Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1906-06-08
ABOUT DRY FARMING
Some Valuable and Interesting Sug
gestions on the Subject.
HOW TO OBTAIN COED RESULTS
DR.. Cooke Of Laramie, Gives Practical
Ideas on a Subject That is Of In
terest to Farmers of This Region

tefeSt 10 Farmers OF / his NSSloH
In recent number of the Ranch
mans Reminder, published at the
agricultural experiment station at
Laramie, Wyo., DR.. Y. t. Cooke, the
dry farming expert, gives some val
liable and interesting suggestions.
He says:
1t is astonishing how skeptical we
are about those things that we know
very little of. How few among
those whom we meet and talk with
about dry farming really believe
crops can be raised In this country
without irrigation; yet good results
are obtained by what are really very
poor methods. This shows that con-
ditions are favorable and proves that
if crops can be raised land they are)
bv Indifferent work, how much bet
ter ones can be raised by good work.
If we would but study the why and
wherefore a little more, and this is
not so hard to do as it appears, we
would get results that would make
us do a whole lot more thinking.
The fact is, there are too many who
use their muscle alone, when they
should use that splendid combina-
ton known as ':muscle and brains" !"
II is fact that splendid crops of
grain. alfalfa, etc., are raised in
high attitudes with irrigation. This
proves that three things will grow
and mature, bnt there are many
thousands, might say millions. of
acres which are practically idle tout
side of pasture), and to which artifi-
cial methods of application of mols-
ture are impossible, that can and
will raise all varieties of grains and
grasses adapted to our elevations, il
we go 10 work the right way. TIL,
proper method of getting good re
suits from the many acres is no
very hard to understand; IN fact, it
very simplicity is somewhat of ;
draw back, because 1t is so easy w
are inclined TO shirk and not do ou
work thoroughly. The great art o
dry farming is to SO prepare the sol
that all moisture that falls upon tn
ground is either kept in store for tn
future crops or is kept IN the groun
for those growing, as they need II
To do this one must do good work
That is, the ground must be We
plowed q wish to emphasize tn
fact that there is far too much poo
blowing done say eight inches c
more in depth on old ground, c
heretofore broken. All groun
ought 10 be narrowed the same da
it lie plowed. The object is to ba,
the soil in such condition that a
precipitation will Immediately g
down. If our soil is rough ar
cloddy. what rain or snow falls fro
the clouds will be lost because the
will absorb moisture and just
soon as the wind blows and the 8,
shines, evaporation begins, and tn
'sGood bye moisture" But by ha
ing thoroughly narrowed groun
the moisture sinks, and the vii
and sun have little effect. If !
continue our good work. we MT
always keep what is called surfa
mulch Oh our ground to preve
evaporation, to keep locked up
the soil that necessity to all farnir
= viz, moisture. The easiest way
do this is with a steel drag harrt
three sections with four horses "
cultivate 80 acres day. This h
rowing must be done right after,
possible, all heavy rains or big sn
storms, as soon as the ground
sufficiently dry. The object is
prevent any dust forming, and
keep the surface mulched. By do