TFII-: ALLIANCE 1 1 KHALI), SKPTKMBKH 26,
PARMER WATSON AT
ALLIANCE ON SUNDAY
he of The lle4 Known Farmer In
The I'nitFd Htnten (sited Bits
Butte County This WeJk
H. D. WatSCW of Kearney- No,
braRkn. aged 8fventy-lwo years and
known over the United States as
"Alfalfa" Watson, visited Alliance
on Sunday of this we k, the Kuest of
Lloyd Thorn IS, editor of The Herald.
After lrnrninr that Ilnx Butte county
look the alfalfa prizes (and many
others) at the state f-iir this year,
Mr. Watson t ok time from he busy
life to visit a section of the state
Whieb has boon vttrnetine: li s f ttent
ion for several yeafB.
Mr. Watson is known ia a m;.Fter
farmer. In spit" of his ye.; l;e acts
and ti.lks like a younc 1 ;n and
I i -ns to accomplish much nu re dur
Jiir the remainder of his life. Ho Is
in tho-ouph accord with the plan of
Secretary Lane of the Interior depart
iiient, outlined in the Alliance Her
:ld last week, to provide farms for
the millions of soldiers who will re
turn from the great w.ir, eager to
live an out of doors life, and s rend
ering Seer tar y Lane much nrsist-
ancein getting the plan on a working
sis.
Mr. Watson w.ir anlnrnrinri at tlio
results achieved by tho Box Butte
county farmers. He was also
astounded to see thousands of
acres of level, fertile land lying idle
in this coun y, and expressed the
desire that the Xarmers of the high
priced land farther east have the
opportunity to know of the need here
of men wnh a small amount of capit
al and the ablll'y to farm along ncien
tiflc lines, in order to carry on the
good work being done by those who
aie now faming this ilea and fertile
C. strict. He promised before leaving
to ctme again to Box Butte county
r nd leurn moie of our reasources.
Liberty H. Ba'lcy, Dean of Cornell
jWrieultural College, Ithicn, N. Y.,
recently wrote an ;.rtic!e regarding
Mr. Waison's famous farm at Kear
ney, Nebraska, under the title of
he Pivot l Farm of Co Union",
the article beine nnblii'M in The
worm s worn, inis article was as
follows:
The. stake f at marks the mid
way point betwfen ocean and ocean
is on one of the most interesting
i Watson's Ranch, lying jusl out
side Kearney, Nebruski. It is a com
mercial faun of eight thousan 1 acres
BtretAalBg . ns tfie illMr.Uabie ex
panse of the Platte valley and ascend
inu. into he 1 :w ro'ing liUis of tho
prairie. The T urn is remarki ble be
ause it Is trying to : wive, on a large
ind eMltn -i' 1 basis koi :e of the
P'oblens of argricult ie in the new
vest) in a re . on of rain full
and of serious seasonal drou&ths.
"I am glad U contrast, in Tlie
World's Work, two such unMke es
tablishments as those of Luiher Bur
bank (described In the number for
September) am'. H. D. Watton, be
cvuKe they illustrate so vell the
Varied nature of agricultural pro
blems and show how efficiently
these problems are bein attached by
men of greit 'iLIMty. It would be dlf
f lb ut to fir.a two type? of ratal en
deavor more unlike tha-i these-one
a atlent search for new and beauti
ful varieties of plants and tl.e dis
covery of laws, the other a m-.cterful
organisation of a large business
f rinded on the sclent'flc a -plicatiol
ol agriculluial i-rinclp' .
Hie Importance of Mr. Watson's Un
dertaking. The r.griculture probieins cf the
pV ins are nev and lirgcly unsolved.
An experiment :ike th s, therefore.
has peculiar value for an immense
I geodraphlcal urea these problems
; are not oiler than a genen tlon of
i Biaa, for it : not. longer than th'a
that productive farming has suc
ceeded herding on these plains.
