Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1908-02-21
PRINCIPALS OF DRY FARMING.
Only Two in Number, But They
Must be Observed.

those in every section in the great
semi,arid region, are turning their
attention more and more to dry
farming, the following article from
the Denver Daily Mining Record
will be of interest. Owing to the
length Of the article we publish
only portion of it this week, but
will conclude it in our next issue:
The principles of dry farming are
two in number. First, to keep the
surface Of the land under cultivation
loose and finely puiverized. This
forms a soil mulch that permits the
rains and melting SHOWS to percolate
readily through to the compacted
soil beneath; and that at the same
time prevents the moisture stored in
the ground from being brought TO
the surface by capillary attraction,
to be absorbed by the hot. dry air.
The second is to keep the sub-soil
finely pulverized and firmly COM
pacted, increasing Its water holding
capacity and its capillary attraction,
and placing in it the best physical
condition for the germinauon of
seed and the development of plant
roots. The dry farmer thus stoi es
water not in dams and artificial res
eryolrs, but right where it can be
reached by the roots of growing
crops.
Through these principles, rain
fall of IL inches can be conserved sc
effectively that it will produce bet
ter results than are usually expected
Of an annual precipitation of "a
inches in humid America. The dis
coverer and demonstrator of these
principles deserves to rank among
= the greatest of national benefactore
: He has not merely made two bladel
3 of grass grow where only one grew
before, but has made 1t possible Il
cover with wheat and corn, alfalfi
and other useful crops, tens o
thousands of square miles Of fertil
: land on which nothing but sag
! brush, cacti, Kansas sunfowers AM
bunch grass are now found.
Water moves in the soil by capil
: larry attraction-up as really as down
To prevent it from rising to III
!. surface after it has Teen stored bt
. meath is the primary object of th
g loose soil mulch, composing the to
g two inches of soil. This answer
o the purpose of a lid on the naturi
% reseiv voir, preventing the moistui
q from rising to the surface, and tn.
'e evaporat,ng in the hot, dry atmo
phere.
i At the same time, this soil mule
forms an open, porous bed upo
which rains and SHOWS fall, pc
hitting the moisture to percola
readily through into the compactt
ground beneath. Special agricultur
implements have been designed al
brought into use for packing :
sub-soil and for stirring and pulvs
u ixing the surface, but detailed d
w scription of these would be as
ol- from the purpose of this article.
De- Dry farming IS essentially scie
lis tifie farming, and for that reas
us the term scientific soil culture"
ng perhaps, more truly descriptive tn
ID the popular term. Nevertheless,
re- principles may be and are, appli
ed Just as successfully by men W
de have little of the education of
he schools as they are by the cole
yes graduates. However, no farmer
nd the aid belt need hope for ev
moderate success wlthost unceasi
and tireless diligence.
After the land has been deel
Ugh plowed, the surface soil packed
on the sub-soil packer, and the surf
Tar narrowed aud pnlverlxed, full y
Aaa should elapse before the first crol
Tar ee. - RalI1z. C1.fax