The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-04-23

in lies one II the great values Of fall
seeding.
Amount Of Seed to Sow.
The quantity of seed that should
be own per acre diminishes with the
| decrease in the amount of soil molz-
ture available to the crop. If. for ex-
ample, five pecks or rs pounds OF
wheat is required for seeding IN the
humid sections, from one and one
half to three pecks or from 20 to As
pounds, varying with the precipitation
etc., would be sufficient in the semi
arid belt. The wide difference in the
amount of seed required in the humid
and the dry farming sections is ex-
plainable in the a that it requires
approximately a given quantity of wa
ter to produce a bushe of grain. There
fore, If twice as many seed are Sown
as there is sufficient moisture avail
able in the soil to bring to maturity,
all of the seed will grow until one
half or two-thirds mature and there
it will stop, for all of the moisture is
exhausted. II only oQe-aalf the seed
had been sown we may ssum that
up to the same date only one-half of
the total soil moisture would be con-
sumed, thus leaving h other half
with which the crop could come
to maturity. If somewhat too small
an mount of seed is sown stOoling
will be more vigorous and the roo
development correspondi1gly more ex
pansive; so that within certain limits
the crop will adjust itself to the mois-
ture conditions.
Should a field of grain start off well
after seeding, grow luxuriantly for
some weeks and then wither and die,
do not be too hasty in placing the
4; HS orJtr Rbo-o " .;--I1 ~
a combination of reasons A suffic-
lent storage reservoir may not have
been formed; the moisture stored may
not have been properly conserved be-
fore seeding; the after cultivation
may have been carelessly done or neg
lected altogether; or possibly far too
much seed may have been sown for
the quantity of moisture available. II
any one or all of the other conditions
should exist, the importance of the
last factor would be increased.
Yields.
1t is absurd to believe larger yields
can be secured under dry farming con
ditions than in the rain belt or irri-
gated sections, unless there be other
conditions which bear upon the re-
suits other than the o of water.
1t requires very nearly the same guam
tity of water to produce a given pro-
duct in different sections, but the diff
ference seems to be in favor of the
humid section. To be just in our con-
sideration of the matter, it must be
added that there are certain superior
conditions in the semi-arid belt which
tend to offset his Observation-Disclosures
land, easier cultivation, etc. But after
all is said pro and con it must be ad-
mitted that dry farming crops are as
a rule smaller, and often much small
er, han those grown in the humid
belt Or under irrigation.
1t is far from the writer's intention
to discourage the practice of dry farm
ing. In fact the purpose of this pub
LEGATION is ito assist and encourage dry
farming. Let the yields be smaller
Remember that these crops are grown
upon exceptionally cheap lands and in
sections where large holdings are not
only tolerated must necessarily be
encouraged. Profits, in the end, must
be figured Upon the investment plus
the COS of the working force whether
is it man, beast, or machinery, and
no such yields are necessary upon $40
and 500 land as pom $50 and 500
land in order to realize a fair profit.
A yield of Is bushels per acre is much
better on $40 land h 80 bushels on
$50 or 800 land. Furthermore, h
conditions are most favorable for ex-
tensive operations. whereby the pro-
fits may be increased in proportion
to the area and investment.
Continued tomorrow.