The Grit-advocate., 1903-04-10
FARMING MATTERS.
Crops for Unirriqated Lands.

cultural Experiment Station OF the
Colorado Agricultural College at Fort
Collins, Professor J. T. Payne says:
After seven years OF experience in
eastern Colorado, we feel justified in
making some recommendations for the
use of those who must try crop rails
ing there without irrigation:
Soils.-We have never seen any good
crops grown without irrigation upon
adobe or very heavy clay soils. But
upon sandy loan. sandy and medium
and light clay soils. we have seen crops
raised on paying basis nearly every
year when given especial attention.
Seeding and Culture.-The natural
vegetation of the country shows that
thin seeding is necessary. The buffalo
grasses are thin where they do not get
the use of the rain which falls, and
thick in locations whiah catch extra
water as in low lands partly surround
ed by hills. All crops should be
planted thinly, so that they will not
need too much water to make the
growth high enough to harvest All
crops should be thoroughly cultivated.
so as to give them the benefit of the
largest per cent. Of the rainfall. Thor
ough and clean culture should be pur-
sued until August lst, whether rain
falls or not, as the crop is thus kept
in good condition to use the rains
which fall late in the season; while IL
the crops are not kept clean, no
amount of cultivation after the late
rains will take the place of the culti-
walton which should have been given
before. The most important thing
next to water-is doing the work at
the proper time
Ground intended for planting in May
should be thoroughly disced in March
or early in April, SO as to hold
the early moisture.
These remarks refer only to crops
which are recommended in this bulle-
tin, and to crops usually planted in
rows and cultivated.
Crops to Depend Upon. - Eastern
Colorado is mainly stock country.
and the needs of the country demand
rough forage for wintering stock.
We have found that the sorghums
and a few acclimated varieties OF corn
produce paying crops, taking an aver
age of five years crops as basis for
estimates. Very few of the sorghums
ripen seed in northeastern Colorado, so
if one wishes to produce seed of either
corn or sorghum, he should be careful
to plant seed which was grown in the
vicinity.
Broom Corn--Broom corn is usually
easily raised. The market price of
good brush makes its production prof
liable or Improbable. and not the
amount which can be produced. The
fodder and corn always have ready
home market, but broom corn must be
sent out of the country.
Mexican COrn.-A flint variety grown
in northern Lincoln, western Kit Car
son and central Arapahoe counties.
Very rich in protein. Produces good
fodder and nearly always some corn.
some years the ears merely stick out
of the ground and the tasses may not
be more than two feet high.
There are several other varieties of
corn which do well, but they are con-
fined to small neighborhoods and we
cannot be sure that much seed could
be had
Planting-Planting should be done
with lister drill Use from two to
five pounds of seed per acre-accord-
ing to quality of seed.
Cultivation.-This should be done as
long as possible with the harrow. Then
follow with the weeder, and If it seems
best, with the cultivatOr. Careful and
thorough culture must be given. II
planted on sod, it may be planted with
special planter drill. II planted on land
broken years ago and left unused dur
ing recent years it will not be likely
to produce good crop unless the sea-
son is very favorable.
Time OF Planting.-May lst to June
10th, according to the conditions. Sor-
ghum does not grow much until warm
weather. but it should be planted while
the early moisture is in the ground.
With up-to-date tools ana plenty of
horses one man can plant and cultivate
1G0 acres in corn or sorghum. He must
use gang listers. large harrows and
gang weeders in order to do this, but
by working in this way the cost of pro-
ducing feed may be reduced consider
ably.
The sorghums are as sure to make a
paying crop in eastern Colorado as Is
corn in eastern Kansas.
1t is the hope of the author that he
can help the people to make two steers
grow in eastern Colorado where one
grew before"