The Glenwood post., 1905-09-09
DRY FARMING
IN COLORADO
Experience Of One who Has Tried
II with Success in This and
Other COuntrieS----Deep
TiIIdge the hey
THE MODIFIED CAMPBELL SYSTEM

E. Il. Parsons, of the Mariposa
ranch, Newlin gulch, near Parker
station, 30 miles south of Denver has
been dry farming in Colorado, for
nearly 20 years, and is undoubtedly
the pioneer in this method of holding
the moisture in the soil. The cham
ber of commerce, which is taking a
most active interest in the methods
adopted to raise crops without irriga-
ton, has persuaded Mr.. Parsons to tell
something of his work.
The objection, which perhaps to
good farmers is really no objection at
all, to the Campbell dry farming sys
ten, that of extra labor, cannot be
applied to the Parsons system He
ploughs deeper and does not have to
do it so often. The principle, how
ever, is the same, preventing the es
cape of the moisture natural to the
ground.
81 have been farming without irri-
CATION on the ranch since 1886 20
years next August. l took up the
homestead and have since added to it
by purchase until now | have 1, 100
acres in all, - Mr. Parsons said 81
farmed in South Africa previous to
coming to Colorado. and it was in that
country that learned regarding the
retention of the moisture. The rain.
fall in Natal is not much more than
in Colorado, and in Capetown it is
less. They grow fruits in both places.
I plough my ground extra deep,
ten inches with an ordinary horse
cultivator, and that is all. | see that
the ground does not pack, and that the
surface is kept pulverized or powdery,
When the ploughed ground begins to
harden, pores are formed and the
moisture escapes.
Il keep 20 acres in orchard, 40
acres in alfalfa and 10 acres in corn
and small grain. Last year out of u
acres of fruit, l sold nearly $1,000
worth. The corn brings 30 bushels
to the acre. l have never lost tree
from drought or had failure in crops
and we have had some pretty dry
seasons since l have been out there.
"The deeper you plough, the more
moisture you can save. If you have
not got the depth of soil, there is no
use trying, but as far as have been
able to see, most of the land in the
state has depth enough for dry farm
ing. Some people have come to me
and told me that they have done as !
have done, and their crops have been
failure. When l asked them what
kind of soil they had, they did not
know, but spade developed that there
were only few inches from the sur
| face to rock.
"There is plenty of water if you go
deep enough. The alfalfa on my
ranch keeps going down and down
after the water. In three years, the
roots have gone down 10 feet and now
there is little to do but let it grow.
Last season, l got 60 tons from 40
acres. AT first, it is best to cut the
alfalfa but once a year, but when the
roots have sunk to water, one can cut
two or three times a year.
"By ploughing 10 inches deep, l
hold that this is equal to ploughing
six inches three times year.
"We can grow almost all of the
cereals. For the system | use, winter
wheat is the best. One can get more
out of it. But l advise the planting
of trees in Colorado. l sell most of
my fruit among the farmers around
me. But the Denver dealers are very
anxious to get hold of it
Mr.. Parsons holds firmly to the be.
lief that in good deep soil in this
state, there is no need for irrIgating
for ordinary farming purposes. And
he points out that only 20 per cent of
the land in Colorado is susceptible to
irrigation. He has made a success of
dry farming. Several members of the
chamber of commerce have visited the
place and they declare it to be an
Eden spot. A few of the ranchmen
have followed Mr.. Parsons plan and
succeeded, others have held to the old
way and depend upon fortune.