The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-06-25
LITTLE RAIN NEEDED.
The Campbell Method of Farming Being
Tried Out.

H. ". Campbell of Sioux City, Iowa,
the originator of the much talked-of
Campbell method of farming, is super
intending an experiment farm for the
Burlington system, at Bird City, Kan
sas. Though much has been said in the
papers recently in favor of this method
Of filling the arid lands of the west,
DIR. CAMPBELL finds that the farmers
look with discFedit upon the scheme,
merely, as he thinks, because it is new
and they know practically nothing
about the principles and theory upon
which Mr.. Campbell bases his method.
At present he and son, W. a., are
supervising twelve Of these model
farms along the Burlington system in
western Kansas and Nebraska. They
are conducted for the purpose of dem
onstrating to the farmers that good
crops may be grown under scientific
tillsge when the ordinary methods
would bring practically nothing.
Each Of these farms is under the local
management of some practical farmer
who works entirely under the direction
Of Mr.. Campbell and is under contract
to continue the same work on the
same ground for three consecutive
years. It is claimed that the second
crop is always better than the first and
the third better than the second,
and the fact is being proved this year,
as there is Several of these farms on
the Northern Pacific in North Dakota
that are receiving their second and
third years treatment this year
There are also two or three in Nebras-
ks, the results in all of which are said
to be superior to any of those that are
now receiving their first treatment.
Although it seems rather incredible,
Mr. Campbell is enthusiastically GER
tain that the time is not far off when
all this level prairie country, a sample
of which is seen in the Bird City plant,
will be as desirable and profitable
farming land as any part of this coun-
try. He claims that this western
. country getting less rainfall than Illinois
is an actual advantage and that iFriga-
ton is not necessary to successfully
farm it.
His process is, first, thoroughly to
pulYsrise three OF four inches of the
top surface with a disk harrow; then
to pillow about eight inches deep,
turning this finely pulverized soil to
the bottom; then to follow with what is
known as "subsurface packer" a tool
that resembles somewhat the rear por-
ton of an Havana press drill except
that the wheels are wedge-faced in,
stead of fat. The tool packs firmly
the lower stratum of the furrow slice
leaving the top three inches loose.
This work is done Immediately after
the pillow and is followed with fine
smoothing drag. It should be done in
the fall as soon as possible after the
crop is removed in order to get the
best results. However, the most Of
these twelve model stations are spring
fitted because the question of estab-
fishing them was not settled early
enough to begin last fall
In case Of fall preparation the first
work in the spring is to harrow the sur
face and loosen the top two inches
early to check evaporation. This holds
the moisture but it is too early to seed
The soil must be gotten into fine shape
and the grain planted OF sown wheI
the season is advanced far enough fol
quick termination and growth. The
corn is planted with the ordinary
check rover and all small grain, wheat
oats, etc., is drilled in rows 20 inche;
apart, using only about one quarter Of
the seed that is commonly sown. Their
all crops are handled alike, cultivated
as often as once a week not over two
inches deep. This shallow cultivation
forms soil mulch of fine dirt which
must be kept loose and dry. The eul
tivating and frming of the root bee
increases the moisture near the seer
and causes a prolific growth of roots
The soil mulch prevents the loss o
water by evaporation, thus holding
steadily ample moisture at the roots
Mr.. Campbells experiments hay
been so successful that he has induces
several railroad companies to back tn
expense of establishing these mode
farms along their lines in order to tt,
the various classes of soil and to sho7
to the farmers just what can be don
to reclaim what many consider to b
the arid lands.
Last year 1862 murders we're com
mitted in the TTnitad StataS and ODI