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

DRY FARMING IN THIS
STATE IS PRACTICAL
Is The Opinion Of Bozeman Agricultural
Experts Who Met At Great Falls.
That dry farming in Montana pays
when the principles governing it are
carried out tconscientiously and intelli-
gently, but that the dry farmer must
practice diligence and foresight in
order to be successful in his work is
the opinion of the agricultural experts
from the state college at Bozeman,
who held farmers institute at the
Great Falls experimental farm south
of Great Falls a recent afternoon. The
speakers were Professor r. Il. Lin
field, executive head Of the state ex-
perimental station ut l3ozenlan; Pro-
fessor Alfred Atkinson, state agrono-
mist, who has charge of the farm work
OH al Of the state experimental sta
tions, and Professor +. :. Cody,
superintendent of the Farmers in
stitute. The institute was attended,
by II considerable number of farmers
and by representation of business
men OF Great Falls. Much valuable
information and advice in connection
with dry farming was given, and in
looking over the farm, where numer-
GUS experiments in crop growing are
being made, All opportunity to see
demonstrations Of the theories adj
vanced by the speakers was afforded
those in attendance.
The most impressive lesson learned
from attending the institute is that
winter wheat is the crop from which
the farmer must expect his greatest
financial returns, and that there is
little likelihood Of the failure Of this
crop if the ground is handled proper
ly; whereas, if the proper precautions
are no. taken, the farmer had better
devote his attention to some other
line Of endeavor.
For the farmer who is making be-
ginning in dry farming, the growing Of
crops on given piece Of land in alter
nate years only, with careful summer
following, is advised. For ten years
or so attention can be given to pro
ducing paying crops from the soil.
Afterward, rotation Of crops, for the
purpose OF restoring plant food to the
soil mnst be followed or the grain
crops will fail.
The greatest danger that confronts
the dry farmer is found in weeds,
which, unless eternal vigilance is
practiced, will overrun his fields and
virtually put him out of business. 1t
must be remembered that the growing
of weed requires rs much moisture
as does a stalk Of grain, and where
full advantage must be taken of every
particle of moisture in the soil, it is
very evident that the sacrificing Of
half Of the moisture in field to the
growing Of weeds does not make for
paying crops.
Professor Cooley, in making few
observations concerning the object of
the Farmers institute, called atten-
tion to the fact that one-quarter Of
the agricultural land of the state will
probably never be susceptible of irri-
CATION, and that this area, which is
suitable for dry farming, contains
O,0OO, 600 acres and is bigger than
some eastern states, being IL valuable
asset. He stated that Professor Lin
field and Atkinson would make brief
addresses, noting the methods of dry
farming and the results obtained. He
stated that the Great Falls expert
mental farm was considered the least
suited to growing crops of any of the
experimental farms in the state, the
soil being extremely light and there
being other disadvantages.
Professor Lintield outlined the man
ner in which the institute work had
been started few years ago, and
stated that the Northern Pacific otli-
cials were the first to suggest it to the
Bozeman agriculturists. The west
ern roads saw that their revenue would
be greatly increased if the Montana
benches were peopled, and they were
willing to cooperate with the state in
the Work of demonstrating that the
benchlands would yield a living and
something more if they were intelli-