The Wibaux pioneer. [volume] (Wibaux, Mont.) 1907-1919, 1907-04-11
PROPER CARE OF SOIL
BY A. 4. Atkinson, Of the Mon.
tana Agricultural Experiment
Station. Bozeman, Mont.

Llme TO reduce JnlS materially,
yet fortunately such is the excep-
ton. 1t behooves those to whom
the great plant supply has been
entrusted, namely the farmers,
to maintain the soil in this pro-
ductive state. A system of con-
tinuous cropping. or of cropping
and summer following alternate
ly will not do this. A rotation of
crops on,Which clover or some nj
trogen gathering crop is included
and grown at least two years out
| of five, coupled with an intelli-
gent use Of. farm yard manure
will do this.
The clover roots take nitrogen
from the air, and incorporate it
with the soil for the use of future
crops. They also ramify through
the soil and decaying tend to bying
about a desirable physical condi-
tion by the humas added.
Farm yard manure if cared for
and applied intelligently is valu-
able. It returns some nitrogen
and a little PHOSPHORUS and pot
ash, the three valuable foods, and
aids in bringing about good ply
sical condition. Improperly ap-
piled and it's effects are harmful.
When spread unevenly and plow-
ed down in punches" it inter
feres with the rise of moisture,
and causes the soil to dry out and
the growing crops to fire or burn
up before they are mature.
The only proper method of ap-
plying manure is by means of a
manure spreader. This imple-
rnent j. ii general use through
out the Eastern and Central states
and ought to be amongst the imp
lements on every we'll managed
farm. It tears all straWy manure
apart and distributes it evenly
over the field so that a coat Of
uniform thickness may be turned
under. This prevents i'll effects
that result from ploughing down
buncfles,1 and permits the farmer
to go over a large portion of his
farm every year. It saves hand
labor, and this is the most costly
item on the farms today, farmers
do well to provide to get along
with as little as possible. In all,
the manure spreader is an impor-
tant factor in the maintenance Of
the soils fertility.
In the course of the next ten
years much Of Montana's non-ir-
rigated area will be utilized under
a system Of dry land farming.
The methods which lead to sue
cess in this class of agricultural
practice are; the forming Of a
large soil moisture reservoir by
blowing deep, and keeping the
surface of the soil stirred so as to
maintain, a moisture holding
mulch on the surface; and light
and early seeding in the quick
maturing fall and spring crops.
The last is important, as too many
stalks growing dry out the soil
before the crop is mature, and
crops must be mature before all
moisture is evaporated in July
and August.
In dry land farming seed must
be soWn deep, SO as to be in con-
tract with moisture for germina-
ton. This can only be brought
about by the use of press drills
which place the.seed at the re-
quired debth and cover it proper
ly. Investigations reveal the
fact that drilling in seed under
any condition gives much greater
returns than sowing it broad
cast. Broadcasting seed, espci-
ally in dry land culture is inviting
failure.
In sections Of light precipita-
tion and high evaporation such as
Montana. the Importance Of early
spring cultivation cannot be over
Il Z