The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1910-09-14
DRY FARMING PRECEPTS.

n1Se
"He who obeys these precepts shall
reap abund ant crops. He who violates
them shall be punished by decrease
in yield in proportion to the trans
gression."
Prof. W. G. Palmer, agricultural
editor of the extension department at
the state agricultural college Of North
Dakota, says this in a foreword to
"ten commandments of dry farming"
submitted to John T. Burns, secre-
tary of the dry farming congress, for
adoption at the fifth annual conven.
ton in Spokane, October 3 to s. The
comm andments follow:
l. Thou shalt pillow deep.
Deep blowing permits rain to pene.
t rate the soil easily and without run
off, also provides more feeding space
for plant roots aud makes available
more plant food.
2. Thou shall keep the surface soil
loose.
This prevents soil moisture from
e~vaporatiug and conserves the rain
fall. Harrow grain after 1t is up two
inches or use weeder.
3. Thou shall cultiv ate level.
Level soil affords the least exposure
to the air and will take in rainfall
faster than ridged soil.
4. Thou shalt summer fallow.
This should be practiced 10 all dis.
tricts where the annual precipitation
Is lees that fifteen inches, as 1t con.
serves two years rain for one crop
and kills weeds and plant diseases;
land should be guilty ated. Where the
yearly rainfall is more than fifteen
inches corn is IS good a prepar alton
for the crop as the bare fallow.
S. Thou shalt add organic matter
to the soil.
This holds moisture and plant food,
improves mechanical conditions of the
soil and lessons washing, drifting and
blowing. Stable manur is the best
form. Plow weeds under while green.
6. Thou shalt keep down the weeds.
Weeds consume moisture and plant
food, crowd plants, shade crops, re.
tard plant life and make land work
harder.
I. Thou shalt grow early maturing
crops.
Conditions for growing are best
during early summer; winter grains
are better than those sown 10 the
spring.
C8. Thou shalt grow corn every three
to five years.
The guilty alton required for corn
saves moisture, kills weeds and plant
diseases. Corn is the best prepara-
ton for q grain crop; it produces
more food and fodder per acre than
other crops. Do not hill up the corn,
as this wastes the moisture.
g.. Thou shalt grow clover or alt.
alta every few years.
Rotating with these grasses adds
fertility and organic matter to the
soil; kills weeds and diseases of plants
and produces an excellent hay and
valuable seed crops.
10. Thou shalt keep stock.
The most profitable way of market.
ing grain and fodder is through stock,
which produce the necessary manure
to the soil and bring prosperity and
plenty to the dry land farmer.
professor Palmer's presentation of
the principles of this modern method
of tillage in the shape of precepts ap-
peals strongly to members of the local
board of CONTROL said Secretary
Burns, land it is likely that a SUBJ
~stantial prize will be offered for the
best ten comm andments on dry farm.
ing. The plan is to submit all to the
executive committee of the dry farm.
ing congress to Gull the best thoughts
and prepare a set of commandments,
to be incorporated in a handbook as
a guide for dry land farmers all over
the world"