Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1910-08-05

accomplish each year, but that he
realized that although progress must
be slow. that he trusted the results
would be instructive tc those inter-
eated
Prof. Thomas Shaw of Minnesota,
perhaps the best known authOrltive
source Of the studies Of better farm
ing, then addressed the audience. His
facts told in brief form greatly inter-
ested the listners, and his ideas of
agriculture won much applause. He
dwelt principally OH the better meth
DDS. to do the work thoroughly, and
that success would abound in the
Judith basin. Prof. Shaw continued:
Farming is Il surer thing in Mon
tana than in North Dakota. When
| entered upon the present Great
Northern work last spring, was on
" prepared to say that a satisfactory
crop of grain could be raised in Mon
tana every year except when the rain
fall was far below normal. Now |
make no exceptions. l am confident
that a satisfactory crop Of grain can
be grown in Montana every year by
the dry land farming methods. My
experience this year has proved that
to me. and has rOved it to everyone
else who has knowledge of what we
have been doing on our farms. There
is Il little more rainfall in North Da-
kOta than there is in Montana, but
the difference appears to be more
than made up for by the greater
moisture retaining qualities Of the
Montana soils. This year in North
Dakota the crops are Il practical fail
ure in the larger portion OF the state,
but in Montana there are fair crops
wherever the dry land methods Of
farming have been followed
The experimental station land hold
ings amount to 100 acres. Of which SO
acres are now under cultivation, be-
ing sown to various crops in plots Of
onp-tenth Of All acre. Everything is
systemtiZed. and records are kept Of
all crops, the rotations. and the best
results attained and how. Possibly
the greatest demonstration the sta
ton has made is that the bench lands
Of the Judith basin are adapted to the
raising of tame grasses, forages, root
I crops and small fruits. This gratify-
ingly certities the future Of combined
farming, stock raising, gardening and
fruit culture on the bench lands of
central Montana. The yields Oh the
experimental farm for the year 1909
were as follows:
Alfalfa yielded three tons per acre;
bronze grass, one and One-half tons:
clover, one ton. The yields Of the
various grains were equally heavy.
OF the twenty-threa varieties OF win
| ter wheat glOwn, the yiel3s were
from "a to 80 bushel of the -
varieties Of spring wheat, the yie.ds
were 35 to 40 bushels: lS warn, ties Of
oats gave yields Of from 60 to 05 BUSH
els. The various varieties of lar.ey,
rye and other stuff, gave yields in
proportion to that of the grains. Corn
gave in fodder, three tons to the acre.
1t was reserved to the present year
to afford Il severe test of the theories
upon which the station work has
been made. The moisture precipita
ton during the greater part Of the
growing season this year was unusu-
ally light. But in spite Of the draw
back the yields OF grains, grasses and
forages will so to within % per cent
of those Of 1909, and the yields OF that
year were more than 100 per cent in
excess of the average yields for the
United States.
Taking the two years OF 1860 and
1910, one above normal in favorable
conditions and the other below nor
NAL, the average results are distinct
triumph for the station. The verdict
of those familiar with the facts is
greatly to the praise and credit Of the
station management.
OF the crops, Director l.intield Is at
the head, representing the state OF
Montana, and Professor stephens is
the superintendent, representing the
department of agriculture ut Wash
inyton. The station is conducted at
the Joint expense of the state and fed
eral government.