The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-06-07

The Montana experiment station i
doing excellent work in advancing tn
agricultural interests of the state by
campaign of education which give!
the farming community valuable in
form alton as to the best methods O
conducting a profitable and success
full business. Many Montana farmers
had no practical knowledge of matters
agricultural prior to locating ranches
and engaging in the occupation Of
wrestling q living from the soil, and
the suggestions and instructions given
by experts who have made q life study
Of the business are of immense benefit
to those who engaged in farming with
out previous experience.
One of the methods of instruction
adopted by officials of the experiment
station is the issuance of bulletins that
are distributed among Montana farm.
ers. In discussing the subject Of "dry
farming, one of these bulletins makes
these timely suggestions:
Since the chief purpose in practicing
a system of summer following on dry
farms is to accumula ate sufficient mois-
ture to produce a profitable crop, it is
important that this end be gained, as
the land is only giving returns each
alternate year.
AS all of a growing plants food that
is taken from the soil must be distrib.
uted by means of water. it is evident
that a great deal of moisture is neces.
sary in carrying on the life functions
In the plant. 1t requires approximate
~ 465 tons OF water to produce one ton
of dry matter in barley and ST. tons
OF water to produce a tor of dry mat
ter in clover. After this water has
finished its work as a carrier in the
plant, it is returned to the air through
the breathing pores in the leaves, and
50 is entirely lost TO the soil.
1t Is evident then that when fields
are allowed to go unused so that they
may accumulate moisture supply,
weeds ought not to be permitted to
grow. They use and consequently
waste the moisture just as rapidly a.
do economic plants, aud while their
growth brings no returns, they give
off the moisture that we are endeavor.
ing to ave.
Water in the soil that is of value in
plant growth is held much the same as
water is retained 10 a sponge and the
movements In both cases are identical.
If q sponge is placed in q dish Of water
and q cover is then placed over the
dish except that part of the upper por-
ton OF the sponge is exposed, the
water in the dish will very 500 10
evaporated. The tendency of the water
is to move from the wet to the dry
place, and as the dry place is at the
surface it is constantly moving up.
wards aud is lost by evaporation into
in soil moisture. The surface soil be-
comes dry and the water from the win
ter SHOWS and spring rains which has
found its way into the soil Is con-
stantly moving toward the surface,
which has been dried by the sun and
wind, aud being evaporated into the
air.
From the nature Of the movement OF
the water from particle to particle, i,
il evident that if the surface soil is
broken up and the upper layer Of par
ticles loosened and removed from one
another so that the air will dry GU,
this portion of the soil, it will be i'm
possible for the water to escape. This
indicates the wisdom OF keeping thu
surface of our summer.fallowed field
constantly GUILTY. ted. After the sum
mel rains it is important to harrow
the ground, as the rain packs the sur
face particles and permits the water
to rise and be evaporated. If this
packed surface is broken up the capil'
larry rise Of the water is stopped and
the moisture is retained in the soil.
la seasons when most of the prccipi.
tation comes during the early part o
the year. land that is constantly cul
tivated will retain this early moisture
and it will be present to germinatc thu
fall-sown grain.
The important thing is to frequent.
guilty ate the summer-fallOwcd fields
This will keep down the weeds and b.
maintaining a mulch on the grounl
the moisture will be held and thus &C
cumulated for crop growth in the fall