The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-07-02
SCIENTIFIC METHODS
OF Dry" FARMING
SUCCEED IN Ut All

That dry farm crops in Utah that
were planted on fallowed ground
have not been injured by the almost
unprecedented drought experienced
here in the last flve months is the
statement of Professor l.. A. Merrill
agronomist In charge of arid farms OF
the Utah experimental station. Pro-
fessor Merrill has just completed a
long inspection OF dry farm condl-
tions, and finds that where there is
damage to the dry farm crops there
is a reason other than the extreme
long dry spell
Crops on ground which was cropped
last year are a failure in most parts
of the state, while those on fallowed
ground are as successful as usual
We have not had such q drought
in thlrty-siX years said Professor
Merrill this morning. In point Of
severity it is the worst thing tho dry
farmers have passed through. yet the
crops as a whole are not injured. Our
experiments included examinations of
farms In Cache, Davis. Tooele. Salt
Lake and Juab counties. The work
was done by corps of field men from
the agricultural college, who are ex-
perts In their line
In Cache county several farmers
expressed their opinions and showed
the inspectors over their farms.
James Hall OF Wellsville has sixty
acres OF summer fallowed dry farm
ground which has not suffered The
yield will be from thirty to forty
bushels of wheat to the acre. Just
above this sixty acres is larger tract,
which was cropped last year. On this
there will be but half crop. Yonll
Brothers Of Petersboro have eighty
acres of ground which was cropped
last year The crop has been prac-
tlcally destroyed. while sixty acres Of
fallowed ground close by shows the
grain standing three feet high. Peter
Peterson OF PeterSboro reports that
on summer fallowed ground he has a
fine crop, as has also ]. NJ. Partington
of the same place, who is also using
fallowed ground.
Ballard Brothers of Cache Junction
have wheat which is half destroyed
where land cropped last year was
used, while fallowed ground Is produc-
ing a good crop. Griffin Brothers and
George c. Rigby Of the same locality
report that on fallowed ground their
crops viii be large. with good heads
on the wheat, but not as much straw
as ordinarily. r
Difference Shows in TooeIe
In Tooele county the difference be
tween fallowed and cropped ground
is very marked On fallowed ground
all of the farmers have had much
larger crops than were expected ear
lier in the season. while on cropped
ground the yield this year will be
total failure.
I'm Salt Lake county the dry farms
are in unusually good condition. Mar
Gus Bennion, graduate of the agricul
tural college. plowed some ground a
year ago last fall narrowed In the
spring. disced twice during the sum-
mer, and seeded early In September
His yield VIII average forty bushels
OF wheat to the acre. Neiehbors
plowed their ground In the spring and
seeded in the fall and will have but
twenty bushels to the acre.
Earl Bennion says that his crops
look fine He says that fall blowing
I'm Davis county only the spring
grain is injured. All of the farmers
OF that locality are In favor of fall
planting and summer following.
Learn Their Leseon.
'In Juab county the farmers have
been taught lesson by the drought.
according to F, A. Wyatt, They were
getting good crops with unscientific
methods. The drought came along
and ruined all crops which We're not
planted according to the scientific
methods. The crops Of that county
Will be planted with far more care
next year than they we're this year"
Professor Merrill says that the dry
farmers are not discouraged with
their fate. hut take the whole propo-
sltion as a good lesson, Carelessness
had became too frequent on the dry
farms. and the present drought Is a
good lesson. That the drought is the
worst in thirty-siX years is the state
ment of many persons who have been
farming for that length OF time in the
dry farm districts Of the state.