The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1901-12-13
FORTY BUSHEL YIELD OF WHEAT
New Methods Brought Crops to a
Barren Graham County Farm.
Proved Remarkably Successful on Lands
Near Hill City-CrOps Had Failed for
Six Kears-CampbeII System OF
Soil Culture Employed


owned by J. P. Pomeroy, the former At
Gibson capitalist, Low of ColoradoSprings,
have attracted much attention. Mr.
Pomeroy was determined to test the pos
sibilities of grain production in western
Kansas and employed H. w, Campbell
inventor of the Campbell system" Of
soil culture, to conduct experiments
The wheat yield this year more than full
filed the expectations. Mr.. Campbell
has explained the method pursued and
benefits secured, all having considerable
bearing on the problem of western Kan
sas farming. He says:
Zone Of the important points that was
intended to be brought out Of the Pom
eroy model farm was the value of sum-
mer filling Commonly called summer
fallow). This is a part of soil culture
that is altogether too little understood
not only as to the manner of doing the
work, but the value of the work and its
direct effect upon growth Of the crops
that are to follow, as well as the remark
able drouth resisting qualities of soil
thus treated.
1.-The plan to accomplish all this, as
applied on the Pomeroy model farm, was
first tried in early March, 1900. We be-
gan by double disking the surface soil
that had been titled in the ordinary way
for IA years, the last six years of which
the crops were failures. The disk was
set to cut as deeply as possible ard
Tapped one-half its width This left the
ground level and thoroughly fined to
depth of fully three inches of loose soil
mulch. This prevented the further loss
of moisture by evaporation of what was
then in the soil, which was found to be
wet to a depth of about II inches
after the first disking was done in
early March, the ground was left until
another rain came, then as soon after
the rain as the very surface soil was dry
enough to work without sticking to the
tools, the ground was~harrOwed to again |
loosen the top. Later, in early May, we
had very heavy rain, which resulted in
setting this loose surface very firm. We
then double disced it again, to open and !
fine the surface. No weeds were allowed
TO grow to rob the soil of its moisture
and the surface was always kept loose to |
prevent loss by evaporation.
SIN June the ground was plowed seven
inches deep. Here we come to some i'm |
portant points that must be closely OBJ |
served with reference to securing the |
proper physical condition of the soil. |
Having kept the surface loose to prevent !
evaporation, although there had been no |
ram for some time, and all soil not thus |
treated was dry and hard, this soil was
moist and turned over in very nice con- |
dition. At noon the soil ploWed during |
the forenoon was gone over with the |
sub surface packer before the teams I
went to dinner. The soil, being simply |
moist, broke into small Jumps as it was /
turned over and as the packer rolled /
over the ground the lower portion OF the /
furrow was made still more fine and CON- |
pact. The afternoon blowing was also
gone over before leaving the field at /
night; then the entire days work was
narrowed in order that all surface clods |
might be made finer before they became |
dry and hard, From this time on TO /
seeding time the surface was gone over
after each rain with the Acme harrow, a |
tool that will cut about two inches into 1
the firm, plowed soil and leave this por-
ton light, loose and fine, all of which is
necessary to form the most perfect /
mulch for protection.
October 1, 1900, this was seeded to
wheat with shoe drill, using 45 pounds |
Of seed an acre, putting the seed through /
the mulch and about one inch into the
fine, firm, moist soil below. No further /
rains came last fall, consequently no !
further work was done. A remarkable /
fact was noted in the uniformity and
quickness of termination. On the fourth
day, as regular as the days came after !
the seed was put into the soil. the green |
spears could be seen the whole length Of |
the rows. On the seventh day these |
first blades measured from three to
four inches in height.
seThe wheat stooled very proli6cally
and when spring opened up the growth I
was early and rapid. 1t was gone over
twice, about ten days apart, with the
long toothed Weeder, each time after
rain, to loosen the surface and destroy
any small weeds that might have started
By this time the soil was entirely hidden
from sight and thus protected by the
foliage.
1T very soon became apparent that
the wheat was too thick and when the
crop reached the prolonged dry period,
which lasted nearly through the entire
month OF May. it seemed as though it
must suffer badly. Other fields not
supplied With stored water and not half