Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1897-02-13
SCIENTIFIC FAR.hING.
The Burlington Route Going Into Agricul-
tIral Pursuits.
Will Colduos g asrlnsntal Farms.

The Burlington IiOute has arranged
to conduct next year some seven model
farms on It's me at tICCOUk, Alma,
ODeriin, Gurus, IiOidreSe, Hastings
and Broken BOW. III NeoraS<l. AL
each point Arrangements have been
made with Il resident Iafmer, selected
with reference 10 his utnesS Tor the
work, 10 lake charge OF the Burling-
ton farm. Inc iarhio viii DE supplied
with the special machinery manu-
featured ior the purpose OF prevent
ing III Il large degree Cne eyapord ton
OF moisture from 0ue soil according to
the "Uanpocli -letIOJ."
Inc conservation vi soil moisture is
one OF tne most ImporCdnG problems
presented To Tie farmer Hardly "a
season passes III which some Import
ant crop Is not largely reduced in
yield because vi lick OF sufficient
moisture 60 Dfin8 IL 10 maturity. All
other conditions may nave been favor
able Tor Il Iui1 crop, out lie result WIS
failure on account OF deficient sup
ply OF moisture. IHe lack OF moiSt-
ure, as d RUE, Is not the result of
Insufficient rdInIaii, out That 1t mas
been allowed TO escape largely 10y
evaporation. lGn proper pfepdr,.-
tIOn OF Gne SOIL silu nleGuUdS of till
age, bountiful crop is assured, even
i'll years W1eu not wiiIuS ANA lack OF
rain during critical periods Oh Tie
growing season mean Il failure Oh crops
titled acc OrdinS to ordinary metnUGS.
The Importance OF proper prepara-
tion OF the ground ana OF thorough
culture to conserve moisture Is so
great that, il Its value was 1ully re-
allied, we should experience but iitJle
tIOuOIe from QrOutuS. Eitr better is
Il season With ii deficiency OF rainfall.
il continuous surface cultivation Le
given, Inan "a season OF abundant rain
with little culture.
Following are some hints on how to
apply the campbell Metnoo:
Seven or eIgn U-lnch plowIng is best
done with sixteen or eIguLeeu-InCn
Sulky pIow. Good, even piONing is
important. BE sure you nave the
depth. Measure it: don't guess at IL.
Follow as close TO the pIow aS possible
with the surface packer. Make IL
your rule to pack all your land the
same day it is plowed.
The soil mulch, or dust blanket. is
best obtained by the use of Il spring
tooth harrow or cuiJIvator, with
points of the teeth directed forward
not perpendicular or Slauting but
set fiat, with the points directed tor
ward and downward 50 as to cut under
the surface soil.
Small grain and flax must be drilled
and cultivated Inc drills of SUCH
crops should be from eighteen to
twenty-five Inches apart. Tools are
in the market for doing such work.
The Burlington Route will have a
man on the road during the growing
season next year. to visit the various
stations at least once Week. and see
that the plans are being carried out
and make reports as to the progress
Samples OF the soil will be forwarded
every day from each of the stations TO
the State University of Nebraska,
and tests made to determine the per
cent. of moisture a feature will also
be keeping the matter before the
farmers, and at the conclusion of tie
experiment a complete and exhaust
i've report will be published
The Burlington Route is ever alert
in the interest OF the agricultural
classes, for it, with characteristic
foresight, realizes that whatever our
success may be, il must have its st irt-
ing point with the farmer.