Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1910-07-15
DRY FARMING.

III itrffHi ltpDIto iIOul lIc hiy ldIi
ing sections of Utah and Idah'
show that crops are in splendid
condition wherever proper methods
Of uliiyation were adopted.
This is a most encouraging con-
dition conslderaing the fact that
no rain has fallen worth mention
ing since the growing season COM
menced.
Now that The dry farm homestead
fbiil has become a law in Idaho
this method Of farming is destined
10 receive an impetus IN the Gem
State that will draw many thou
sands of desirable settlers and
bring under cultivation large ar
cas- Of land that heretofore has
been considered worthless owing
to The absence Of water for irriga-
uOn.
The principles involved in dry
farming are not difficult to mas
ter. They comprise proper cult
walton OF the soil, the selection of
drouth resisting crops and the al
formation Of summer fallow and
crops so that one half Of the farm
L. cropped while the other half is
summer rallowed each season.
Dry farming is successfully pro
secuted where the annual preclpi-
tation varies from ten to TWEEN
ly inches by this system moisture
of two seasons is conserved for the I
use OF one crop. In many of the
areas where dry farming IS pract-
iced q crop is planted on the en-
tire farm every season but these
farmers cannot win out in seasons
of scani rainfall like The present.
TO hold the entire rainfall of a
season in the soil for The use Of
next year crop is The problem sue
cesslully solved hy The dry FARM
ar. In summer the land is
aloWed very deep and at the same
ae me -ubsoil IS packed by means
% Campbell packer, Following
Ae pillow comes The harrow which
orns a dust mulch on the surface
l he land. The narrowing is re-
lcated after every considerable rain
ID order to maintain the dust
mulch.
AN the rainfall and snow of the
'esrs precipitation soaks into the
cultivated soil The packed sub
o'l keeps il from going down and ,
he dust mulch keeps it from eyap- y
rating. lhe deeply cultivated soil q
OTIS like a sponge to retain The e
MOISTURE till % is wanted for grow
lg crops.
10 Inc rainfall and irrigation y
lrmers the cullNating OF fallow n
round might seem like useless eX-
onse, hut such is not The case q
esides conserving the moisture il d
ulNerifes and aerotes the soil and G
Us al adds 10 The yield of next 9
.asons crops. The more intelli- =
'nt cultivation bestowed The bigger
.e crop Will be.
tt g doubtful if any of the lands
Lincoln county will be segregat- -
at The present time for dry n
rmipg because of the possibility
getting water for irrigation at w
nae future time. But there is at
manner OF doubt that thousands
acres of fertile lands are here er
which no water for irrigation as
u ever be secured. This will 49,
dry farmed because the soil is II
aptcd for that manner of culti- tn
lion and the annual precipitation
sufficient for the purpose.
Scientific soil cultivation is the
y no,e OF successful dry farming thI
d tins applies equally as we'll to
y and every form of farming pu
70 dry farmer has conferred a y
ting benefit en- the entire coun- INC
hy The impetus be has given to
'per soil cultivation and seed
ection.
That disco uraglng reports that lad
re current throughout this sec ma,
n Of Bannoek county few week
} in regard to the failure of the VIII
{ farm wheat crops, seems to not
more an apprehension. or
'op failure brain Storm with ~
God many. pay