The Ordway new era., 1910-01-28
OPENING UP 4 NEW FARM
II, r, NOVEL;.

II. +. NOVEL;.
Many new irrigation projects are
now being brought before the public
all over the west. Prospective settlers
are coming to these lands in great
numbers and many Of them are buy
ing. Most OF these settlers are from
the middle western states, and II
familiar with farming at all 1t is
under humid conditions, and as they
they will have many problems to
solve. They will need to do consider
able studying OF the agricultural
papers to learn what methods have
proven the best heretofore and avoid
the mistakes made by those who have
been here longer.
First OF all, a good farmer In the
east under humid conditions usually
becomes good farmer when placed
in entirely different conditions Of the
arid region. 1t is being realized
more and more that farming is most
successful when carried on under the
same principles that make for sue
cess in business or professional life.
The scientific or kid glove farmer, as
he Is termed in ridicule, has SO fire.
quently made Il practical success that
he is not laughed at by experienced
farmers as he used tn be. The new
settler In the arid portions Of this
state should realize from the begin
ming. however, that he must largely
put away the methods OF farming
used in the eastern states and learn
to meet actual conditions US they
arise.
Usually on raw land the first prob.
lem is clearing the sagebrush. II
there is only light growth on the land
1t can be removed sometimes simply
by blowing. Heavier growth may be
cleared by one OF the patent sage
brush grubbers on the market or by
u railroad rail bent to an angle and
hauled Hat side down by team
hitched to each end OF the rail. Then
having made survey OF irrigation
ditches and laterals, proceed to plow
them In or construct them by means
OF the Fresno or other scraper or
some othsr ditching implement. Much
will depend upon the kinds Of crops
to be raised and the character OF the
land to be irrigated as to what meth.
cd OF irrigation will be most suitable.
In general for the more valuable
crops the plan OF furrow irrigation
Is found most successful. The method
OF flooding has been most widely
used in the past. Although shallow
plowing Is widely practiced, espect.
ally with sod ground. the weight Of
opinion is much In favor OF us deep
plowing as may be practical. On sod
ground the mouldtoard pillow is much
to be preferred to the disk. The sod
should all be turned under so as to
decay and supply humus to the soil.
The matter OF seeds and seeding is
probably the most important consid.
eration OF ali. The settler should
make up his mind that his crop will
have direct relation to the quality
Of the seed he uses and 1t Is false
economy to get any but the very best
seed that can be obtained. This can
be done by trading with n reliable
company, testing the germination Of
the sample before buying and exam.
lining tile seed In sample for impuri.
ties.
The time OF seeding, amount. and
depth are important questions for
the farmer to solve. The percentage
Of termination should be taken into
account In determining the amount
Of seed to the acre. as seed with lCO
per cent termination will produce
double the amount OF plants that seed
with tifty per cent terminating power
will give for the same number OF
pounds. The farmer should determine
to some extent in advance whether
he will follow the intensive or exten.
sive methods OF farming. He should
formulate some plan for rotation Of
crops to get the maximum profit from
his land and yet not impoverish the
soil. II there Is a chance OF failure of
some crops, diversihcation should be
practiccd SO as not to put all the eggs
In one basket.-Denver Field and
Farm.