The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1922-06-30
GIVES DEFINITION
Of name hOIvOk

Editor. Powder River County Exam
iner.-While you de- not have . rcgu-
lar Farmers Forum In your psper,
yet it appears that your columns are
open to those who wish to air their
views on various subjects. Perhaps
should have said, "Honyokers' Forum.'
Will some one step out and tell W j1st
what "Honyolk' means. and how did
the word originate?
In the older sections o the United
States those who till the soil are call
ed farmers, but here they are desis-
mated by some Of our citisens a. "hon-
yokers." The greater part Of the
knowledge we gain in this life comes
through an Interchange Of ideas and
opinions. Sometimes we are inclined
to thik we have originated something;
some economic problem or some sort
of machine, but II you sift the matter
down, you get an idea from some one
and you enlarge upon that idea. The
American people have made wonderful
progress in all lines in the last fifty
years. due to the interchange Ct opin-
ions and hard study. A characteristic
Of the American people is to know the
why and wherefore Of thing. have
long been a little skeptical on any
proposition for which could not find
a logical reason. Just because some
one says thing is SO. when 1t il q
matter Of opinion. does not make j. &C
to me. want to know the why and
wherefore. Otherwise. after reading
Mrs. w. Fl. McLatchey's statement that
farming in Montana IL a failure" we
honyokers would get up and move to
where farming does pay If there IL
such place: The old saying that
Every dog has has his day" applies
to certain extent in this case. In
western Texas. Oklahoma. Kansas, Ne
braska. Wyoming. Dakota and Mon.
tana the stockmen had unlimited free
range fer many years upon which they
paid no taxes. All they had to dc
was brand their calves and colts in
the spring, turn them out to roam
over a thousand hills and valleys un.
til they were ready for market
But times have changed. The tide
of immigration has been flowing west.
ward. due to increased popul alton. in
! search of homes. These honyoks have
been invited to come here by Uncle
Sam. and offered homes on certain con.
ditions. Many Of them are making
good at farming. I dc not mean they
are making money. but making liv.
ing and improving their homes. paying
| taxes into Uncle Sans big chest
helping to build up schools, churches
F., and advancing community interest IL
general. These farmers are going t.
and out for themselves whether farm
ing is failure in Montana. PERSONAL,
/ do not claim to be much of q farmer
just an amateur: but I thought.
might learn. I had done nc farming
for thirty years before coming to Mon
tana. I think I have learned a few
things since coming here. have learn
ed that you can't plant a corn GRO
and turn it out to- grass and weeds a
III have seen some do, and expect t
get a good crop of corn in the fall. 1
the corn belt. farmersh begin cultivat
ing corn before it comes up and the
keep at It until the corn is too bi
for team to get through. I believ
the harrow is the best tool one ca
use in corn cultivation. If shovel
must be used on account Of weeds
harrow should follow behind the cul
} tivator in a dry time in order to hcl
moisture.
No, / have not made money here. b,
l nave uVeO dIter Il INSHlOH anu ItdS
worn lots Ct patches. However, I HAY
. incurred no debts: I have had a fe
lacres in wheat and oats and corn Il
four years. The year 1919 was a fai
ure, but fer the four years my whe'
, has averaged just twelve bushels p'
j acre. My oats have averaged just
! bushels per acre. I have had pret'
. good corn every year except 191
a which, was on sod and not cultivate
j. I find that 1t pays to keep some col
+ and oats in the bins until the ne
: crop is assured. and il don't need Il
i grain. some neighbor who finds tn
e farming ia a failure WIN want to b,
: lat. know Of others who have do
I far better than I have at farming. b
o that does not discourage me. I ge
n orally have a fair garden, especial
a potatoes. MELONS and pie plant. We
e I guess I have aired my views pref
: generally SO win let it go at that.
Of Very respectfully.
]. H. A. BORDEN
e Epsie. Mont.