Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1910-12-30

tnan 100 O,OnO.OW bushels OF winter
wheat in a year. Every month that
passes strengthens this conviction.
Fifth. One great peril threatening
the agriculture of the state, is the en-
tent to which grains mix on Mon
tana lands. TO this peril may be adj
ded that of the extent to which nOx-
1ous weeds are gaining ground. The
mixing Of grains is largely the out
come of grain volunteering. which
means that grain from the previous
crop that has scattered out on the
land will come up and mature in the
grain crop that may follow the form
er. Unless careful attention is given
to this matter, the grain of the state
will soon become so mixed that It's
market value will be seriously inter-
ferred with. The remedy is first, to
SOW pure seed, and. second to SOW it
on summerfallow, or aftera cultivat-
ed crop. That noNious weeds should
be already common on even the new
lands Of Montana is a sad comment
on the lack Of care taken in securing
seed. In nearly all instances the
weeds present have been sown on the
land in the first place by it's owners.
1t is now almost impossible to get
seed oats that are entirely free from
wild oats. Much watchfulness should
be exercised when purchasing seed
flax. lest it should contain wild MUS
tard or the germs Of that dread dis
ease known as flax wilt. To make
sure that the disease is not present in
flax it NAV be wise thing to treat
the seed with formaldehyde. Wheat.
also. should be treated before it is
sown, if any suspicion exists that
smut may be in any degree present
in the seed. There never will come Il
time again in the history OF Montana
agriculture, when the fight against
these evils can he so easily and effec-
lively conducted as now.
Sixth. 1t is quite possible to grow
forage crops on Montana bench lands
to supply the needs of the the farm
ers. This problem has given anxious
thought to some. They have looked
forward to the time when the native
grasses would be virtually u thing of
the past. and have asked where the
supplies Of hay and fodder are to
come from. That question can be an
swered in great part already. 1t is
now safe to say that the average bench
land soil will grow from one to two
tons of cured alfalfa every year. In
some localities such grasses as tim
othy and bronze may be grown along
with it, thus assuring to the farmer Il
supply of hay. The fodder will come
from corn, from the straw Of cereals,
and it may be from certain cOmbina-
tions, rs the sand or hairy vetch and
winter wheat. Straw in Montana is
so bright and good that it's feeding
value, ton for ton, is far in advance
OF the feeding value Of the same in
in damp climates in which abundant
dews are present during the develop.
ment of the grain crops. The same
line of argument will apply to fodder
corn.
Seventh. The producing power of
the pastures may be greatly increased
by growing certain tame grasses
The growing of these has not been
well worked out, but it is certainly
safe to say even now. that bronze
grass and western rye grass with
alfalfa added, will produce pasture
far in excess in point OF yield of pas
ture furnished by the native grasses
Winter rye may be made to furnish
pasture during Il large part of the
year. In some localities winter
wheat may he made to furnish con-
siderable pasture. The sand vetch
will doubtless have II mission in
this direction when it comes to be
understood, and in some localities,
as near certain of the foothills, tim.
othy and clover will furnish grazing.
Eigth. Especially on irrigated
lands may dairying hr carried on
with great profit. This follows from
the fact that three To five tons of al.
falfa may be grown on these lands
from year to year. and with nnfailing
certainty that such grains AS barley.
speltZ and peas may be grown in
great plenty Oh these to furnish the
grain product needed, and that mixed
pastures may be grown on these in
fine form for summer grazing. The
pasture season is also relatively long
These pastures may include alfalfa,
two Or three clovers and two or three
grasses. all grown IN combinatiO ion,