Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-10-11
BURNING STRAW.

The Minneapolis Journal. In describing some Of the
things that the traveller will observe On q trip northwest
from the Twin Cities. calls attention to some differences
bet~eep the farming methods Of southern Minnesota and
those OF the great prairie areas beyond. On tho first part
Of the trip, says the Journal, the traveller will zee hume err
Gus nerds OF cattle and great corn fields, with every stalk
in shock or sno. He will see grain carefully stacked. or
If 1t is thrsshed, the straw will be carefully saved. On
the lower land he viii find all the hay cut and stacked.
with every corner conbed for stray bits. AL possible care
is taken to save everything in the nature of fodder. Far
Their north he will find straw stacks burning, cattle rare,
and great gang plows turning over the soil in preparation
for the next seasons crop. The upper six inches Of this
black northern soil has been turned, and will be turned,
over and over again. with the elements Of fertility being
constantly removed from it and nothing being put back.
The Journal suggests that at least the straw should be
spread back upon the fields, so that this portion of the
fertility may be retained. ...
That the contrast which the Journal points out exists
is undoubted. While there has been some change in the
farming methods Of the northwest, the change has not
been great enough or general enough to destroy the effect
of the comparison. We are still sending too much of our
wealth up in smoke. But as I practical proposition,
unless the Journal knows Of methods Of performing the
work which are unknown to most other people, spreading
the straw back on the fields is not only an adequate rem
edy, but it is not a remedy at all. Straw contains certain
elements of fertility, and to put straw back on the stub
bic will improve the conditions, chemically. by just that
much. But the fertility will be in a form in which it can
not be used successfully for the growing Of the next years
crop (which is a matter Of considerable importance to the
farmer. .E
One Of the essentials Of good crop raising is good
blowing. Good blowing means deep blowing, clean turn
ing, and the thorough covering Of all surface material.
Those things cannot be accomplished if the soil is covered
with any considerable quantity of loose straw. To At
tempt it is to have plows clog, and the result, instead
of good plowing, is merely a roofing Of the soil. with
straw, stubble and weeds left on the surface. to interfere
later with the work Of drill aid harrow, and to promote
the growth Of weeds.
The only way In which the fertility in straw can be
enough to work it over and reduce it to a condition in
will not interfere with the mechanical operations Of the
field. More stock means more Investment in herds and
buildings. It means more winter labor. It means more
people living on the farms and less farming at long range.
It means many changes which cost money and take time,
which are certain to- be made in the long run. ana which,
when made, will multiply the wealth Of our farming CON-
munittes many fold.
The French papers interpret the Italian situation to
be that the approval Of the peace treaty by the king does
not require the formal assent Of the parliament. This
has not been the general understanding.
The reports Of tornadoes In the south make one stad
he lives In the north, even ii, the snowflakes are begin
nins y a..
8EgEEH rlS-tE w. aGZ = ~