The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1910-12-15
NEBRASKA DRYFARM
North Platte Satisfaction Adds
Interesting Literature.
Result Of Three Years Experiments
Indicate That Summer FILLING oe-
caslonaIly Is Quite
Profitable.

The most important recent addition
to dry farming literature has been
made by the Nebraska experiment sta
ton In the results of the work at the
North Platte Is SO located that part of
bulletin No ia. This sub.station at
North Platte is 80 located that part OF
the lands are of the typical Platte
valley soil, and the remainder are
higher bench and divide lands. In the
valley portion, the natural water table
is found at depth of 35 to 40 feet
below the surface, while on the table
lands 1t Is from 200 to $50 feet to wa
ter. While 1t is possible that deep
rooted crops like alfalfa may obtain
water by means of sub-irrigation on
the lower lands, 1t Is clear that upon
the high divide lands, the only moist
ure received Is the natural precipi.
tation, says Orange Judd Farmer. In
the seasons of 1907, 1908 and 1909 COM
PARSONS were made to determine the
practicability of cropping annually in
stead of summer tilling the land alter
nate years, and also of giving summer
tillage every third year.
The character of the soil is silt
loan, commonly known as loess. and
the native vegetation is principally
buffalo and grama grass. 1t contains
a low percentage of organic matter,
more than 90 per cent. of fine sand, SO
per cent of silt and about 10b per
cent. OF clay. In spite of its large
content of fine sand and low content
OF organic matter, it does not run to-
gether and bake to any extent. This
Is probably due to the small percent
age of clay contained in it. The me-
chanical condition of this soil is of
the best, and ordinary tillage is suffi-
Client to keep the surface in good filth.
The normal rainfall, taken from the
records of the North Platte weather
station since 1876 is 1886 inches, al.
though frequently 1t runs as high as
20 or "a inches.
the results from the three years
work at this station indicate that
while alternate cropping, such as is
practiced in drier valleys of the west
and certain parts of Saskatchewan. is
'~SNSSe'iy III lhlb' llOu Vi Ne
braska, but they do indicate that sum-
mer filling once every four or five
years Is more profitable than trying to
raise a crop every year upon the same
tand five year rotation, which is
recommended by the sub-station, con-
sists of one year summer tillage from
May to September, winter wheat sown
In September, corn, spring grain upon
disked corn land and cane or sorghum
! following this small grain crop. This
gives one winter and one spring small
grain crop, one forage crop, a corn
crop and one season of summer till
age. Soil which has been growing
alfalfa or grass for several years be.
comes very dry, partly because Of the
large number of plants and roots, and
partly because it is impossible to Gull
:ivate the surface and preserve a dust
mulch. 1t was found at the North
Platte station that land of this char
acter became extremely dry to a depth.
Of Is feet. 1t is recommended that
crops the year following the blowing
up of alfalfa or other sod should be
Of drought resisting nature, such
as sorghum or sugar cane planted in
! rows.