The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1907-05-23


Ing land In Wyoming and Colorado
have been sold and are being cut up
into small tracts and disposed OF for
dry land agriculture to farmers from
every state east of the Missouri river,
Under the Campbell system" as
II Is known In the Dakotas, Nebras-
ka, Kansas and Colorado, and the
Cooke system" us II is known In
Wyoming, Idaho and eastern Oregon,
the dry farmer plows his ground
from eight to ten inches deep, pref
orably In the fall, in order that 1t
may receive the benefit OF the win
ter SHOWS, As further advantage,
the land is plowed at right angles to
the prevailing winds that the trough
OF the furrow may catch and hold
as much snow as possible Where
and when 1t Is too dry for fall plow-
ing, then early spring plowlng should
be done, using always the same sys-
tenn OF narrowing after heavy rains.
An industrious boy with three sec
lions of a steel harrow will cultivate
thirty acres a day In conclusion,
however, It should be borne In mind
that experience has already demon
strated that alfalfa, the greatest for
age crop known to any arid region,
will grow on unIrrigated sagebrush
or prairie land, II the Campbell or
Cooke system is rgidly followed,
The important things to remember
about dry farming are the following:
That twelve inches OF rainfall
properly conserved in the soil will
produce thirty to forty bushels of
wheat to the acre each alternate
year.
That the soil OF the arid region
possessing all its virgin elements of
strength is the most fertile in the
world, and under dry farming 1t is
likely TO remain so for while all of
the moisture is conserved on these
lands, in the East where the rainfall
is more coplous much of the plant
nourlshing elements are washed
away.
That good arid land can be pur-
chased at from $3.50 to $500 per
acre.
That dry farming is reasonably
sure farming II the farmer is in
dustrious, diligent and intelligent
and has sufficient capital to tide over
the first two years, or the prepare
tory stage of his farm.
That arid Ind which will produce
nourishing g. IS and hay sufficient
to feed and atten so per cent OF
the sheep and catue of the United
States n produce other and better
crops with other and betters systems,
That in the Rocky mountain West
the rain falls when most needed,
from March to September 1.
That nothing is lost, but much is
gained by cropping particular piece
OF land only every other year, except
Of course, perennial crops like al
falfa.
That in every country where land
Is so cheap farmer may own enough
so as to follow the alternate year
and scientific system to the letter
and yet be producing largs crops oil
grain on different areas each year.
That the most successful dry farm
er is he who uses his head as well as
his hands, and seeks out the most
successful drouth-resisting plants
and grains by intelligent seed Sc
lection.
That among the crops which have
been profitably grown by the dry
farming method are wheat, kaffil
corn, barley, emmer, commonly
known as spelt, oats, rye, field peas
and may hardy vegetables.
The average yield Of whea'
per acre, the United States average
in 1904 was only 12h bushels, ant
oats 26 7-1O bushels to the acre. II
1905 wheat averaged 14h bushels
to the acre and oats 2S $40 bushels
That you can beat the average un
der dry farming in the worst years
That the motto of the dry farm
er is, Zone blowing, frequent har
rowing, two years moisture-one BIZ
crop"
Many dry farming authorities ant
enthusiasts assert that agricultur,
car be successfully followed through
scientific cultivation with ten inche
OF rainfall. II this is true, there
abundant OF encouragement for tn
dry farmer in the records OF tn
Cheyenne weather bureaus for tn
last thirty-six years, the average be
ing in excess of thirteen inches
My own opinion, covering a NOR
or less careful observation and stud