Bvery recurring year of drbuth
enipbani7.es the importanco of un
dertaking fundamental studies of
tlx' agriculture of the plains
jand o." UUIklBI rea ljus ments of
farm practice to climatic limitations
Much Of the old time p . tlce uf corn
win nm-t ; (tVea up in some
tOttS uf i lt. culture must be i ! pied
F.ven in this dry and hot year. It
i find any man more sanguine of
the agriculture of this region thrn
Mr. Watson is of his.
Ni braska essentially an agricult
ural state. It is estlm&ted thai its
Teople a.e RblLl ecpially divided be
tw.'en (be faun nnd the town. Yet
the fear of drouth must have had a
retarding Influence on th develop
ment of the state, for a recent census
percentage of increase during the
last ten yer.is (of population for
1890 -1900) is that shown by Neb
raska, being less than one-half of
one per cent." If this checkproves
to be only temporary, It will be due
in large part no doubt to Improved
farm practice.
Kvery great experiment In farm
practice Is Immensely Important to
the whole countiy, slnco ac culture
affords so la.ge a proportion of our
national wealth. It is to bo hoped
that the completion of the tvelfth
census will give us more detailed in
formation of the agricultural status
than we have had. It is difficult to
engaged In farming along r'th other
agriculture is the largest single bus
iness measured by the number of
persons employed. The census of
1890 reported that the number of
persons of ten year and over "en
gaged" in each specific occupation"
wnB 26,650,252. Of those persons
agriculture, fishlcrs and mining had
9,692.859. Omitting lumbermen, min
ers, fishers gardeners and others, it
is found that the number engaged in
real farming business is rbout one
I third of the entire number cf oc
: cupied persons. Not all farmers live
j on farms, there in a tendency, ap
parently nrowing, for farmers to
live in towns. In whatever wry one
looks at the problem, however, it
will be seen that our selfsustaining
farming population is very lrr;c, and
that the working out of diff'cultles
in any part of the country has in
terest to a vast constituency.
Watson Kanch.
The organizer and proprietor of
this great Nebraska farm is Mr. H.
D. Watson, a New England r and
for the greater part of hi liTe a
, busines man. He hns had varied ex
' periences oast, west and south,
' Sc-.ircb for health finally t ok him
I to central Nebraska. Here he was
attracted by the cheap r nd fertile
j meadows of the PlaUe. Land lie
I bought primarily to sell ; but the
I agricultural possibilities of the coun
try h-.d to be demonstrated before
; land could be sold, and thereby n oe
the inquiry that led him Int being
rather
a land buyer and a farmer
I than a rcales'ate dealer.
At first, his agricultural operat
, ions followed the customary lines of
jthe region the growing o grains.
grains. He was cavrrht by the drouth
of 1890. He was forced to the con
clusion that the farmer cf central
Nebraska must develop a business
j that shal provide for the contingency
I of carrying him over the dry years.
This he could do in part by storing
j some of his surplus grain and f orage.
' He should also be able to save more
j of the water that falls on his land in
winter, and this could be accor.ir.lish
I ed by fall plowing, by preventing
wash, by opening and deepening the
soil by in ana of Inirmu. He could
discover sor-.e crop that will persist,
and If possible, yield a fair return
In the dry yars. Mr. Watson thouht
of Irrln tion. but this Is very expen
sive and It was not Immediately a
vailablo. Moreover most of the farm
ers could not secure Irrigation, and
he wanted to aid them with the. mat
erials nearest M hand. It was In this
dry year of 1890 that his Attention
was attracted to the beb.1 v or of a
field of alfalfa standing on one of
his pieces of land. This alfalfa with
stood the drouth. It set him to think
ing. In 1S93 he laid lowB twelve
safes to alfatfaj now to has 2,500
acres and lie is sowing more.
