The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1897-02-27
SCIENTIFIC FARMING.
The Darlington Route Going Into
Agricultural Pursuits.

Will Conduct Experimental Farms.
Notice of Sale of Village Bonds.
The Burlington route has arranged to con
duct next year some seven model farms
on its line at McCook, Alma. Oberlin.
Curtis, Holdredgc, Hastings and Broken
Bow in Nebraska. At each point arrange
ments have been made with resident far
mer, selected with reference to his fitness
for the work, to take charge of the Bur-
lngton farm. The farms will be supplied
with the special machinery manufactured
for the purpose of preventing in IL large
degree the evaporation of moisture from
the soil according to the Campbell
Method
The conservation Of soil moisture Is one
of the most important problems prcscn led
to the farmer Hardly season passes in
which some important crop is not largely
reduced In Yield because of lack Of sufficient
moisture to bring 1t to maturity All other
conditions may have been favorable for a
full crop, but the result was failure on nc
count Of a deficient supply Of moisture The
lack OF moisture, as a rule, is not the result
of insufficient rainfall, but that it has been
allowed to escape largely by evaporation
With proper preparation of the soil and
methods of tillage, bountiful crop is as
sured, even in years when hot winds and
lack Of rains during critical periods of the
growing season mean failure of crops
titled according to ordinary methods.
The Importance OF proper preparation Of
the ground and Of thorough culture to con-
serve moisture Is so great that. IL it's value
was fully realized, we would experience
but little trouble from drouths. Far better
Is season with a deficiency of rainfall. IL
continuous surface cultivation is given, than
season Of abundant rain with little Gull
turc.
Following are some hints on how to ap-
ply the Campbell Method
Seven eight inch n1Owfnu 10 hast dow,
with sixteen or eighteen-inch sulky pillow,
Good. even blowing is important. Be sure
you have the depth. Measure It: don't
guess at it. Follow as close to the pillow as
possible with the surface packer. Make it
your rule to pack all your land the same
day 1t Is plOwed.
The soil mulch or dust blanket. is hest
obtained by the use of a spring. tooth har-
row or cuitivator, with points of teeth d.
rected forward-not perpendicular or slant
ing, but set fat. with the points directed
forward and downward. so as to cut under
the surface soil.
Small grain and fax must be drilled and
cultivated. The 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 Its growing season next
year to visit the various stations at least
once a week and see that the plans are be-
Ing carried out and make reports as to the
progress. Samples of the soil will be for
warded every tkly from each of the sta
tions 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 the experiment Il complete
and exhaustive report will be published
I 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, it must have
its starting point with the farmer