Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1909-03-05


with very hot dry spells between.
Therefore the dry land crop that will
be the most satisfactory will be the
hardy one which is able to withstand
both conditions of very heavy rainfall
and of rather severe lrouth.
Deep roofing is also very neces-
sary character in this class of crops.
During May, lM's, rain fell in UNI
usually heavy showers throughout
the central and eastern part of Mon
tana. Asa result many of the dry
land crops formed very shallow root
ing systems because of the abundance
of moisture present early. Later
when the dry hot days began these
crops suffered severely because of the
very limited feeding area resulting
from their small root system. Had
the habits of deep roofing been firm
ly fixed in these plants feeders would
have been sent out through the soil
during the early spring and plant
food and moisture would have been
carried to the plant in greater
amounts during the periods Of lrouth.
\ class of crops that will find a
place on the dry farm will be inter-
titled crops. These are planted in
rows sufficiently far apart to permit
Of cultivation during the growing
season. Crops like corn, sorghum,
etc, while making rapid growth and
presenting large leaf surface for the
evaporation of moisture, may be
raised with limited supply Of water,
since the intertillage that is possible
between the rows prevents unneces-
sary evaporation Of moisture from
the soil.
Turning to IL discussion of the dry
land crops, we present in the follow
ing paragraphs the names Of those
crops that have shown themselves
best adapted to meet the growth con-
ditiOns on the farms above the irri-
CATION ditch. AS the years advance
other crops will no doubt come to be
included in this list, while some that
have Il place at the present will no
doubt be set aside as comparatively
Improbable.
The following list Of crops, with Il
brief discussion OF the management
Of each, is presented because Of
the satisfactory showing made by
these crops on the experimental farms
throughout Montana during the past
three years.
FALL. OR WINTER WHEAT
OF all the grain crops far grown on the ex-
detrimental dry farms in Montana the Turkish
red or Russian red variety OF winter wheat has
gwen decidedly the hest returns. At the expert
inent farm i'll Rosebud county this crop Welded
nearly 80 bushels per acre during 1907. The crop
was imported originally from the dryer portions
OF Europe and so is especially fitted for growth |
under dry conditions. 1t is a very high grade
milling variety. almost equal to No hard |
spring.
Other varieties. such as fall club dollhouse and
gold coin have given good returns. These have
not yielded SO high the Turkish red variety
and are not such high grade milling varieties
The experience OF the past three years as well
rs the observations for a longer period indicates
that fall wheat Oh the dry farm should he seeded
early and with Il comparatively small amount of
seed. Planting the crop by the middle or 18th OF
August at the rate of three pecks OF seed per acre
has given better returns than later planting or /
heavier seeding. When seeded too heavily much |
OF the moisture is wasted. producing the large |
growth OF stems with the result that little is
present to develop large plump grains at rpe,s-
ing time. Again. when the crop is seeded too
.,1ftl
gained during the fall is lost and SO the crop is
seriousl, delayed the following spring
FALL. RYE.
While the returns from this crop have not been
as large as from the fall wheat yet yields as high
AS SS bushels per acre have WHEN fail rye
has keen properly handled. The crop ought to
Ike planted ut about the time and rate as
fall wheat and handled in ,n,cl, the same way
The rye crol, has very strong root system and
will withstand sirn,,th conditions severe enough
to seriously reduce crop of wheat.
SPRING: WHEAT.
There two classes Of spring wheat that
seem especial. fitted for Or, land growth. These
are the ,lur,,M naca,,,ti whtatS and the EN-
ncr. sot,e times spoken oi as spelz.
The MaCaroni wIeatS. St.ralled because they
are used in the manufacture OF Macaroni were
originally impaired fru,n Russia. where they had
been grown under conditions ot .lrouth.
All varieties heavily bearded and the grain is
large and very harl. Until recently Macaroni
wheat Thought to have bread making
value and used either for feeding or for the
manufacture of Macaroni products. Expert
mcnts b., some ri the experiment stations indi-
cate that -four from Macaroni wheat makes a
very superior grade oi bread. and il is believed
will he greatly i'll .le,land for this purpose as
as its merits appreciated.
There are several we'll known varieties Of Mac
aroni wheat grown III this country. Among the
most common are the kubanka. Wild Goose
yellow Pellissicr and Mcdeah The variety tests
so far conducted indicate that the Kul,anka vari-
ETY.. yielding upwards OF 81 bushels per acre is
superior to amy OF the others for dry land growth
i'll Montana.
Spring wheat ought To- he seeded at about the
same rate fall wheat. three pecks per acre
The crop should nc planted early as it is pos
siblc to get the seed bed into condition in the
spring.