Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1909-11-19

simply prepared by discing and har-
rowing. 10 plow after these crops
would tend to liberate moisture.
These cultivated crops may be rown
OH land that was cropped the pre-
vious year. The cultivation given to
them while growing aids in keeping
III the soil the moisture necessary to
produce them.
Whether peas have an important
mission in such areas has not yet been
worked out. 1t is pretty certain thar
they will grow well OH the soils of the
semi-arid country, but it has no. ap-
parently been proved as to whether
the yields when grown in rows will be
such as to Justify growing the field
croptius. There should bs no doubt
however, as to the profitable results
that would accrue from growing gar
den varieties for seed or for canning.
The peas would put nitrogen in the
soil. They could be planted with the
grain drill, using only such tubes as
were necessary. The distance be
tween the roWs would be "a to 30 i'll
ches accort!in" to the variety.
Field beans should ais, produce
well under such conditions. I'll ere
would be virtually no trouble from
wet weather when harvesting them.
The quality of the crop. therefore.
! should be first class. Where beans
are raised they are frequently stained
by rain at harvest time. Where dry
farming is conducted, this trouble
should not be present. The beans
like the peas should also bring ferti-
lily to the land.
While alfalfa may be started on new
breaking of the first year, it is better
to put it on Older land. The land
should be f"llowed for it the previous
year, and it will add to the strength
and sureness of the stand if it can be
MANFRED. Alfalfa comes in nicely
after the potato crop well cared for.
| Corn would do as we'll, but for the
stubs remaining in the land. \ nice
/ smooth sealbed should be made in
/ the spring, and the alfalfa drilled in
alone at the rate OF about 10 pounds
per acre. 1t should be clipped off
once and the next year it should fur
/ lllsll crop. 1t is improved by disc
! ing ami narrowing each spring, set
/ ting the disc so as not to DESTROY
many OF the plants.
! Potato and corn crops Should be put
reasonably we'll down. 1t is specially
important that the harrow Shall be
used on them freely and judici III sly.
| These crops should be very extern
sively grown in the dry country be-
| cause of their intrinsic value and be-
cause of the influence which the cult
Walton would exert on the crops that
follow them. The greater the area
OF these, the less the necessity that
exists for large areas of fallow land.
When sowing bromus and western
rye. the two grasses that best endure
dry weather, it will probably answer
best to SOW them with hulless barley,
as it will shade them less than some
other crops. They should of course
he buried i'll the soil. Eight to ten
pounds of each would be enough
sown alone, but if own to gether half
these quantities will suffice.
When breaking up the prairie in a
dry country, it is we'll to plow it
deeply at the first. This may not add
to the yield of the first crops grown,
on the other hand it may somewhat
detract from them, but the influence
on future yields will be helpful. Be-
cause OF this the aim should be to
break those lands as far as practic-
able by the aid Of steam or gasoline.
Crops Suited to Dry Land Farming
Some crops are very much better
adapted to dry farming areas than
others. Among the grain crops.
those that have the very highest
adaptation are winter wheat, durum
wheat. winter rye. speltz and bald
barley. Those of adaptation less
high include fife and blue stem wheat,
mailing barley and oats. Among the
coarse fcdGers of highest adaptation
are corn, katlir corn and sorghum.
Among the grasses and clOvers Of
highest adaptation are, alfalfa. Rus
sian bronze, and western rye grass.
Among the tubers and roots those of
most promise are potatoes and prob
ably rutabagas.'
In nearly all the dry farming area
winter wheat is the leading money
crop. In that respect it has Il long
lead. II may be successfully grown
on new breaking providing the break