Grand Forks herald., 1917-03-17

crease production without very mucn
increase in cost
The Seed situation is Critical.
There is no question but that the
seed situation. especially of the small
grains, is critical this year. but It Will
be possible for many to secure rairly
good seed by carefully cleaning the
seed they already have. Greater pains
should be taken in this respect this
coming spring. than ever before: Any
one not having good seed should get
in touch with their banker or COM
mercial club to develop q league, bet
ter farming agency. or whatever ag-
ency is at their command and make
every effort to get the best seed that
Is available.
Plan for "Safe Farming"
It must be realized. however. that
the coming season will not be the
only season that will have the pros
poets Of profitable farming. We
should not farm in such way as to
deplete the soil and injure tho pros
poets for profitable crops in the fu-
ture.
A great many are realizing that
their present financial conditions are
due to the fact that they had a di-
versity Of crops during the past
years. and were not wholly dependent
upon one crop. Diversified farming"
or safe farming" is the safest doc
trine at all times. 1t is true that
there has never been a region in the
world. where one crop or kind Of
great length Of time, that the people
who were engaged in 1t, have not
been brought to poverty and dis
tress.
We should continue to pride our
selves on the fact that our live stock
is increasing more rapidly in this re-
gion than in any other in the United
States. We should also see to it that
our live stock is provided with the
sweep clover and such crops need
consideration at this time. In this re-
spect 1t Is very encouraging to know
that there never was such q demand
for alfalfa and sweet clover seed Rnd
such crops. as there is this spring.
This means that preparedness" Is a
watchword with many farmers. es-
year had stock and did mot have
proper feed provided for them.
Prospects Good.
The heavy SHOWS Of this winter will
leave an abundance Of moisture in the
ground which will. in q measure, in
sure the crop for the coming season.
Owing to the light crop last year,
much more fall plowing was done
than usual. so that great deal of
ing. 1t is also true, that perhaps the
light crop Of last year took less
amount Of available plant food from
the soil than usual, so that there is
more for the crop that is to be plant
ed this year.
This is in accordance with the fact
that the crop is largely dependent
upon the amount of plant food that
is available. An unusually big crop
has a tendency to deplete the soil of
available fertility so that the crop
following may be injured by blight
or rust to a greater extent. It is also
true that unfavorable conditions are
more noticeable on old land that is
deprecated in fertility than on new
land. or on land that has been kept
up by proper rotation, manure. etc.
The continued increase and profitable
production in this region depends
Fundamentally upon the proper con-
sideration Of the fertility Of our soil.
The farmers peace in preparedness
is fundamental, for our nation will
rise and fall with the production from
our soil. Our eminence as nation
is due to the fact that less than one
half Of our population is required to
produce all the agricultural pro-
ouctS neeoeu, leaving the OtAer ndlI
free to engage in other lines Of in
dustry. The importance of this is
realized when we contrast our
strength with China, India and other
old countries where the land has
been farmed for thousands Of years,
and is so depleted that almost the
entire population must work at the
production of food. 1t is up to the
farmer to realize his duty and oppor-
tunity at the present time. and for
all time to come.