms, in the south
western part of the state where con-
ditions are similar to yours, l have
reached the conclusion that it pays
to farm less land and farm it better"
e. A. Wilson.
Both of these assertions and many
others, equally important, made in
the course of long discussions, were
backed up by good sound reasons
based on observation and experience.
Better yet, they were talked over
freely, in detail, by the farmers and
the speakers.
The Farmers meeting called for
Monday afternoon by the Commercial
Club directors at the suggestion oc
Prof. F. r. Crane, head of the Great
Northern's agricultural extension de-
partment, proved all that was hoped
for it. The roads were in bad condi-
tion but about rs farmers attended
and displayed great interest in the
subjects discussed.
Prof. Shaw and H. r. Smith who in
tended to be present missed connec-
tions but the talks by Crane and Will
son and the discussion that was mix
ed in completely filled the afternoon.
Both men are engaged in actual farm
ing and their work for their compan-
les requires that they be practical and
keen and alert to every fact and fig
ure bearing on their work. It would
nave been of great value to local ag-
-iculture if every farmer in the coun-
y could have heard the talks and the
comment they brought out.
Mr.. Crane dealt in particular with
log raising and feeding, alfalfa for
1ogs, feeding the soil by keeping live
stock, pure bred sires, value of straw
or fertilizer. He said there should
'e live stock enough on the farm to
lse at least one third Of all the farm
PRODUCES. Straw he said had value
f $2.20 per ton, just to put back on
he land.
In conclusion he spoke of the need
f community spirit of fairness, will
ngness to give and take and help
uild up instead Of tearing down.
In E. A. Wilson, who is in the en-
10y of the Northern Pacific and is
lso secretary of the recently organ
led American Milking Shorthorn
reeders Association, those present
card one of the best and most inter- :
sting and convincing farm subject
'eakers ever listened at local farm
Getting. He described fully and :
early the details of his experience
demonstration farms in
North Dakota-particu- r
rly rs to methods Of tillage, soil
and moisture conserva- -
IN. He got the farmers to asking .. -
estions and telling their own ex- q q
riences. He told of remarkable re- -
Its obtained in dry years. He also - -,
ok up the subject of live stock and '>
'elt upon the merits Of the milking l,
ort horn strain for the diversifying =.
rmer in western North Dakota. y.