The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-02-07

The agricultural future of Montana is the most vital and the most in
terestng subject up for consideration by Montanans, present and pros
pechve. A candidate who a somewhat lev in the art of speechmakna
INC attempted to address the citizens of a rather desolate section of west
err Kansas After stammerng. and fumblng about for a lead, he finally
burst out in desperation: "My friends, you should not be discouraged
your future is before you" That axiom is something to be truly thankful
for when the future holds such great and well proven possibilities a in
the case of Montana.
There is equal cause for congratuation in the fact that or past is all
behind is We do not have to go through the ordeal again. All that re-
mains to do with the past is to not forget it, but store up and apply the
priceless knowledge it has brought is Never a ley region yet has been
settled developed n brought to Its W that dd not suffer hardshlps
and reverses equal to urs and which were extended over a longer period
neriod Settlers came and went SOM ucceedino some failing Cradua1lv
the land came into the hands of those who belonged there because they
Just recently we talked with a a whose bOyhoOd was spent in Illinois
and he told how the people of that state made fun of Iowa, the ew, raw,
country some were going to- They said: "YOu "a put seven ears of
Iowa corn in your vest pocket" Personally we wildly recall the years of
1875 and 1876 in southeastern South Dakota then Dakota Territory
when the few and scattered settlers gathered on Sundays and cussed and
discussed the new country in which they had landed. They doubted i. they
would ever be able to stick and make a living, and were especially skepti
older states. recognizing it's value, offered 500 to s95 an acre. n for heir land and
Then three out of four fairly fell ver each other to sell to the suckers"
Offering such prices. The fact i. that the sun shines o very few richer
o mor productive regions than that same country is and was. Long be
fore the va land sold for 5000 an acre. But most of the first settlers
reveal to them the virtues of the land and tell them how to Use it.
Montana's farm pioneers have net with more serious handcaps than
were encountered by the first Dakotans, but fully as large a per cent of
tramaUdons dvan+aao or th% ~q n So w %M tp |u 4u 'ny nave
organized auxiliary forces that are behind Montana agriculture. In those
and even more recent years. state college extension service was unknown in
"Pue" seed was that which contained very little foreign seed. Wheat was
of two kinds spring and winter. Corn W as Yellow, white or mixed, dent
or "squaw" Each mn worked out his tiIage and rotation systems &C
cordmg to his own ideas and experience. Cooperation consisted in oc
caaonal casual discussions between two o three farmers The land grew
wheat sick, cattle died with backeg, potatoes were as apt to be scabIy
and knotty as otherwise.
Adversely is a competent teacher and necessity a genius as a inventor
so Montana from now on is certain to make steady progress in finding
herefa and developing her latent wealth. Never have the settlers of a new
state had such valuable aid and cooperation as that offered by the agi-
cultural extension organizations of this state. A body of picked men,
equipped IN the science and practical knowledge If the numerous lines of
agriculture in this state, are earnestly devoted to the task of conceiving,
assembling and perfectng the instruments of success. Hence We have the
state College extension work in its many departments and branches: we
ave thu Montana Seed Growers association, to promote the production
and use of pure, adapted seed; we have the County Farm Bureaus and
community units; the Boys and Girls clubs. +
In a recent address before a large body of business and professional
lei who convened at Bozeman, Alfred Atkinson, president of the Mon
tana Agricultural College, discussed in detail Montanas farm program for
the immediate future. The address a comprehensive and practical, re-
veaing how thoroughly the broad field of the states possibilities and needs
had been surveyed and studied, how carefully all things have been tested
before conclusions have been reached. No program for the future IAN be
perfect, 10 program al perfectly fit all parts of a great empire like Mon
tana. Every farmer must depend on his W judgment in applying advice.
But this outline of farm methods will prove a safe guide to any settler.
old or ew, who has the initiative, the energy and the patience to use the
parts he finds applicable
Montana, considered as a vast Industrial prospect, has a. admirable list
of valuable assets and the first of these, which is entitled to the considera-
ton of the homeseeker, is Experience; the second is Agricultural Organiza-
ton, born of that experience. AS a writer recently well said:
"Montanans have n o desire to deny any of the facts relating to our
bitter experiences of the last four years. We do desire, however, to have
the resto of the world know that in the ashes of III misfortunes w re have
laid thu foundation of a permanent agriculture which will, in a few years. S
make Montana of the enved states of the northwest" "