The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-09-05
COMMANDMENTS
ON DRY FARMING
Prof. w. G. Palmer Lays
Down the Principles of
Raising Big Crops.

CpOkdHc, wash, sept. o. he
who obeys these precepts shall reap
abundant crops. He who violates
them shall be punished by decrease
in yield in proportion to the trans
gression.'
Prof. w. C. Palmer, agricultural
editor of the extension department
at the state agricultural college of
North Dakota, says this in q fore
word to "the ten commandments of
dry farming" submitted to John T.
Burns, secretary of the Dry Farming
Congress, for adoption at the fifth
annual convention in Spokane, Octo-
Der to 6, in connection with the
third international exposition of dry
framed products. The command
ments follow:
1. Thou shalt pillow deep.
Deep blowing permits rain to pene-
trate the soil easily and without run
off, also provides more feeding space
for plant roots and makes available
more plant food.
2. Thou shalt keep the surface
soil loose.
This prevents soil moisture from
evaporating and cOnserves the rain
fall. Harrow grain after it is up
two inches OF use weeder.
8. Thou shalt cultivate level.
Level soil affords the least expos
ure to the air and will take in rain
fall faster than ridged soil.
4. Thou shalt summer fallow.
This should be practiced in all dis
tricts where the annual precipitation
is less than Is inches, as it conserves
two years rain for one crop and kills
weeds and plant diseases; land
should be cultivated. Where the
yearly rainfall is more than Is
inches corn is as good a preparation
for a crop as the bare fallow.
4. Thou shalt add organic matter
to the soil.
This holds moisture and plant
food, improves mechanical condition
of the soil and lessons washing, drift
ing and blowing. Stable manure is
the best form. Pillow weeds under
while green.
6. Thou shalt keep down the
weeds.
Weeds consume moisture and
plant food, crowd plants, shade crops,
retard plant life and make land work
harder.
Z. Thou shalt grow early matur-
ing crops.
Conditions for growing are best
during the early summer; winter
grains are better than those sown in
the spring.
8. Thou shalt grow corn every
three to five years.
The cultivation required for corn
saves moisture, kills weeds and plant
diseases. Corn is the best prepare
ton for a grain crop; 1t produces
more food and fodder per acre than
other crops. Do not hill up tho corn,
as this wastes the moisture.
9. Thou shalt grow clover or al
falfa every few years.
Rotation with these grasses adds
fertility and organic matter to the
soil; kills weeds and diseases OF
plants and produces an excellent hay
and valuable seed crops.
10. Thou shalt keep stock.
The most profitable way Of mar
keting grain and fodder is through
stock, which produce the manure
necessary to the soil and bring pros
perity and plenty to the dry land
farmer.
Professor Palmer's presentation
of the principles of this modern
method of tilling in the shape OF
precepts appeals strongly to mem
bers Of the local board of control"
said Secretary Burns, land it is like
ly that a substantial prize will be Of
fered for the best ten commandments
on dry farming The plan is to sub
init all to the executive committee
of the Dry Farming Congress to Gull
the best thoughts and prepare a set
of commandments, to be incorpor-
ated in a handbook as a guide Tor
dry land farmers all over the world