Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1910-09-08
|TEN Commandments
Of DRY FARMING
A SYNOPSIS OF THE SYSTEM OF
cuLTivATiNG THE SOIL
That Is Revolutionizins the Arid West
and May Be Used with Advantage
in erazos County.


dant crops He who violates them
shall be punished by decrease in yield
in proportion to the transgression."
Prof. W. C. Palmer, agricultural ed
itor of the extension department at
the State Agricultural College of
North Dakota. says this in a foreword
to "the ten commandments of dry
farming" submitted to John 7. Burns,
secretary of the Dry Farming Con-
gress. for adoption at the fifth annual
convention in Spokane, October SO,
in connection with the third interna-
tional exposition OF dry farmed prod
ucts. The commandments follow:
|. 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
9. Thou shalt keep the surface soil
loose.
This prevents soil moisture from
evaporating and conserves the rain
fall Harrow grain after ii is up two
inches or use weeder
3. Thou shalt cultivate level.
Level soil affords the least exposure
to the air and will take in rainfall
faster than ridged soil.
! 4. Thou shalt summer fallow
This should be practiced in all dis
tricts where the annual precipitation
| is less than fifteen inches, as II con.
serves two years rain for one crop
and kills weeds and plant diseases
land should be cultivated Where the
yearly rainfall is more than fifteen
inchs corn is as good preparation
/ for a crop as the bare fallow.
5. Thou shalt add organic matter
! to the soil.
I This holds moisture and plant food
improves mechanical condition of the
soil and lessons washing, drifting and
blowing Stable manure Is the best
form Pillow weeds under while green
G. Thou shalt keep down the
weeds.
Weeds consume moisture and plant
food, crowd plants, shade crops, re-
tard plant life and make land work
Harder
Z. Thou shalt grow early maturing
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.
| tion for a grain crop; it produces
more food and fodder per acre than
other crops. DO not hill up the corn,
is this wastes the moisture
! 3. Thou shalt grow clover or al
/ falfa every few years.
/ Rotating 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.
/ TO- Thou shalt keep stock.
! The most profitable way of market.
ing grain and fodder is through stock
which produce the manure necessary
to the soil and bring prosperity and
plenty TO the dry land farmer
Prof. Palmer's presentation of the
principles of this modern method Of
ltillage in the shape Of precepts ap
peals strongly to members of the local
board of control" said Secretary
Burns, "and 1T is likely that a sub
stantial prize will be offered for the
best ten commandments on dry farm
irg. The plan is to submit all 10 the
executive committee of the Dry Farm
ing Congress to Gull the best thoughts
and prepare set of commandments
to be incorporated in handbook as
guide for dry land farmers all ovel
the world"