Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-12-07

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of running off the surface when II
rains and being lost, is allowed tc
settle down into the soil. This Is
the reservoir.
by capillary attraction Is meant tt
have the soil in a condition whereby
the water can climb back high enough
or near enough the surface SO thai
the roots of the growing plant car
get to it, so as to get its food. This
is accomplished in different ways.
If the land is allowed to settle un-
til it becomes closer grained ant
firmer. the desired end is reached
but this requires too much time. Sc
some other means is required. A
corrugated roller, a sub-soil packer
or some other similar implement car
be used for this purpose. This also
allows the air to pass into the sol
which is so beneficial to plant life.
Next is covering the reservoir (the
'plowed field) so that he heat of the
sun does not carry away this mois
ture by evaporation.
If the field was covered with 6
THICK bed Of straw, evaporation
would be checked. But as this is
often inexDedient the same result is
gained by keeping the surface broker
UP so as not to allow crust to form
and to keep the surface in pulver
lie dcondition, this being the SO
called dust blanket. This result is
best accomplished by means of {
light drag or harrow with short, slant
ing teeth.
Now this is all there is to dry
farming. But Judgment must be uset
in the manner of doing this, and very
much could be said on this subject.
Good Farming.
AS so much has been said pro and
con on dry farming in the press O
the northwest as we'll as by speaker:
all over the country of late, would ii
not be well to go a step further ant
ask what is good farming?' Coco
farming for this part of North Dakota
According to Mr.. Gregg's teaching
here today, it consists of, in addition
to dry farming" a proper rotation
of crops retention of fertility in the
soil and the addition of humus
Now wnen this Is done properly il
does not matter whether you call i
scientific farming, book farming OF
any other name you wish to give IL
the result is the same, the building
UP of manhood and happy prosper
Gus homes.
This, simple, beautiful, eloquent
address was believed and understood
by a class Of strong, vigorous mer
that will profit by it.
Beef Cattle on the Farm.
The next subject discussed was thai
Of growing beef cattle on the farm
by Mr. Doran, after which Mr.. Paul
son, on behalf of the Commercial
club, announced a free dinner to all
AFTERNOON SESSION..
The afternoon session was called tc
order promptly on time with even {
larger audience than that of the fore
noon At this time the question boz
was opened and it was a good one
and is worth at least column IL
| any newspaper, but must be passed
entirely now.
Then Mr.. Gregg again took the
| platform and talked on humus AM
its effect in the soil upon plant life.
Summer FaIIow and Loss Of FertiIit!
Prof. Hoverstad took up the sub
| ject of summer fallow and Shove,
| it's advantages in the destruction o
| weeds, etc., as we'll as benefits, bu
! also showed the evil effects in thu
loss of fertility. and advised none tt
follow it but to grow a cultivated
crop of corn or potatoes instead.
Mr.. Doran replied to the question!
Of niortgaging the farm. selling thu
farm and buying land to hold for {
rise in price, as these questions were
all found in the question box.
EVENING SESSION.
In the evening Mr.. Gregg spoke
briefly on the dairy COW, Prof Hover
stad on poultry and the poultry
house.
Then Mr.. Gregg spoke upon his ex
periences in institute work in thu
south and his impressions on the race
question. This was an able address
and if Mr.. Gregg's views, which were
| sane and reasonable, were only car
| ried out. there would soon cease tt
be a race question with which to 81
sorely vex US.
Tno,x. ,,.,, nm, ..rrT1E C%DnN