Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1910-04-08
PROPER CROPS TO PLANT
ON THE DRY LAND FARM
In Well Written Bulletin Sent Out by the State Agri=
cultural College Much Vital Information Is
Given the Dry Land Farmer.

f'I lnc past i've Years tHe MoHtiUa
Experiment station has beer, conducting
experiments and making observations on
the possibilities If dry farm cropping in
various parts Of the state.
The result. and conclusions given be-
low are the result. OF those studies. Il
would be- we'll to cai1 attention to the
fact that the crop yield, reported were
obtained by cropp;n. the land every al
ternatc year. the land being summer
titled the other year
During these five wears we have OK
prlrncrd Il great variety Of weather in
III" varinu, districts where the expert
mrnt> hayr been carried on frm IN eN-
trr:nc drought to an abundant rainfall
We feel. therefore. that the conclusions
drawn are based ,,n close to average
conditions and can hr rc.irl upon if the
soil cultivation is properly done and the
right kind and variety Of crops ara used
General observations: Success is more
likely To follow the careful selection OF
crops adapted to dry land conIi; ions
than to promi,rnou> plantn. OF seeds.
regardless nf capacity t. withstand con
di1inns imposed. Anon. the qualities
desirable are hardness an liability to
survive severe winter weather unpro-
trctcd. drought resistance >tructually
capable of livin. in dry atmosphere with
out undue Transportation Of water. The
cactus is an example of great drought re-
>istance Plants with small Leaf surface
are less Iikely to suffer IN Il dry climate.
Early maturity enables the plan. to ma
turr its seed before the pinch OF drau.ht
ovrrtakcS it. Generally early naturim.
varieties are best suited to dry eli
mate. Deep roofing habits are more ia
variable than IL superficial root system.
Alfalfa and other deep roofing plants
avail themselves OF moisture of great
depths. and may even find perennial sue
cess Of >n'terraneam water. Such plant
are affected feast by the driving out OF
the surface soil.
Plants that remain dormant durin.
drought and do not die but start into
growth with new supplies of moisture
arc "i great advantage.
Fall Sown Wheat.
Among the grains tested on the dry
farmin. sub stations. and grown by the
dry farmers. Turkey red fall wheat has
given the most general satisfaction. In
the experimental tests made in differ
ent parts of the state durin. The past
five years. this variety has given an av-
cragr yield of 36.9 bushels per acre.
which is much higher t.lan the yields
harvested in the ease Of the spring
grown grains. The Turkey red. which
was imported into this country from
Russia. is Il very hardy growing variety.
and the grain produces flour Of >upe-
rior bread making quality. The straw
Is of medium size and strength and the
heads are bearded.
From the yield test reported above.
and IN the light of the general >ati>fac-
iian which the crop has given nn many
farms. we strongly recommend that
Montana dry farmers devote Il consider
able portion Of their grain growing are;,
to the raising OF this crop.
Two other fall whcat,. Loft house and
Gold Coin. have been tested. and fairl.
good Yields gained. The grain OF these
varieties. however. is quite soft. and i
chiefly adapted for the making of pa>tr,
flour.
Seeding.
The cropS ought to be planted ON !,
moist. well pulvrrizcd seed bed. This can
best be brought about by plowin. in the
spring. following Immediately with the
disc and harrow. and cnltivatiny the sur
fac" after each rainy period to held the
moisture as it fails. In order that til,
grain may germinatr and make the de
sired fall growth. moisture must lee pres
ant.
Early seeding. from August Il 10 Sep
tcmber 10. is recommended. Some grow
crs have had bad results from later seed
u lint IN hs. 81 ~ n,,l u 1n1. a.l
ing during the last half of Angus. ol
early part OF September to be the safest
In the matter of the amount of see,
10 plant we consider tha, light ,pc;lin.
from three to four pecks to the acre i,
advisable. In abmormalIy wet years ];
greater amount might be better. bu, IL,
wet years are the exception. it is tn,
part OF wisdom to adjust our practic,
I" the condition most generally present
We strongly urge dry farmers 10 Us,
Il seed ,lrill in planting their seed grains
This makes it possible to get t.e see,
uniformly down into the moisture. wher,
il can germnate and make >tron:
growth. BY scattering the seed broad
cast over the surface. and attempting t,
cover by Il disc or harrow. much seed re-
mains on top and never gcrminatc>
Single or double disc drills have becl
found satisfactory. and we believe ar
better adapted to dry farm seeding thai
hoe or shoe drills.
Fall Rye.
This crop has been tested on the sub
station during the past five years. am
has given yield of 29.2 bushels to tn
acre on the average. 1t is a hardy grow
er and produces large yield OF straw
Since the grain does not seem to fin
a strong demand. the crop is not $
profitable as the Turkey red wheat. Fur
ther, the grain skaters somewhat an