The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-01-17

for they expect to do that In full
measure as they have in the past
II means instead that the great in
dustry of food production should bt
stabilized and unified so that nc
eXigency or hazard can threaten Of
impair 1t.
The time will come in this. as il
has in other countries, when farm
ers through their organizations will
develop their own systems Of credit
and financing, will market their own
| products and purchase their OwT
supplies through their own agencies
in a manner most profitable alike to
producer and consumer.
Until that time comes public meas
ures should be adopted such as
will make impossible the slowing
down of production.
Leaving aside for the present all
! general considerations the farmers
should ask themselves what means
they have at their own disposal and
under their own control that can be
| turned toward increased production.
1t would now appear that the Ia
Dor situation is likely to be the most
pronounced limiting factor in agri-
cultural production for the coming
year.
understood a shortage of agrt-
cultural labor is found in all parts
of the country.
The farmers of the northwest need
not look for much outside assistance
in this direction.
Work must be planned so as to re-
duce man labor to the smallest
amount compatible with reasonable
farm practice. Our problem in the
past has been whether 1t Is more
profitable to put a large amount of
labor on a small area or a relative
~ small amount on a large are.
This year there will be no such
problem to trouble you. You will
simply have to discover how to make
a small amount Of labor go a long
way.
We have been given to understand
in the past that there is more prof
IL in one acre Of wheat producing 90
bushels than in two acres producing
16 bushels each thus proving that
the larger amount of labor applied
to land is a good paying investment.
With the present price Of wheat
that ratio no longer holds, and even
II 1t did our concern is not so much
just now the greater profit per acre
els providing we don't go wholly
broke in the process Of raising
them.
Since labor is scarce and high we
know that We cannot afford to put
it into poor blowing. Very deep
spring blowing is not advisable but
the cut and cover method Is always
wasteful and cannot be tolera ted in
these days of high feed, labor and
seed.
We also know, or should know by
this time, that one hour Of dragging
Immediately following the pillow is
usually worth more than two hours a
day or two after. II it is not con-
venient to have a drag Immediately
following the plows the blowing
should be stopped in time each day
so that the land may be dragged be-
fore the next day. In fact 1t is ex-
cellent practice when the land is dry
10 let the seeder follow the pillow as
soon as the land can be dragged.
The advantages of early seeding
are so we'll understood that there is
hardly any necessity of. emphasizing
ii at this time. With other condi- !
tions equal wheat seeded April 90, |
or before has given a yield Of five
or six bushels to the acre more than |
wheat seeded May 10.
Where fall blowing has been done |
that should be seeded as soon as the |
soil will permit instead of devoting |
the time to spring blowing. The |
spring blowing and seeding can be /
carried forward without delaying the |
seeding on the fall plowed land.
The advisability Of dragging grain
after it is four or five inches high |
depends upon so many conditions |
that it is impossible to lay down any |
rule that may be safely followed at
all times. We have records Of in
stances where light dragging has in
creased the yield three bushels per
acre. which indicates the possibility !
that lies in this practice when in
diligently followed.
The custom of treating seed wheat
Tor smut has been 50 universally
oracticed that 1t would seem hardly
necessary to call attention to its i'm
1ortance.
The amount of smut in last years
crop, owing to the dry weather, was
ess than usual so there might be a
tendency to neglect the treatment for
! year. The reply to this is that
sven when there is scarcely any evid-
snce of smut present. seed treatment
ordinarily gives an increase in yield
II something over a bushel to the
acre.
Stated in another way treatment
doubles the value CT seed
wheat and at it's present value that
s a factor worth considering.
One safe and sure method of in
'reasing the yield Of small grain is
% cover the ground from any time
after seeding till the grain is six
inches high with stable manure. This
s applied. Of course, with a spreader
Lbout six loads to the acre being the
Usual application.
1t has been demonstrated many
lines over that the effect Of fertilizer
s particularly noticeable in a dry
Tear Most any soil with a sufi-
,ient rainfall will produce a crop but
When the moisture is deficient the
icher soils have q decided advant-
.ge.
The application of stable manure
. a top-dressing not only adds
necessary plant food but aids great
Y in retaining sof1 moisture and II |
pplied in time prevents blowing Of |
he soil.
Farms that have an accumulation
Z stable manure or even old straw |
his treatment.
At a conservative estimate 1t may 4,
q said that each load Of manure /
pplied in this manner will increase I
he yield Of wheat on bushel, with /
he soil moisture as low as it is at I
be present time.
While the recognized commercial I
rops win as usual receive the chief |
ttention. yet such crops as furnish :
pod for the family should receive {
heir due attention
Potatoes, sweet corn, peas, beans
nd the root crops and poultry win I
ot only insure people against want {
n ordinary years but win set free !
he grains and other staple food I
for the needs Of our SOL {
as. Al 81 - :