The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1910-09-01
DRY FARMING
At INDIAN HEAD
EXPERT VISITS FAMOUS CANADIAN
FARM AND WRITES A SPECIALLY
PREPARED ARTICLE FOR
THE INDEPENDENT

The experimental farm at Indian
Head, Sask, is an eye opener to the
one making his first visit. The rain
fall is but eleven and one-half inches.
the winter quite severe and being on
the prairie the winds blow consider
able. y. '"r
On approaching the farm all one
sees is what appears to be a wood.
the outside trees are yellow and
rather stunted. The succeeding rows
are higher and of darker green. The
first row has had to take the brunt
of the wind and the following ones as
they have had added protection have
grown taller and sturdier, while clear
inside, the wind break, the trees are
very thrifty and are making a splendid
growth. The road leads down an al
ley Of trees that wind round to the
house which is set in a dense grove
of elm, ash, box-elder, white spruce,
Scotch pine, caragana and numerous
shrubs. A mass and density that re-
minds one Of an English park. The
first person I met was Mr.. Angus NC
Kay the superintendent and 1t needed
no introduction to make one aware OF
the fact that he was the superinten-
dent. When I spoke OF having heard
SO much of him and his work he seem.
ed rather embarrassed. When l stat
ed that I had come to learn Of the
work he invited me to take seat in
the buggy as he was on his way to one
OF the farm fields.
Az we rode along, learned in re-
sponse to my questions, that Mr.. Nc
Kay came to Indian Head and started
arming. When the experimental farm
was started in 'S7, he was chosen sup
erintendent. The farm which COM
prises $50 acres was then part Of
the 10000 acres Bell farm and was all
in wheat in 1887 which was the nth
crop raised on ..4is land. As the soil
drifted one Of the first steps was to
plant trees. The ground was prepared
in '88 and trees from the States and
Eastern Canada were planted in 'S9
but these trees died. In 1891 seeds
Of ash, and box-elder were gathered
and planted and the seedlings set cut
when a year old. These have done
we'll The farm was divided into
fields varying from 20 to 100 acres
and row of box-elders planted on
each side OF the road as we'll as on
he outside border Of the farm. These
trees have now grown so large that in
many cases, they form closed arch
over the road There are now thlr.
teen miles of such roadway.
In 1898 seeds Of elm were gathered
and planted and some beautiful rows
Of elm along the highway is the re-
suit.
This planting Of trees has stopped
the drifting OF the soil and it is quite
noticeable that the crops are the best
near the windbreak. Mr.. Mckay
stated that the windbreak effected the
crop to a distance Of eighty feet for
each foot in height 50 that thirty
foot windbreak wuld help the crops
for a distance Of 2.400 feet or a little
over fourteen rods.
The grain was practically all cut
august 22) and the shocks indicated
good yield in spite Of the fact that
it had been unusually dry. In fact
up to date. they have had less than
half the usual rain fail. Wheat on
summer fallow will average IS to 40
bushels, oats 80 to 100. barley 80 TO
65 and the quality Of the finest
Earliness is an important thing in
crops and considerable work 10 being
done in securing early maturing u.
rieties. Marquis Is one OF these early
wheats. It is hybred, bred by Saun.
ders Of the Ottawa experiment sta
ton. Il II a week earlier than the
common red fife and It also gives pro.
mise to yield better. Banner oAts
have given the best yield, has an av-
e-age yield Of 95 bushels for i've
years. Corn is also grown. 1t makes