To save thfl moisture, to utilize
j this moisture in the growing of the
i maximum crop, to dispose of this
Crop to the greateel commercial ad
vantage, to prevent the deterioration
Of the land -these are the problems
I which Mr. Watson has set for him
iself. They may seem simple enough
I to the uninitiated, but they are dif
ficult or meat wry. The fundamental.
elements In the attack of the pro
Men are three; to grow alfalfa; to
! sell this alfalfa in the form of animal
products: to use the manure for the
growing of fruit.
I The practical outcome of the
j hulsness is a fight against drouth.
I AlfaKa will endure much dry weath
jer because or its habit or deep root
' Ing. Like all good rarmers. Watson
I believes In Trequent shallow tilage
I in the growing season in order to re
duce the evaporation or the lire
giving mottte.ro. Many rnrnaers there
are, even yet, who till their lands on
ly for the purpose or killng weeds,
but these men are rar behind the
times.
AUaira has been chosen as the
rundamental crop because it thrives
in the region when given proper
conditions; because it gathers nitro
gen from the air, and tnm does not
impoverish the soil of thM expensive
ol ment; beca ite its dop root sys
i tr. brings bj food and moisture
from great depths and constantly Im
proves the physical condition r )o
ia:id because 't is no e il and
tMor.Oy dose n need re- -stabli b t
s-li tv ;ry ye ir ; and be -mse it is an
erCv!'nt food for domesii niili'ittlt.
By reeding the airaUa to stock rather
than sell it direct, the tanner should
be able, ir he is a good maiiager, to
obtain a double proHt, to secur an
income that Is eon'inuous throughout
the year, to arrord employment to a
greater number or men, and to save
an Important part or the crop in
manure. The proof that this general
scheme can be made a practical one,
in Mr. Watson's estimation, is the
fact that he has been able to rent
1500 acres of alfaira ror a term of
three years at a rental of $7,000.00
and in" further fact that fhe income
of the dairy already yields a like
sum. This result Is produced on land
or an original sellng value or $7.00
to $15.00 per acre and with a dairy
ol less than 200 cows.
To be successrul in the growing or
airaira requires a thorough preparat
ionor the surrnce soil, and sowing
early in the season when moisture
is abundant aud the land is cool
Sowing one week too late may mean
a poor "stand" and an unproHtable
series or crops. A Hne uniform field
of alfaira may look to be a simple
problem; but one has only to try it
it on a large scale to appreciate the
skill that Is required to secure it one
year with another. Mr. Watson findB
that he can average three cuttings
of alfaira every year and he has one
field eighten years old still in good
condition. In some of his recent sed
ings he secured four cuttings. These
cuttings average, for one year, from
three to five tons of dry forage. This
last August, when I visited Watson's
Save Money on Farm Gates
It won't cost you a penny more to put up genuine CAN' T SAG ffttea OC
your ranch or farm than to build the clumsy, short-lived all-wood gatea JTOU
have used for yedre. That's why the farmers are putting up thousands of
these pates every yeg?. They have found that lu re is the first practical farm
gate one that will really stand the hardest knocks, outlast the all-wood or
wire and gee-pipe tfatcs three to one, and yet actually costs them no more than
the cheapest home-made gates they can build.
f'AN'T-SAG frates are not only stronger and cheaper, but they are also
the finest looking gates you can own. They swing both ways easily, and are
guaranteed never to sag or drag.
PUT UP GUARANTEED CAN'T SAG GATES
Buy them complete or build them- just as you prefer. We furnish tft
pate steels which includes angle steeples, hinges, braces, lag screws every
thing including the lumber. We furnish them so that you can build them any
length or height.
- e
The sample gate now on demonstration at our yard erJU show j ou just
how they ar made and how they look when hung. The price is low.
ASK TO SEE THEM.
FOREST LUMBER COMPANY
GEORGE A. HEILMAN, Manager
Alliance, Nebraska
Ranch alfaira hay was worth $lo 00
a ton: this winter It win probable
bring mot This price is high le
cause or the drouth; yet it Is easy
to calcuat. that there ii money In
alfaira. and thai a stated ieroine Is
largely a queetlOS ot aoivs.
