Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1910-12-30
ABOUT SUCCESSFUL DRY
FARMING IN MONTANA
Prof. Thos. Shaw in Great Falls Tribune

Of the conclusions | have reached
with reference to the agriculture Of
Montana. enclose the following.
These conclusions are based largely
on the experience of the past season
in handling Montana lands and to
some extent on observation. The
conclusions with reference to the ag-
riculture as yet undevelOped are bas-
ell on natural conditions pertaining
tn soil and climate linked with the
inevitable trend OF increase and de.
velOpment in certain directions.
First. am satisfied that although
good crops are sometimes grown OH
spring plowed land, there is in nearly
all instances an element of hazard in
growing them. The season cannot be
torecasted; hence, if Il crop is sown
in such land and a very dry year fol-
lows, the yield will not be good, and
under many conditions. it may not he
Forthcoming ut all. The safest crop
W ~" VII SuCu ldllu 10 udA. Dut
when it Is sown the aim should be to
SOW it on land plowed early and on
which good fine seed bed has been
made. 1t should be sown as early as
May. Late sown flax may do well in
moist year OH spring breaking, but
who can be sure that moist year is
ahead? Corn fodder is the next SAT.
est crop. when grown on land thus
prepared. Third in point of safety is
durum spring wheat, closely follow
ell by speltZ. But the aim Of the far
mer, whose rotation is established.
should be to avoid to the greatest ex-
tent possible the sowing Of crop on
land that was not prepared the pre-.
vious year.
Second. That the element of un-
certainty may be eliminated virtually
in growing crops Oh the bench lands.
providing the land has been properly
prepared the previous year. BY pro-
perly prepared is meant the proper
conservation of moisture in the soil
by summer fallowing it or growing a
crop that is cultivated, such as pota-
toes, corn, field roots, rape. and
broom corn millet. Ground thus
managed will certainly produce a
crop the following year, even though
il should be unusually dry, providing
the planting Of the crop is timely,
and that it is properly cared for while
it is growing.
Third. by this system it is possi-
bic to grow three crops in four years
on Montana lands. The rotation in
such instances will be virtually as
follows: Summer fallOw followed by
winter wheat or rye. or by spring
cereal. The next crop will be one
calling for cultivation while it is
growing. Such crop will be entire
ly safe on stubble land, provided the
land has been plowed the previous
autumn and has been properly cared
for. Grain will again follow and al
ter grain the summer fallow. The
objection to this system of farming
Montana lands is the large amount OF
cultivated crop that would be called
for. That should not be an objec-
ton. however. When the farmer is
growing such crop, he is virtually
summer following his land, and while
thus engaged is getting what will
more than pay him for his labor. In
addition. if corn is the crop thus
grown, he is getting Il supply of the
fodder which he SO much needs
There is the further overwhelming ad-
vantage from such a system of farm
ing. that it makes it easily possible
to keep the land quite free from all
kinds Of nOXiOuS weeds.
Fourth. Winter wheat is going to
be the great money crop of Montana.
and in this respect flax will be second.
This does not mean that spring wheat
should not he grown: but it does
mean that il will never equal the win
ter crop in Importance, or III the sue
cess attained in its growth. The fol-
lowing reasons bear upon the wisdonl
OF growing winter wheat: First. it is
virtually the surest grain crop that
can be grown. 1t is seldom win
ter wheat kills in any part OF the
state. 1t is sOwn and reaped ut dit
terent season from that in which
spring crops are sOwn and reaped
thus dividing the labor season more
advantageOusly. 1t natures before
the season of greatest drouth. which
is II point greatly in it's faver. 1t
gives much larger yield on the ay-
+rage than the spring wheats. have
tcAfuant ,u;.l tf,~ 49,, -.