The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1910-09-24
FARM IN SEMI-ARID STATES
Lack of Means and Machinery to Do
Work Properly often Results in
Dismal Failure.
by Y. T. COOKE, Director of Dry Farm
Experiments Cheyenne. Wyo)

Experiments, Cheyenne, Wyo)
Dry Farming" is name given to
designate the difference between farm
ing in the arid and semi-arid states
by natural precipitation and the arti'
fetal application of water known as IT.
rigation. 1t is a scientific system pro-
viding methods of conserving moisture
to be used when plants require the
same. The system is not complex-is
! in fact simple to those who are willing
to learn-but the rules laid down for
the guidince of those undertaking to
raise crops when the precipitation is
not too plenty, must be followed. the
work done properly and intelligence
used, because no hard and fast rule
can be made to apply to all condi-
tons.
Dry farming has been carried on in
California for over forty years and
other western states for a great many
years. 1t is a long way from being a
new proposition in the states west of
the Rockies. One of the most impor-
tant things in connection with it, is to
understand why we do certain kinds of
work-why we are taking big chances
of getting a crop when we scratch
our soil three or four inches deep
call it blowing and then in a half
hearted way run our harrows over our
plowed ground, possibly half as much
as we ought to have done. A great
many people have never considered
how soils will get packed through
wild animals, also domestic stock
roaming over it for ages. The natural |
result cannot fail to make such land |
all but impervious to moisture. We
know that if we open up soil fairly
deep such soil will absorb rain
that by cultivation after heavy rains,
when our land is suff1 ciently dry for
US to take a team and harrow on it,
We will make q surface mulch
(which should not be too fine) which
Will help us conserve or hold that
moisture in the soil When a man
places $1,000 in bank and draws $500
'ut, he knows that he has $500 left.
50 1t is with the dry farmer-if he
prepares his land as he should, he
an store up moisture and If he crops E,
and his crop takes only part of the
Moisture conserved, he still has some
or the next crop-provided he takes {
he proper methods of holding such &
loisture in the soil. Too many new l
ettlers do not have enough means {
, work with; lack of teams and the c
ecessary machinery, handicap them '
D seriously that it Is all but impos- 1
bile for them to do their work as 1t s
lould be done, result Is too often
eager crops If not failure. Farming (
a science and requires for success, q
lie best man has in him; hit or miss n
must from now on give q
ay to improved methods. The dry
rmer must study his soils and condf-
ons. He must learn to pillow deeply b
ereby making his soil capable of re- Il
living and holding moisture, and +
ust cultivate at the right time Learn u
at weeds rob him by taking mois- Q.
re and fertility out of his land which "
long to his crop-learn that the Is
st seed he can possibly get or raise g
the cheapest and safest to SOW &c
at small quantities of seed to sow, le
Their than excessive amounts is abso- "
-ely necessary to his success. That ~
press wheel drill should be used to ~
W with-saving seed and putting 1t ~
lere 1t belongs into the soil at the "a
oper depth. ~
One other matter l would suggest u
those who are starting to farm ~ ~
W land in the arid and semi-arid ~ =,
ties Is as soon as they can afford it, %, %
1t most of these soils are deficient AZ
vegetable matter, or what is called -
mus and that / believe it will pay .A
!; to put some in our soils now.
recommend rotation OF :.
Fps and we ought to In our rotation -,
rk, SOW crop of either fall rye or -. -.
ne leguminous crop and pillow them ="
Ter, recollecting that after blowing -, -,
must thoroughly pack the soil to ~,
in the decomposition of what we W.
re plowed under