Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1909-07-30

he said, had proved to be the best
paying crop that could be put in, and
he recommended it strongly to the
Cascade county farmers who are pro-
ducing crops without irrigation. The
only difficulty that had been encount-
cred in growing fall wheat was EN-
cOuntered on the experimental farm
north of Harlem, where some of the
grain had been winter killed. Winter
killing, he stated, was a problem that
had not been solved satisfactorily as
yet.
Touching on methods of working
the ground for fall cropping, Professor
Atkinson stated that good results had
been obtained by breaking the ground
in June or earlier, and he stated that
deep breaking is always desirable, al
though good crops had been grown
where the soil was broken to 4 depth
of only three inches. He considered
of six inches, and stated that some
times it was possible to get down as
deep as eight inches. He stated that
the soil should be turned over and
packed down at once. "Don't wait
till the next day to do this he said,
"but after blowing a piece of ground,
stop the work early enough to go over
what you have plowed with Il disk,
packing the soil and preventing the
air from working under it drying it
out. then make the dust mulch OH top,
and after every rain be sure to break
the surface with the harrow and keep
the dust mulch On the care with
which you handle the ground depends
the size of the yield, so that it does
not pay to take any Chances
In regard to planting, Professor At
kinson stated that there was some diff
ference Of opinion. His observations
had led him to advise planting fall
die OF September. In the Gallatin
valley. he stated, many dry farmers
planted rs late rs October l and had
big yields, however. The proper
amount of seed for fall crop was As
to so pounds to the acre, he said. He
advised seeding with drill, and deep
enough to plant the seed in the moist
earth.
Professor Atkinson stated that there
was at present some scarcity OF Tur-
key Red seed, owing to the increased
demand for it. but he stated that
good quality could be obtained in the
neighborhood Of Billings.
AS to spring crops, Professor At
kinsOn stated that the best yield had
been obtained from white hulless bar
ley. macaroni wheat and early matur-
ing oats, although oats were not the
best dry farming crop. The best re-
suits, he said, were obtained by seed
ing with grain that matured early.
Summer following was recommend
ed by Professor Atkinson. He stated
that it did not furnish plant food to
the soil, but it helped make the most
of what food the soil contained, and
in the early years of cultivating a
piece OF land, when grain crops were
grown exclusively, it should be prac-
ticed. TO supply plant food to the
soil, rotation Of crops was necessary,
peas, alfalfa AMI clover being good to
alternate with grain.
In answer to questions, Professor
Atkinson stated that irrigated oats
were better for marketing than dry
land oats, but that, on the contrary,
dry land wheat was. far better than
wheat grown by irrigation.
In looking over the experimental
farm it was noticeable that the crops
at the west end had been harmed
greatly by drifting sand, while ut the
eastern end, where some protection
from the western wind was provided,
the shifting of the surface soil had
been slight. 1t was pointed out that
the yields were obtained where less
seed had been used, but there was al
so Il practical demonstration of the
fact that it does not pay to SOW rows
OF grain too far apart.
The plots of corn Oh the farm are
not looking we'll, but just what the
trouble it has not been determined.
There has been no lack of moisture
or OF warmth, but for some reason
this crop is very backward. The al
falfa crop was also poor this year,
due to the fact that the land was not
handled properly last year, and as a
grass grew thickly and chOked the al
falfa. Double disking will remedy
that this fall, and if necessary, the
land will be crOss-plOWed.
Professors Lintield, Atkinson and
Cooley expressed themselves as being
pleased with the showing made OH the
farm, stating they did not expect any
great results OH account of the poor
quality of the soil. They feel that
the track under cultivation, while not
representative of Cascade county land
available for dry farming, is of class
that is more or less common in var
ious parts of the state, and as Pro-
lessor Cooley stated, if crops can be
grown OH it successfully without irri.
CATION, dry farming is practicable Oh
any land that can be found III the
state that is available for agricultural
purposes.
LoST-White silk belt, gold buckles
with bunch of grapes set with sap
DilirpS Return to Journal office