The searchlight., 1910-11-11
OF
THE HOMESEEKERS

Next spring there will be large inflow
Of settlers into Montana As there was .
year ogo. II is very important that those
who come here with their families should
be fully apprized Of the nature Of the un- |
dertaking. clear understanding OF the
problem Of settlement may prevent many |
mistakes that may otherwise occur. Such
information, though in all instances valu-
able. may not be 50 important to the un-
married man. As he can move much more
readily and with much less expense than
the man who must take his family with
him.
The man himself should be on the ground
in March. He ought to ain to bring with
him at least three good. strong horses and
breaking pillow. Four horses would be
better than three. He ought to bring with
him fodder and grain enough to sustain
the horses until midsummer. He should
have breaking plow. good disk and a
good harrow. His little shack and small
stable should be up in March, so that he
can be ready to 60 to work the FIRST day
that his plow can be started in prairie sod.
He should turn it over not less that Ave
or six inches deep. Six inches will in the
end be better than five. The day that he
plows the land he should run over il with
the disk lengthwise Of the plowing to make
1t firm, and shoulk at once follow with the
harrow. Thus he should do from day to
is conserved in the soil until the grain is
sown. Thus he should continue plowing
and preparing his land until it is to be sowu
He should bring his seeds with him. These
should consist Of fax. oats and corn and
possibly some Durum wheat. also some
potatoes. II his family comes with him he
should also have garden seeds. II Durum
wheat is so~n il should be sown quite
early as soon in fact. as the land is in
condition. II fax is sown. it may be put
in later as a rule than the middle Of May
and earlier will be better The seed bed
for it should be we'll prepared. The corn
should be pu, in not later than the middle
of May and on we'll prepared seed bed.
The aim should be to sow the oats just
after the wheat is sown. Only as much
corn and oats should be put in as will be
needed to furnish food for the horses for
the next year. About the only money crop
tina, the farmer should try to grow the first
year is fax. and he should not try to grow
even that. unless he can get it in reason.
ably early and on well prepared land.
!, Every effort should he made to break up
all the land possible for the next years
crop The farmer should not refuse to
work long hours with this object in veiw.
. He should take all the work out OF his team
5 that they will stand without abusing them
and he should be diligent in turning over
the land day in and day ou, until the sea-
I son arrives when the land cannot be plow-
; ed without too much labor. berause of the
dryness Of the land. Flowing can usually
I be done from the opening Of spring until
I end Ct July. After that season the lack ol
moisture in breaking makes blowing diff
!. cult.
. The breaking should invariably be follow
G ed at once with the disk and harrow. ol
s what would be still better. with the roller
e disk and harrow. The harrow should bs
Il used after every considerable rain and ir
!. this way. the moisture will be held. II !.
Il greatly important that the largest possible
% .rro,c, ~ Ia nj ,ho,,ld hs ovaDav. IN hi;
II way. On land thus prepared, the crop o
d the next season is practically assured
y This eliminates the element Of hazard tina
comes from the indiscriminate cropping o
). the land that is freshly broken in the spring
d On the land thus prepared he shouI'
SOW large acreage Of winter wheat. n
b should try and SOW il in August if there ]
d moisture enough in the land to give il
,f good start, II winter wheat in Montani
'e gets good strong start early in the autum'
the crop is practically assured. The fol
lowing spring any kind Of spring crop ma
l. be sown that is wanted on the residue Of tn
land prepared the previous season. II thu
crop is pu, in early and properly cared for
+ the farmer will get good return. let th
! weather be dry or not dry. The corn GRO
Of this seassn may be grown on freshl
~ broken land. As soon as the crop is pu
in the farmer should 60 on breaking othe
land to the greatest extend that is practie
able Tor the next seasons crop. Manage
l. thus. there need not be any failures j
50 farming in areas that are dry.
'e It may be asked why will it not anSTe
as veil for the beginner to hire the breal
9. ing done with . steam or gasoline powe
4, plow the FIRST season9 answer that
% may do As we'll providing that the plowin
y, may be done well and done in proper seaso
p and providing that the settler is able I
TO hire the narrowing done in season. T
De accomplish this will be found no easy tasl