Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-12-21
Destern Tonsos OorPa
Established March 4. 1879.
Saturday, Dec. II, 1901.
The Pomeroy Model Farm.


son capitalists, now of Colorado
Springs, have attracted much atten-
tion. Mr.. Pomeroy was determined
to test the possibilities of grain pro-
duction in western Kansas and EN-
ployed H.. w. Campbell. inventor of
the Campbell system" of soil culture,
to conduct experiments The wheat
Weld this year more than fulfilled
the expectations. Mr. Campbell has
explained the method pursued and
benefits secured, ali having considera-
BILE bearing on the problem of western
Kansas farming. He says:
some of the important points that
was intended to be brought out of the
Pomeroy model farm was the value of
summer tiliing commonly called sum-
mer fallow). This is Il part of soil Gull
ture that is altogether too little I'M
derstood, not only as to the manner of
doing the work. but the value of the
work and its direct effects upon the
growth of the crops that are to follow,
as well as the remarkable drouth re-
sisting qualities OF the soil thus
treated.
ut plan W dCCOll push Iil Ohio, oo
applied on the Pomeroy model farm,
was first tried in early March, 1900.
We began by double disking the sur
face soil that had been titled in the
ordinary way for fourteen years, the
last six of which the crops were fail
ures. The disk was set to cut as
deeply as possible and Tapped one-half
it's width. This left the ground level
and thoroughly fined to d depth of
fully three inches, giving us over four
inches of loose soil mulch. This pre-
vented the further loss of moisture by
evaporation of what was then in the
soil, which was found to be wet to IA
depth of about twelve inches.
NARROWED AFTER THE RAIN.
''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 narrowed
to again Loosen the top. Later, in
early May, we had ii very heavy rain,
which resulted in settling the loose
surface very firm. We then double
disked 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.
in June the ground was plowed
seven inches deep. Here we come 10
some important points that must be
closely observed with reference to Sc
curing proper physical condition of
the soil. Having kept the surface
loose to prevent evaporation, although
there has been no rain for some time,
and all soil thus treated was dry and
hard. this soil was moist and turned
over in nice condition. At noon the
soil plowed during the forenoon was
gone over with the sub-surface packer
before the teams 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 compact. 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 become dry
and hard. From this time on to seed
ing time the surface was gone over
after each rain with the Acme harrow,
tool that will cut about two inches
into the firm. plowed soil and leave
this portion light. loose and fine all of
which is necessary to form the most
perfect mulch for protection.
WHEAT UP IN FOUR DAYS.
wheat with shoe drill. using forty
five pounds of seed wheat 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 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.
The wheat stooled very pro!iiically
and when spring opened up the
growth was early and rapid 1t was
gone over twice. about ten days apart.
with the long-toothed weeder, each
time after a RAIN, to loosen the sur
face and to destroy any small weeds