The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-12-24
CROPS ON DRY FARM.
those on montana Experimental
Stations Average Good
Yields.
Studies on Crop Rotations Adapted to
Maintain Soil Fertility Have Been
Started and information Will
Be Very Valuable.

started and Information Will
Be Very Valuable.
Prof. F. B. Linfield of Montana Ag
ficultural college addressed the insti
tute session Of the Dry Farm con
gress, recently held at Billings, Mont.
on Progress of Dry Farming in Mon
tana." He said, in part:
The crops on the experimental dry
farms over the state average the best
yields to date.
THE studies on moisture and fertil
1ty confirm and reinforce the results
of previous years work.
The studies on crop rotations suit
able for the dry farm in Montana and
adapted to maintain the soil fertility
have been fully started and we be.
lieve will give information which will
be of very great value within a few
years.
There are increasing signs of de-
creasing opposition to the extension
OF the dry farm work. Many more
OF the business and professional men
are taking lively interest in dry
farm development and there is a
greatly aroused public interest.
Through increased appropriations
from the state and increased dona-
lions from the railroads, the station
has been able to double the number
OF demonstration dry farms over the
state.
During each year the attempt is
made to get first-hand Information
about some hitherto unvisited section
OF the state. During the last season
some extensive trips away from the
railroad lines have been made along
the northern part of the state. These
trips have very much increased our
appreciation of the large extent of the
dry farm country and great possibili-
ties of development that are sure to
come with the advent of the settler
to the country. In the eastern part
OF the state trips were made out from
Baker and Wibaux and we were favor
ably impressed with the country. A
trip north from Roundup, near the
center OF the state, revealed very
large extent of fine rolling farm
country.
In all the districts visited we heard
OF equally good land beyond. North
from Glendive we heard very f1atter-
ing reports from the Red Water d.
vide and in the southeastern corner of
tho state the Ekalaka country is very
favorably spoken of.
But the settler is coming in in
creasing numbers both from the east
and west. We found them locating in
greater or less numbers in nearly ev-
cry section Of the state. No large
district has. during the past year,
escaped their attention, and those on
the ground early enough to crop
seemed we'll pleased with the returns.
But from the standpoint of the
state. the agricultural college and the
experiment station. this incoming Of
the new settler increases the work
and believe the responsibility rest.
ing upon them. These settlers are
taking up farm work under new en-.
svironment, where eastern methods OF
farm practice cannot be followed !;
where ignorance or carelessness in
farm work can have but one result
failure. And yet the soil is most fer.
.ile, the climate favorable, and where
proper and known methods Of water
conservation and the selection Of the
right crops are made large success
may be obtained.
There is need for the continuation
and the enlargement Of an educative
campaign. We are aiming to supply
this need through the experimental
and demonstration farm, to illustrate
to as many people as possible the soil
management and the crops that will
give the largest returns to the settler.
We are coupling these endeavors
with our farmers institute work, first,
In holding meetings during the crop
growing season on the various farms
and explaining the work and its re.
suits. At other seasons Of the year
the institute carries the accumulated
information Of these farms to other
parts Of the state and by bulletins
and through the press we aim to give
4 the results the widest possible distri.
button. We are doing all our funds
will permit to- increase the extent and
effectiveness of this work
. e.