Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-07-20
Dry Farming.

r.
During the past few years great in
tercst has been taken in the develop
ment of dry farming in the. semi arid
West. The Campbell system is best
known in this connection, and Mr..
Campbell, who has taken great inter-
est in the work, has induced one or
two Western railroads to carry along
experiments along their lines.
Two years ago the government,
through the state experiment stations
of Montana, Wyoming and some other
Western states has also made inves-
legations and conducted some interest
ing experiments.
The rainfall in the seni-arid regions
during the past three years, has been
above normal and the government has
therefore not tested dry farming I'M
der abnormal conditions and the re-
suits are yet very much in doubt.
Lands in the semi-arid regions is
abundant and cheap and settlers are
tempted to try their fortunes upon
them. Water is the one element that
is needed to make these lands very
productive.
The rains in these regions come in
the form of sudden and heavy show
ers and the problem is to conserve this
moisture and prevent it from running
off the surface.
Prof. George II. Failyer, Of the
Government Department Of Soils, says
that to enable the water 10 run down
quickly into the lower soil, n deep
bed of porous soil must be prepared.
1t should be mellow, close grained
.:.t 49,
come solid or stick together In or
der to preserve this condition, con-
slant and careful cultivation must be
practiced.
Mr.. Campbelrs method is to culti-
vate the soil Immediately after every
rain and in order to make this work
effective, it should be carried on day
and night until the growing crops are
all cultivated.
In preparing the soil for the crops,
the plOwed ground is packed with an
implement especially devised for the
purpose.
A good plan is to disc the part
plowed during The forenoon before GO
ing in at noon time and again to disc
that part plowcd in the afternoon be-
fore quitting work for the day.
Cultivation is then kept up almost
constantly until the growth of the
crops is assured
Where wheat, oats, or any crop that
is harvested in the summer. is grown,
the ground should be stirred as sOolI
after the removal of the crop as pos
sible. Any rains that come previous
to blowing will be taken up by the
disced land better than by the dry
stubble ground.
On ground covered with crops har-
vested i'm the fall, double discing may
be done before freezing weather comes.
The principle is to keep the ground in
such condition that it will absorb all
rain that falls and then maintain a
light mulch on top to prevent its evap.
grafton
In planting corn in the semi-arid
regions the lister has been successfully
used. This pillow throws the soil out
on either side and the corn is drilled
in the bottom of the furrow. either by
a drill attachment or by IL separate
drill.
By frequent cultivation Of nalTow
land as above described. moisture that
falls this year may be stored for next
years crops. In this way crops have
sometimes been grown once in two
years when the crops every year on
the same land have failed.
Plants that have been grown many
years in dry climates should be Sc
lected for dry farming and only about
One-half the seed should be sown that
is used in humid regions.
Farmers who contemplate moving to
the semi-arid regions should investi-
gate carefully the possibilities of the
particular region in which they expect
to settle. They should be provided
with sufficient means to carry them at