The roundup record. [volume] (Roundup, Mont.) 1908-1929, 1908-06-12
SUCCESS OF
DRY FARMING
Prof. =. Il. ...iI,ficid OF k;o.cnun i;x.
pertinent Station, Writes of DR..
Fsrlains Methods.

A'sAiSsAlAt i'' - ~ A'NS'eN NiiNt w
have always largely looked to irriga-
ton as the only means Of extend
ing and developing our agriculture.
but there is neither water enough
nor land available to this water to
put more than small fraction Of
the state under irrigation ditch.
probably not more than one-iifteenth
of the area Of the state. This. while
large in amount. is yet a small pro
portion Of the whole. However.
if we can attain success in dry farm
ing. then the agricultural lands OF
the state are very largely increased.
as believe there are from 20 to %
million acres susceptible of culture
under the plow will make Montana
one Of the great agricultural states
of the northwest.
We have a great many inquiries as
TO the suitability Of soils for certain
crops. Undoubtedly under dry
farm conditions a loam soil, which
is easily worked. with deep reten-
tous subsoil, is the most desirable
soil for dry farm cropping; a loose
sandy or gravelly is not the for any
kind of farming, nor yet is the heavy
clay soil as it is hard to work and
must be handled with great care.
AS regards the richness of these
soils in plant food, | DO not believe
there is any cause to worry, rs
believe all are amply provided in
this direction.
With the light rainfall OF the west,
our soils have never been lcached
and SO lhc weathcring influences Of
ages past has been preparing and
dissolving the soil, making avail
able plant food. In a few localities
this action has been carried to ex-
cess and have the alkali soil. The
principal point | wish to maxi,
however, it that our bench soils as
a rule are quite rich in plant food
thus other necessary conditions be
ing provided a good crop can be
counted on.
1t is worthy Of note too that the
summer temperature conditions are
favorable to 4 great variety Of crops.
and .heee is an abundance Of sun
shine the summer days being long.
Tae only deficiency for which speci-
al provision has to be made and Of
watch special care has to be taken.
is moist turo the water supply.
Now water is very important
essential to plant lie and plant
growth. Its largest use is as ear
rier Of plant food from the soil to
the various parts OF the plant.
The soil food fer the plant is taken
up BY the roots as a very dilute
watery solution and carried in this
water to all parts of the plant where
needed. and the surplus water,
after having served the plant, is cx-
hailed through the leaves.
Water also serves as a solvant
for the use of the plant food of the
soil, thus preparing it for use Of the
use Of the plant. Water in the soil
also makes favorable conditions
for those biological and chemical
activities which are necessary to
the preparation of soil ingredients
for the plant. Finally water com
hinea chemically with clements
from the soil and air and enters in
TO the composition OF the plant it.
self.
EXPERIMENTS conducted in various
parts OF the country show that large
amounts of water are used by the
plant. The results indicate that
from 800 to $50 tons OF water are
used for every ton Of dry substance
| produced by the plant. This means
that without a proper supply o!
water plant growth cannot take
place 50 no crop can be produced
In dry county, therefore, the first
thought OF the farmer must be dir
ected to save his water supply
Whence comes the water?
In all our farm operations. we
must depend for the water supply
for crop on the rain and saow that
falls upon the earth. Under
irrigation. we collect the preeipita.
ton OF a large area and sprcao
il over a small area, thus reinforce
ing the natural rainfall. Jndcl
dry farm methods we are restricted
to this average rain and snow fal
that falls upon the farm. 1t is al
interesting fact and IA valuable fac
tor that the rainfall in this western
country is not distributed eyenl,