The Holly chieftain., 1908-05-01
Seeding on the PIains.
tBy w. H. Olin. Agronomist OF the
Colorado Experiment Station.)

Colorado Experiment Station)
Crop conditions in eastern Colorado
are SO different from crop conditions
in the humid region that special at
tention should be called to them for
the benefit of the new settler.
The very best system of tillage may
fail to produce crop some years. but
proper soil management and use of ac-
climated seed adapted to prevailing
conditions tend to render crop failures
less frequent and harvests therefore
more remunerative.
In the farming operations of many
parts of eastern Colorado, where irri-
cation cannot be practiced, the amount
OF water available to plants is the
limiting condition of success" as
Professor Failyer calls it. Here is
found abundance of cheap land, quite
fertile, and water is the element that
must be most carefully conserved to in
sure crop. No rain water must be
allowed to run to waste if possible to
store 1t in the soil. Rains on the plains
are usually quick dashing rains and
the seed should be in such tilth that
both upper soil and subsoil will readily
absorb the water which falls during
the crop season.
The preparation Of the seed bed calls
for careful plowing, narrowing and sub
surface packing.
Experience demonstrates that the
nrpna ra tiOn rf tho coil pacorvpir Icoad
bed) of good depth several months be-
fore seeding. the thorough culture of
the ground before and after seeding,
are essentials that very largely deter
mine success in eastern Colorado.
Summer tillage conserves moisture,
while it renders more plant food avail
able. keeps down weeds, and keeps the
soil in good tilth.
Preparing New Ground for Spring
Seeding-lt Is always questionable
practice to crop newly broken sod in a
dry year. The sod usually contains but
little moisture and the process of
breaking causes one to lose an appre-
ctable portion of it. Suggestive plan:
Plow sod land not less than three nor
more than five inches deep, turning
sod down as flat as possible, and thus
prevent Its drying out too soon. Fol
low as closely with disc harrow as
practicable, and this with some form of
packer, either single or double roll.
This will level the sod land above, and
firm the soil in the lower portion of the
furrow slice, restoring the capillarity
where plowing has arrested it. This
firmed under-surface soil is thus en-
abled to draw moisture from below and
give good, normal root development.
Follow up the packer with either an
acme or good smoothing harrow to
produce a good earth mulch to arrest
surface capillarity and check evapora-
tion OF soil moisture. Follow with the
seeder. All small grain should be
drilled in with a press wheel drill, fol-
lowed up with good spike-toothed or
smoothing harrow 1t is almost nec-
essary that all tillage operations on
sod be with the burrows rather than
across them to avoid tearing up the sod
and drying out your seed bed. Do not
seed broadcast. Make each tillage op-
GRAFTON thorough-plowing, diskiEs,
firming, narrowing and seeding.
When the new crop Is up, cross
harrow 10 prevent the formation of a
crust and giving the young crop cul-
tivation. Follow up each rain with a
crop will permit.
Early in June prepare seed bed for
the fall and following springs seeding.
Try to hereafter seed only on ground
which has been given summer cul-
ture" treatment
Remember that roots Of all culti-
waited crops make their best growth
when you provide:
A firm mellow, warm mellow, ven
tilated moist soil well supplied with
plant food.
Methods of farming which (a) con-
serve the moisture. (b) prepare good
seed bed (c) reduce the evaporation
to as near the minimum as possible,
(d) use good vital acclimated seed, (e)
employ a crop rotation which has stock
foods prominent, contain at least one
money crop, U) and practice thorough
tillage of the ground, often tide the
farmer over bad years and insure his
success in good years.