The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1919-04-24


large herds were broken up and 9TH
ers reduced in numbers.
The system Of agriculture as en-
ployed by many of our early settlers
was to put in as large an acreage as
they could to small grain; work dur
ing the summer, take off the crop in
the fall and practically hibernate for
the balance of the year. After the
proving-up time came, many left their
farms and large acreage became va
cant. Some of the land that had been
plowed was allowed to go back and
grow up to weeds.
A second crop of settlers came lat
err on, and perhaps we might say a
third crop. The latter in most cases
coming with the idea of becoming per-
manent settlers and operating their
farms as means of obtaining livli-
hood. In this way has been evolved
the present class of farmers that are
now occupying our lands. Some Of our
early settlers came with very little
resources and many have made mon
ey.
Up to about ten years ago, it was
quite common thing to find farm
ers living with their families on the
land, buying their butter, eggs and
even condensed milk in the towns and
cities. 1t is possible some are doing
this today, and in the case of butter
l do not know but what it is justifi-
able, for butter can now be made bet
ter, cheaper and with less trouble to
the farmers, at the creameries than it
can be on the farm.
Grain farming during years of
plenty proved to be quite profitable
venture, but as the land became drain
ed of its fertility, by continuous crop
ping, the yields were gradually re-
duced, until the margin of profit was
very small and during number of
years there has been more loss than
profit. ! know, and no doubt many of
you do, if you would take the time and
trouble to go into the matter, of men
who have less equity in their farms
today than they had five to ten years
ago, and some of these men are con-
sidered to be among our best farm
ers. Such condition should not ex-
list, and where it does there is GER
If, in your own business, you found.
during any particular year, that you
were conducting your business at a
loss, you woSld make every effort to
determine the reason for that condi-
ton and to find, if possible, a remedy
at once. But supposing in a number
of years, say three, five or ten years,
after covering this period of time,
you found that your business had
shown loss of considerable amount,
you would realize at once that your
system of doing business was entirely
wrong, and that it was time for you to
either get out of the business and
tackle something elNe, or to change
your sytem so that it could be made
profitable business. l believe this
condition exists on many of our farms
today, and as business men YOU
should be interested in assisting, if
possible, your farmer friends and Gus
toners SO that their business could be
made a profitable and satisfactory
one.
Farming should be just as profitable
as any other occupation. The farmer
is entitled to fair return upon his
investment and fair return for his
labor. He is entitled, as much as we
| are, to the comforts and advantages
of good home, good schools, medical
service, entertainment, churches, and
something for old age, and unless our
farmers can conduct their business 50
that these things may be realized
they are NOT making a success and
not making what they ought to.
The source of practically all our
wealth is the soil. The great question
is, how to increase our grain yields
per acre and at the same time re-
ceive more for the crops produced.
Live stock farming along intelligent
lines will do this. Nothing will bring
to our state and county greater de.
gree of permanent prosperity than
the live stock industry. / think can
make two statements of fact, which
can not be disputed. First, no state
in the Union has ever been able ia
make success Of permanent kind
by straight grain farming. They have
all tried it to the east and south OF
US, and sooner or later from one
cause or another, and in many cases
because they were compelled to do so
they have changed their system, and
by the introduction Of live stock and
the practice of diversifcation OF
crops, which should go with it, have
gotten upon permanent basis of az.
riculture. Second, every state that
has taken up live stock as perma.
nent adjunct to the farming opera.
lions has made good. It's people be.
come more prosperous, more content
and have made better citizens, land
values have increased, better roads
better farm buildings, better LIVING
conditions on the farms, better
schools, and a more intelligent and
higher class Of citizenship has result
ed. The practice in our own com
munity of subjecting our lands to the
severe strain Of continuous grain
growing has naturally resulted in tax.
ing the plan6 food out Of the land, and