The Holt County sentinel., 1897-02-26
Seven Model Farms.

The Burlington Route officials are al
ways on the alsr. to further the inter
ests Of their patrons. The various I'M
provements that are made along theiI
lines at all times show this. Am oDg
other things that are noteworthy in this
respect may be mentioned The project
that is on foot for conducting experiment
tai farms. Scientific farming - gaining
foothoid. everywhere and anything
along this line will be- appreciated by
the farmers Of the west.
. The Burlington has arranged to con
duct this year some seven model farms,
on its line at McCook, Alma, OberiIr,
Curtis, Holdredge, Hastings and Broken
Bow in Nebraska. At each point ar
rangements have been made with a res
ident farmer, selected with reference to
his fitness for the work, to take charge
of the Burlington farm. The farms will
be supplied with the special machinery
manufactured for the purpose of pre-
venting IN large degree the evapora-
tion Of moisture from the soil according
TO the Campbell Method" F-.- -.r-
The conservation Of soil moisture is
one Of the most important problems
presented to the farmer. Hardly a sea-
SOD passes IN which scme important, crop
is not largely reduced in yield because
of lack Of sufficient moisture to bring it
to maturity. All other conditions may
have been favorable for full crop. but
the result was failure on account of
deficient supply Of moisture. The lack
Of moisture, ss rule, is not the result
OF insufficient rainfall, but that it has
been allowed to escape largely by evdp-
oration. With proper preparation of
the soil and methods of tillage, bounti-
full crop is assured, even in years when
hot winds and lack Of rain during critI-
cal periods Of the growing season mean
failure Of crops titled according to Or
binary methods.
The importance Of proper prepara,
tion of the ground aud of thorough cul-
ture to conserve moisture is SO great
that, il it's value was fully realized, but
little trouble from drouths would be
experienced. Far better is season
with deficiency Of rainfall, il continu-
GUS surface cultivation be given, than
season of abundant rain with little cul-
ture.
Following are some hints on how to
apply the Campbell Method"
Seven or eight inch plowing is best
done with a sixteen or eighteen inch |
sulk-y plow. Good, even plowing is i'm
portant. Be sure you have the depth.
Measure it; don't guess at it. Follow as
close to the plow rs possible with the
surface packer. Make it 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 spring
tooth harrow or cultIvator, with points
Of the teeth directed fnrward-not per-
pendicular or slanting, but set fiat, with
The points directed forward and down
ward SO as to cut under the surface soil.
Small grain and fax must be drilled
and cultivated. The drills of such crops
should be fiom eighteen to twenty two
inches apart. Tools are in the market
'or doing such work.
The BurlIng Route will have man
IN the road during the growing season
this year to visit the various stations at
east 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 deter
mine the per cent, Of moisture. A feature
will also be keeping the matter before
The farmers, and at the conclusion OF
The experiment a complete and exhaus-
tive report will be published.