Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1910-09-02
SHAW GIVES MORE
GOOD INSTRUCTIONS

Prof. Thomas Shaw: The question
as to the wisdom of breaking the dry
bench lands of Montana in their pre-
sent dry condition is frequently asked
at the present time. | am getting
numerous letters in regard to it. 1t
is a question that is being widely dis
cussed and it is one of great import
ance to the farmers of Montana at
the present time. They are honestly
looking for light upon it. The an
swer given to It should be given
with the utmost care as it may mean
much to the farmers of the state.
With reference to it would say
that land may be plowed in the dry
condition in which it is at the present
time, providing there is power enough
present to do the work properly. BY
proper work, mean turning over sod
to the depth of not less than six in
ches. and turning all the ground over
and to IN even depth. This cannot
be done at the present time without
steam or gasoline power and il it is
done by sucl, power, the fact should;
be well considered, that the cost in
coal or gasoline and in wear Of plow
shares will be twice that of the cost
OF piowing when the ground is moist,
and it Will be almost impossible to do
a good job because Of the hardness Of
the soil. by a good Job, l mean
blowing to the depth of not less than
six inches and burying all the sod so
that it may rot. Much of the plow-
ing that has been done by the power
machines the past season is of
wretched character. 1t is only plow-
ed to half the proper depth in many
instances, and strips of land are left
unturned. The men who did that
blowing should go and hide. The
men that employed them should only
pay them half the price agreed upon
for good plowing. BY doing such poor
blowing they have injured the good
name Of the firms which they repre-
sent and they have lowered the pro-
ducing power of the land. Again I
say, those men should go and hide.
| know Of course that shallow plow-
ing may give good crop the first
year. but how is man to get deeper
the next time he plows unless mois-
ture comes! lie cannot plow deep
and so the soil is perpetuated, where
as if the plowing was not less than
six inches at first. there is no real diff
ticulty IN plowing to that depth, sub
sequently, even if the weather is dry.
1t is of great moment therefore, that
the blowing should be of suitable
depth at first. If therefore, land dry
as it is now cannot be plowed to a
proper depth, | would say don't plow
1t until it is moist enough to plow it
properly.
With reference to the cropping of
fall plowed land next season, l would
say that the chances are much better
Oh fall plowed than on spring plowed
land, especially in Il dry season. The
moisture from melting SHOWS will
sink more or less into the plowed
land, and when there it can be kept,
whereas much Of the spring moisture
Will run over the surface of the I'M
plowed land and be lost. 4 crop of
flax therefore, for instance, should
be better Oh such autumn breaking
than on spring breaking.
Very much the best time to break
the bench lands is when they are
moist and that is usually in the
spring. The work can then be done
at minimum of cost, and it can be
well done and without difficulty. If
the ground is moist in the fall, all
that can should be broken. If it is
moist in the spring as it always is,
breaking should be rushed more or
less during the months of April, Nav
ana June. After June. the breaking is
usually costly and it will not produce
nearly SO good a crop as if it were
done early in the season.
IF Montana bench lands are to be
successfully farmed, the farmer must
do his work right. am not sorry
that this is true. In some instances
1t may cause heart burnings on the
part OF the farmer who will not do
his work right, but in the long run it
Will mean that Montana will be filled
with the best type OF farmer to be
found in the United States.''
Thus spoke Professor Thomas
Shaw. the famous agricultural expert.
recently at Il smoker of the Helena
Commercial Club, and who made an
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