Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-10-24


in the spring the cultivation ought to
follow Immediately for the same rea-
sons as in the case Of breaking.
Cultivation should be continued
throughout the summer and at no time
should the summer fallow be allow
ed to become packed on the surface.
The year the field is being summer
fallowed it gives no returns, and since
the only object in allowing it to re-
main without the crop it to accumu.
late to insure good crop returns the
following year, the cultivation should
be kept up SO that this advantage will
be surely gained.
The system of summer following half
of the farm each year is found to be
good one and is usually followed
under dry land conditions. During
the growing season the farm help and
teams can be proftably utilized keep
ing the summer fallowed land cultivat-
ed and SO preparing for a good crop
the next year.
In addition to careful moisture con-
serving cultivation of the soil, care
must be exercised in selecting the
crops to be sown. Only those crops
that possess characters which fit them
to cope with conditions of scant mOis-
ture supply ought to be planted if the
highest success is to be attained
These crops must be vigorous grow
ers, able to make full use of all mois-
ture that may be present. They must
be deep rooted in order that food may
be drawn from a wide area. They
must be early maturing so that their
growth will be gained before all the
moisture is used up. Lastly when grain
is desired the seeding must be then
SO that all the moisture will not be
used in leaf and stem production.
Fall Sown Crops.
Fall sown crops seem to give the
best returns on the dry land, as what
ever growth there is in the fall is just
that much gain over spring sOwn
grains. Amongst these crops, fall rye
seems to be one of the best to plant.
1t it rapid grower with vigorous
feeding powers. This crop ought to
be sown the latter part of August or
the early part of September. 1t is fire.
quently cured as hay and when intend
ed for this purpose ought to be cut
as soon as it comes into head, in order
that its palatability may be retained.
About 80 pounds of seed per acre is
required. Fall wheat grows we'll on
dry land and ought to be sown about
the same time as fall rye. Thinner
seeding is advisable in the case of this
crop. thirty pounds usually being suf.
ficient for an acre.
Amongst spring sown crops posi-
5 bly, the most profitable yielder is
5 spring rye. 1t gives a good grain
yield and also is valuable when cut
for hay. Like all spring crops it does
l best when seeded as early as it is
A possible to get it seeded. Macaron
1 or Durum wheats seem to be admir-
, ably fitted for the dry land. These
e wheats were imported from Russia by
t the U. S. department of agriculture
: where their environment developed
e them into valuable dry land crops
: They are strong growers and though
l. the grain has not been regarded witt
6 favor by millers in the past it is com
S ing more and more into common use
: 1t is also in demand for the manufac
o ture of macarOni and is an eXcellen
stock food. This crop should be seed
k ed early at the rate of about As lbs
r per acre. Hulless barley does well al
g a dry land crop. 1t natures early an,
gives a good yield of excellent feed
s Flax is sown in some sections an,
t ~ maturing oats give fair return
g when sOwn early. Emmer sometime
d known as speltz, is a crop that ha
n been developed for the dry land am
l. merits a trial. 1t yields we'll and tn
; food is of good quality. Potatoes whe
S cultivated regularly yield an averag
: crop and the quality is especially goot
s OF the perennial grasses, BrOm
= grass seems to be the best for dry Ian
s purposes. Timothy and orchard gras
l. do fairly well. For these crops earl
n spring seeding on thoroughly worl
= ed summer fallow tends to the bes
r results.
II Use any system OF agricultural pra,
U tice some compensation must be mad
e for food elements removed in tn
) crops. The one element that become
u most readily exhausted in the soils {
the northwest is nitrogen. 1t is there
I fore the part of wisdom to grow les
+ luminous or nitrogen gathering crop
y at intervals. OF these peas yield Onl
L. a medium crop, while the common re
l. clover used on irrigated farms doe
S not Withstand the effects of the scar
II moisture in a way that encourage
IL its general use. Unlike this, alfalf
is splendid crop for dry land.
"a is vigorous grower; it's enormou
- root system procuring moisture fC
IL growth from large area. 1t posses
'r es nitrogen gathering properties and
e splendid soil renovator.
e. Alfalfa Growing.
re Under dry land conditions the OF
IS ly difficulty connected with alfal1
growing is in getting the crop star
~ ed. The summer fallow seed be
d should be in good condition and til
10 seed ought to be sown as early as pc
re sible in the spring at the rate of abo,
is 20 pounds to the acre. Fall seedin
IS has given good results and is recor
IT, mended by some. The young Gre
n will need cutting back couple
10 times the first year to allow the alta
m ia to gain a foothold over the weet
IL that may come up. The spring of tt
at second year the ground ought to
cd thoroughly narrowed. This stirs IL
he surface. forming moisture-holdir
ne mulch and admitting air. After tt
OF first crop has been removed anoth,
IN narrowing has good effect. Begi
ming the spring of the third year IL
alfalfa field responds to a thorouf
d. disking as soon as the ground is
W. and again after the first crop has bee
az removed. In addition to conservir
G. moisture and admitting air the dis
Is. ing splits the buches of roots az
re causes the outgrowth of more shoot
a No tv,st toI IL