The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1910-06-09
DRY FARMING TRUCK CROPS
Great Principle Underlying This
Method Is How to Get Moisture
When Rain Is Deficient.

Wy HNMO Ell NEtl>. SEdUiN, IfslND
The subject of dry farming appeals
TO large number OF our farmers In
this southwest section OF our state
But though 1t appeals to many, few.
apparently know how to take hold Of
the problem. My success has been
achieved principally in growing truck
crops.
The great principle underlying this
mode of farming is how to get mois.
ture to our growing crops. when rain
Is deficient. Where you have re
tentive subsoil the problem is more
easily solved A clay subsoil is the
sheet anchor of dry farming.
When this subsoil has absorbed
moisture. II retains II until liberated
by frequent tillage. The reason. there
tore. OF my success, Is that have the
subsoil necessary to retain moisture
and have applied the necessary
means OF bringing to the growing
crops the moisture required to their
full development. II is my practice
to keep the soil continually stirred.
thus keeping II mellow and friable
This style Of cultivation is known as
the dust mulch or blanket system.
This enables capillary attraction to
do It's work.
In my truck patch all land un-
cropped, when possible, keep plowed
on the surface. Land allowed to get
hard on the surface will soon dry out
and deteriorate. Soil. to retain its
vitality. requires air as well as water.
therefore. II you cannot get the one
give the other. It Is the same by
irrigation or by excess of rain; after
the land becomes saturated, It needs
constant cultivation to give vitality
Plant life Is much like human lfe
requiring the elements most nee o.
sary to produce growth and unless we
aid the soil to give II elements con
ducive to growth, we get sickly plants
and poor returns.
Some may say that II is fertilizine
that gives the growth. Yes, but under
proper conditions only, and unles,
you make these conditions available
all your fertilizers will be OF no bene
fit. / am aware that many farmers
have an idea that when the season II
dry, soil should not be disturbed or Il
will dry out.
This is true with regard to deeI
blowing, but 1t is just the OPPOSITE
with shallow cultivation BY constan
cultivation of soil. cropped or un
cropped, falling rain will penetrate
readily and prevent washing of the
soil to great extent. This method o
mulching by constant cultivation Is,
believe, also on the principle of tn,
Campbell system Of dry farming, ant
is just as applicable to corn and cot
ton as to truck growing.
The fact is indisputablc that II Il
only quite recently that we have dis
covered the value of the semi-ari,
lands. To develop these we need edu
cation to enable our farmers to cult
vate these lands under improve,
methods. AS to tools to be used TO
securing a dust mulch. these shout,
be OF five-tooth one-horse expansion
cultivator as also the one-horse ex
pansion harrow of fifteen teeth
Sweeps and shovel plows will not an
swer as well. Shallow cultivation Il
needed and in dry weather never e1
pose or turn over new soil. but let tn
dirt or soil fall back with little e1
posure Allow no weeds or grass t
interfere with your growing. as the.
will rob the moisture from you
plants.