Stewardship of the Soil 



H. WORST 



Our ambitious young commonwealth, in con- 

 junction with other states comprising the great 

 Northwest, occupies a commanding position in 

 the industrial and economic affairs of this nation. 



Mines of gold and silver or forests primeval 

 North Dakota does not have ; but from the millions 

 of fertile acres comprising our vast agricultural 

 empire, we may reap a golden harvest every year 

 that will exceed in wealth the output of all the 

 golden placers in the western mountains. 



The harvest of minerals, however, can be gath- 

 ered but once. Time will not restore the precious 

 nuggets. 



The forests once harvested can, at great ex- 

 pense, be renewed in the course of a century; but 

 our harvest of domestic plants and animals recurs 

 with every passing season to recompense the 

 farmer for his toil and to enrich the farmer's 

 friends. 



What a precious theme is harvest ! The hopes, 

 the well-being, the life of the world is fast bound 

 up in the magic of this single word. 



The soil upon which the harvest depends, more- 

 over, is God's benediction to humanity. Measured 

 by consequences, Heaven has vouchsafed no form 

 of stewardship that is fraught with such tremend- 

 ous responsibilities as this stewardship of the soil. 

 In the final analysis this stewardship represents 

 the farmer's obligation to society. 



Page Seven 



