The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1925-02-19

Whether 1t be manufacturing, agri-
culture, or any other line of production,
the problem of primary Importance is
the creation and maintenance Of a
consistent demand for the output at
prices which will show a fair profit.
Capacity production may be main
tanned and costs kept at a minimum,
but the results will be unsatisfactory
unless markets can be found for The
merchandise on a basis which will
yield a reasonable return.
Many Montana farmers can testify
TO the fact that volume production
does not necessarily mean profit.
From actual experience they have
found that the going price often does
not equal the cost of production, wen
though this was kept as low as pos
sible. Especially is this true in regard
to wheat and many letters have been
received at the office of the Montana
Development Association at Billings
asking why the Association did not
do something to make possible a mar
ket at Give and let live prices, in
stead of continually urging greater pro
duction. The reply has been that
worldwide conditions govern the price
of every bushel of wheat sold in the
United States and that this o%rganiza-
ton is powerless to alter this state
of affairs. 1t was pointed out, how
ever, that increased production per
acre, through summer tillage and crop
rotation ,will help to solve this prob
lem, for with considerably lowered
costs per bushel, a fair return is pos
sible even at minimum prices.
Must Secure New Markets
The Association does clearly recog-
nize, however, that new markets mustl
be secured for the output of Montana
farms and no stone has been left I'M
turned in trying to locate and develop
such markets. In this connection it
has been discovered that the Southern
states have been obliged since 1920 to
a large quantity of certified
seed potatoes each year from the
North, due to the fact that mosaic
and other potato diseases had brought
a condition there whereby they had
almest given up the growing of early
potatoes, at least the Bliss Triumph,
and had swung very strongly to the
White Cobbler. The appearance of
certified seed has caused a return TO
the Bliss Triumph, however, and now
the Cobbler, in the extreme South at
least, is practically being replaced by
the Bliss Triumph.
The State of Louisiana, in co-opera-
ton with the United States Depart +
ment of Agriculture, began making
tests of different strains of Bliss .
Triumph potatoes about five years ago. |
As a result of these tests, they have i
shown c~onclusively the value Of GER g
-ain lots of seed from different states, e
md have to a great extent been recon- t
nending and buying on the basis of il
hese tests. AS a result, they are very Il
rtrong for the seed from certain stocks k
md will not recommend that from
s
Montana submitted samples for the |,
irst time In 1923 and the results of I
hose tests showed Montana as being %
D the lead by over 20 bushels. Il
Realizing the Importance of this 8
and determined that Montana b
roducers should reap the full benefit fl
( the publicity attending the results
t these tests, In 1924 $500 was given D
fr. F. M. Harrington, Horticulturist of S
he State College, to enable him to pro- tt
agate Montana certified seed in fe
ouisiana. Twenty-four lots were sub 81
lifted and although the exact figures, k.
comparisons with other states nj
re not available, it is understood that pl
stock maintained it's previous
eputation. Ok
Publicity obtained from these tests al
been widespread and letters ask O,
X about stock have come in from st
ractfcally all sections Of the country. A
very pound OF Bliss Triumph seed 81
,ock available for seed purposes t1is In
ut fAA was sold carload hts, At ~