Never ran one see a more satlsry
Ing prospect than the great atreatch
es of thick knee-deep rlfarfa. purpl
with its bloonit or the herds or sleek
cattle Slowry reeding on the soft
green SSrpet of an all' a If. i pasture
yet these Ightl could lx sen daily
at Watson ranch in this year or
discount c ;i drouths. One felt that
tin- sort low hills and the wide
bottom lands were overflowing with
fatness. m
Agrowt Krnit t'unn.
a sure i or si falfs baring been
demoaatn I, Mr. Watson's next Im-
portaftl . cultural problem was the
rowing ut fruit. In this be had few
precedent and it ras thought that
this region is not adapted to fruit.
Yet, of peaches he now has 1,000
of charrl. D.SOO"? and other kinds or
fruit Aside from the apples, many
of these rruiti are in bearing, and so
well asii Is he or the practlcahllity
or this pomologies! enterprise that
r.00 youn: plum trees, rnd many
young aplo treon rrom which to make
plantings n 1902 and 1903. The
fruit Is as ratr and as good as that
in any other region. Most of the fruit
Ii pla.ited on the low hills, on land
worth $7 to S8 per acre, where the
soil is hard and dry. The rows of
trees follow the contour of the hills
and a fm tow U plowed Just above
them, thus is the rainfall crught as It
flows down tho slopes, and is there
by aplled directly to the roots of
the trees The best of surface
tillage, pi unlng, and : 11 the approv
ed methods practiced in the Eastern
StateB or on the Paciric Blope are
here employed or adapted. For all
thlsfrult the prairie states may be
expected to rurnlsh a good market.
WbJIe alfalfa, stock and fruit are
intended to be the leading enterpris
es of this great ranch, other farm
crops are not neglected; An alfalfa
sod affor.ls an excellent preparation
for other crops. When plowed under
it greatly improves the physical con
dition of the soil and affords a large
store of quickly useable plant food.
Inthe bumua-rtch soil-the moisture
is held. The special crop is planted
as early as possible In order that the
moisture of the early season may be
utilized. Thereafter, frequent surrace
tillage may be expected to carrythe
crop through even a dry season. In
this present dry year, and without
irrigation, Mr. Watson is harvesting
good crops or rye, corn, and other
things.
The material equipments of Wat
sons Kanch nrs now nenrlng com
pletion, and they are remarkable in
variety, extent and completeness. In
all successful enterprises the man is
more Important than the eaulnment:
yet a catalogue of the main features
of the equipment will serve to illus
trate the breadth of the establish
ment. The main barn on this ranch
is said to be the largest of Its kind.
It Is o 1 7 reel long and 96 feet wide.
With each cow in her stall there are
accommodations ror 3fi0 animals.
It has storage capacity ror 700 tons
or hay. An immense brick silo
holds 1200 tons, or thoproduct cr 90
acres or corn. Other bnrnn. enour
mous tool sheds, a creamery build
ings to accomodate 300 laying hens
and 2000 chicks, workmens cott
ages, a school house on the premises.
comprise other reatures of the es
tablishment. All this great development is the
re-sult or a porconality. Well past fif
ty yeas of age.spare of build, quick
In movement, well preserved, Mr.
Watson is the typical Yankee who
has been drilled and steeled in the
school or hard personal experience.
Ho is a general in power or uuick an
alysis ; nd fOfeeful organization. He
sees things broadly. He quickly se
parates the great thint's rrom the
small ones, a power that row men
DO MM His optimum Is unbounded,
else he roiiid no have geeompllsbod
in thirteen years or his mature life
what would have ben too greet B task
for the ItfetthM or most men. I'nlike
many in n who have forced their
way auainst Kieat odds, he is an
admirer of the student and scient
ist. For foreman ho wants ambit
ious college trained men.
