The Raymer enterprise., 1910-09-15
HINTS TO SETTLERS
First Efforts Should Be Directed
to Producing Food.
Garden viii Assist, But II Must BE
Supplemented by Field Crops
Grown Upon Larger Scale
Sorghum a. Fodder Crop.


'B' J. E. PAYNE; as,i:ss'5 ss's5''o Agricultural
All settlers want to plant crops
which will give some returns the first
season, so they want to know what
crops are likely to grow well on sod,
newly-broken.
The first efforts should be directed
to producing food for the family and
for the horses. cattle and poultry
which are necessary to the mainte-
nance Of a farm home. The garden
will help In this. but It must be sup
plemented by field crops grown upon
larger scale.
The surest fodder crop for stock is
sorghum. 1t grows fully as well upon
sod as upon old ground. 1t is not
necessary to disk the sod before plant.
Ing sorghum, but It can be planted in
rows three feet apart with either
grain drill. corn planter, hand planter.
or 1t may be planted in every third
furrow while breaking the prairie.
Kafir corn and Milo maize may be
planted the same way as sorghum.
The Milo will give some grain which
is valuable as feed for stock, and es.
pecially for chickens.
White Australian flint corn has
proved valuable as a sod crop. It
Yields a large amount of fodder.
Swadley is one Of the surest dent
corns. but 1t does not make so much
fodder as white Australian corn. Be.
sides these there are number Of
local varieties which have been de.
veloped by selection. These should
be used when they are available.
Large-eared varieties Of sweet corn
such as Mammoth and Egyptian
should be planted literally. as they
make good yield Of fodder Of good
quality. and will give considerable
corn II We have enough rain in Au-
Mexican beans usually make good
crop II given a chance. They are one
Of the most droLght.resistant crops
with which we have had experience.
Each settler should plant about one
acre Of Mexican beans.
Water melons. musk melons,
squashes and pumpkins can often be
depended upon to furnish good yields.
Winter water melons and winter musk
melons should be planted, as they can
be kept in straw stacks above ground
until after Christmas. Only the
earliest varieties Of melons can be de.
pended upon. The cows will pay well
for all surplus melons, squashes and
pumpkins grown. Stock melons which
are water melons with centers per
manently firm can be depended upon
to give from five to twenty tons OF
melons per acre. These can be kept
in good condition by storing above
ground In straw so as to prevent
freezing. They are valuable for use
as succulent food for cattle during
winter.
Potatoes can be grown on new land
II the sod can be cut up and the
ground be replowed.
Millet can be grown upon sod by
narrowing the sod so as not to turn
the sods over.
Broom corn is practically as sure to
give a fodder crop as is sorghum and
Milo. And. II the season is favorable.
1t will produce from 100 to 400 Of
brush per acre. besides ten bushels or
more Of seed. The seed Is good feed
for chickens and also for horses and
cattle. But 1t should be ground for
horses.
Sod broken In May and June and
allowed to lie undisturbed will abb
sorb practically all the rain which
falls on 1t, and It will hold most Of 1t
from evaporation. So II heavy rains
come after the sod is plowed. 1t will
be In fine condition for winter wheat.
Any one having such land would do
wal1 IN n1anf Turkey what