The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1910-09-01
BREAKING DRY BENCH
LANDS IN THE AUTUMN
BY PROF. THOMAS SHAW, AGRICULTURAL EXPERT FOR THE
GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY.

The question as to the wisdom of
breaking the dry bench lands OF
Montana in their present dry condi-
tion is frequently asked at the pres
ent time. I am getting numerous
letters in regard to it. 1t is a ques-
tion that is being widely discussed
and it is one of great Importance to
the farmers of Montana at the pres
ent time. They are honestly looking
for light upon it. The answer 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 l would say
that land may be plowed in the dry
dry condition in which it is at the
present time, providing there is pow
er enough present to do the work
properly. BY proper work, l mean
turning over sod to the depth OF not
less than six inches, and turning all
the ground over and to an even
depth. This can not be done at the
present time without steam or gaso-
line power, the fact shonld be we'll
considered, that the cost in coal or
gasoline and in wear or plow shares,
will be twice that of the cost OF
blowing 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
plowing 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
ploWed to half the proper depth III
many instances, and strips OF land
are left unturned. The men who did
that plowing should 60 and hide.
The men that employed them should
only pay them half the price agreed
upon for good plowlng, BY doing
such poor plowing they have injured
the good name OF the firms which
they represent and they have lowered
the producing power of the land.
Again say those men should go and
hide.
know of course that shallow plow-
ing may give good crop the first
year, but how is a man to get deeper
the next time he plows unless mois-
ture comes? He can not plow deep
and so the soil is perpetuated, where
as if the blowing was not less than
six inches at the first, there is no real
difficulty in blowing to that depth,
subsequently, even if the weather is
dry. 1t is of great moment therefore,
that the plowing should be of a suit
able depth at the first. If therefore
land dry as it is now can not be
plowed to a proper depth, / would say
don't plow it until it is moist enough
to plow it properly.
With reference to the cropping OF
> fall plowed land next season, | would
say that the chances are much better
on fall plowed than on spring plowed
land especially in dry season. The
moisture from melting SHOWS viii
sink more or less into the plowe(
land, and when there it can be kept
whereas much of the spring moisture
will run over the surface of the un
plowed land and be lost. A crop o
flax therefore, for instance, shoul'
be better on such autumn breaking
than on spring breaking.
Very much the best time to breal
the bench lands is when they ar
= moist and that is usually in tn
spring. The work can then be don
g at minimum of cost, and it can b.
: we'll done and without difficulty. l
f the ground is moist in the fall, ever
: furrow that can be broken should b.
y broken. If it is moist in the spring
9 as it always is, breaking should b.
rushed more or less during tn
months OF April, May and June. AT
ter June, the breaking is UNUSUAL
costly and it will not produce nearl
u so good a crop as if it were done eal
ly in the season.