Such a man cannot be content with
theaters establishment of a success
ful farm, however great the enter
prise may be. Mr. Watson . bounds in
schemes schemes which are bewild
ering in 1 heir boldness and captivat
ing in theft fertility of their ima
gination, and yet they do not run
riot. Some or thom reach far be
yond this little farm of 8,000 acres
on the ltiver Platte ritimately. it
the flam come to full fruition, this
ranch will be a fr.rm school ror the
central, v.est. tor Mr. Watson Ih
j by nature a phllantbroplet. Immed
iately hoi over, he is pl-.nnine ror a
, co-part nerahig farm, on whieb wor
thy i nd energetic young men can bo
! given an opportunity to bcOOSSe mod
! el farnii iv and to pain a competence
He would make 1O0 farVM or 80
I acres ei oh. with complete m ol build
I lngs. Baeh rVrni will be a part of
! each farmer to rear and maintain all
j the stock which he is capable. "
The central dairy herd is to be
, maintained at approximately 400
head, and the minimum standard
; butter yield Is to be 400 pounds per
! cow aaaealg. His creamer) butter
, now sells tor 20 1-2 onts whereas
nun country buter sells ror n to
12 cents, nils difference In connec
tion with abundant cheap feed and
well organized labor. Is sufrit ion' to
lUrS a handsome profit. For persons
of special abilities he would build
if eel houses, set fruit plantations,
and establish other particular Industries.
The Noss Dlvs.
"The noo dlv In n dangerous me
louver.'" say nn nvlntlon teacher. The
lose dive In not only dangerons In
ivhitlon. but In .lutepatlon ns well. A
lose dive hHO a Julep Is exhilarating.
ut nt Inst It mokes the nose look like
premium strawberry. Houston Post.
ATLAS REDWOOD TANKS
Will outlast SO Vert Hteel
tanks or several tanks
made from ojhor material,
and cost less money.
TheM tanks will keep the
water cooler in summer
nnlwarmor in winter.
Send for price, list today.
ATLVS TANK MFG. COMPANY
Fred Boisen, Manager
1102 W. O. W. BUILDING, OMAHA, NEBRASKA
Due to the volume of our business and the co-operation of our
customers, we have been able to reduce the cost of production
of Original Kansas Germ Free Fluid Vaccine made by Dr. 0. M.
Franklin, and are, therefore, giving the consumer the benefit of
that reduction.
HEREAFTER the regular price of this vaccine will be 40
cents per dose. To those who arc not familiar with our product
and to show that we have every confidence in our vaccine, we
will give a written guarantee that it will save every calf from
Blackleg. The price with this written guarantee is 50c per dose.
WE MAKE ONE QUALITY OF VACCINE ONLY
THE KANSAS BLACKLEG SERUM CO.
E. A. HALL Si SON, Alliance, Nebraska.
Urt quirk rraaltn br advrrtlnlnit In TMK IIKHAI.D WANT A4 DrpnMmrnt.
The Lindell Hotel
Palm and Palm, Props.
LINCOLN. NEBRASKA
Tfj Bur Popular Price Lunch Room and Coffee Shop
All Modern Conveniences Rooms $1.00 Up
New Management
Political Headquarters
Order Your
Coal Supply Early
It is the wise thing to do
You'll say so this winter, too.
If we could ii;. -ike plain to yoa the situation, we know
that you would put In your winter's coal strpplr now.
We are not trying to scare you, but we are trying to tell
you. 'I lie tar shortage exluts. It niay tooa to yoa like
everything l moving, but you'll spprectate what we tell
you when winter come and It way be next to Impossible
to get coal.
We've got coal to sell you today. We've got coal today
to put Into your bin. We cun'l promise more. It's good
coal ami It's a fair price. We urge you to get busy
thing set. It will prove to your advantage.
Dierks Lumber & Coal Co.
P. W. HARGARTEN. Mgr. PHONE 22 111 Laramie Ave.
