The Greeley tribune., 1909-01-08

1t is a we'll known fact that potato
and beet ground will produce larg-
er yield of grain than ground plow-
, ed in the spring; it does not dry out
\ as quickly: there is no furrow cleav-
J age to check the capillary action. In
the same way early spring plowing
is better than late for such crops az
|, potatoes unless il is alfalfa sod, and
then | should prefer to irrigate first
and get the benefit OF the early
growth of alfalfa.
Care should be taken to break up
all clods Immediately after plowing.
Sometimes the harrow teeth are
slanted too much. leaving q nice.
smooth looking surface but not pull
verizing all the clods under the sur
face; usually by riding on the har-
row and having the teeth nearly
straight. twice over. in the same half
day 1t is plowed, will catch the clods.
| Mr. c. L. Fitch has been using a
subsoil packer for this work. and he
will be glad to answer any questions
concerning its use.
8. The third step in moisture
saving is the dry surface mulch.
This principle is known and practiced
to greater or less extent by all till
ers of the soil. from the savage with
his brush harrow to the American
farmer, with his Acme harrow. his
spring tooth, his smoothing. his disc,
etc. But knowing the value of the
mulch. 1t is not always an easy mat
ter to keep our surface soil in good
shape. Sometimes in the seeding
time we get in hurry through late
ness of season or shortage OF help.
either man or team, and we are
tempted to plant before we work the
ground sufficiently to get good seel
bed. One is usually ahead to plant
a week late when the ground is in
good shape than to hurry matters
After heavy rain. when the water
has collected in little pools on the
plowed ground. it is often a serious
question how to get over the ground
quickly enough to prevent damage
With potatoes and peas, when they
are small, smoothing harrow rur
I di agonally across the rows, can be
used with safety. After potatoes were
four or more inches high have used
five-shovelled garden cultivator to
, good advantage; it will pulverize the
, surface thoroughly and take but one
, half the time of big cultivator
y What we need Is to get the crust
. broken up quickly, as few days Of
ten makes difference in the crop the
, whole year.
I Don't say. II have plenty Of water.
n I'll frrigate when my ground gets
dry" No country will produce az
large crop. and do 1t one year with
another. as an irrigated country but
the longer you can keep your soil in
= good growing condition, the better
- start you give the plants without ir.
rigating, the better the crop. Put
the water on to finish the crop hpt
not to start it with. II you can helm
1t.
This matter Of Irrigation. outside
= OF few general rules, must be Ief,
to the Judgment OF the indiyidno,
farmer. Most OF us have a practical
illustration OF the evil OF early and
often irrigations in our gardens, The
ground bakes and the weeds grow
5 amazingly unless we give It the mos,
|, thorough cultivation, and many f,,r,
D gardens have more weeds to tho
square inch than any other part of tb,
- farm. AS said In the beglnn,ny
l the successful farmer must kror,
! when ground is In good growing co,
dition and how to keep II IN ,rc,,
4 condition. and Just here ia the in,
o mense advantage OF irrigation. VIII,
- your crop needs moisture, nut nm H.
water. and follow up, n possible
. with cultivation. Proper tillapo "a,
9 the chief factor, which man control,
$ IN the making Of good quality cro,
. Upon the quality OF the crop osno
. cially potatoes, depends our marto,
Competition is becoming more an,
more acute. The Greeley name on :
So rarm product has always stamned :,
y AL" Let US keep 1t AL" and xo
shall always have a market