The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1910-09-29
!1M BY DYNAMITE
Explosions Break "Hardpan" and
Conserve Seasons Rainfall.
State of Kansas Conducting Experi-
ments on Suggestion of Former
Governor Crawford = Method,
Will Probably Be Success.

Topeka, Kan.-Dynamite farming;
may become a very common agricultu-I
raj method in Kansas and other midi
die western states. The state of Kan
sas is working out some experimental
with dynamite farming on the farm
of Samuel ]. Crawford, war governor
OF The state. Most of the farming|
sections of Kansas are undertake with
a soil foundation known as "hardpan.'|
1t is not 30 hard as stone, but it isl
harder than common soil, and the
roots of plants cannot go through it.
In some sections this hardpan appears
close to the surface, and in other sec
tons it is down 20 to SO feet. When
pit great depth the hardpan has no ap-|
preciable effect on crops.
On Governor Crawford's farm the
hardpan comes close to the surface,
and as this condition is the only one
where the experiment is likely to-
prove successful, Governor Crawford
gave the state the use of some of his
ground for this year.
Il have done some experimenting,
with hardpan and dynamite" said!
Governor Crawford the other day. eff
this formation is close to the surfaced
It forms a perfect floor and the moist
ulre cannot get down to the subsoil.
Roots of growing plants go down!
TO the hardpan and can go no further,
pnd when bad growing weather comes
hey curl up and die. If we break
up the hardpan it stores the water asl
n a reservoir, and In dry weather.
This reservoir gives up its moisture to
the crops" !,
The state, through the agricultural
department and the agricultural coll
lege took up the scheme of dynami-
ting the hardpan at Governor Craw-
ford's suggestion. The powder mills,
were asked for a low grade explosive,
nnd they r turning out a dynamite
for breaking up the hardpan at a cost
Of about $3.50 per acre.
Early this spring a field was taken
Rs, the test field. Holes were drilled
R5 feet apart and in rows 100 feet|
wide. The sticks of dynamite, con-
tanning Is per cent. Of nitrate ammo
hia powder, were put down to a depth
Of three feet. Half the sticks were
pet off by a battery and half by fuses.
The battery explosions seemed to bel
the best. The hardpan was thorough
ly pulverized for six feet each side
of the drill holes and large cracks ran
for considerable distance in all direc-
lions from the holes, showing that
the explosions had broken out %issures
through the hardpan. Around each
hole a large reservoir was created
where several hundred gallons of wal
ter was stored during the spring rains|
for use In the dry summer months.
Corn, oats, and other spring crops
are being planted. Part of the field
was not dynamited, and this is being
planted also to demonstrate the eff
cheney of the new farming method. IT
will show whether Or not the dynamic
ting did any good. The rows were|
100 feet apart, and if the crops are
not as good in the middle between the
rows, it will show that the dynamiting|
should be in narrower rows.
DR.. William Hamm of Vienna was
the ~discoverer of the dynamite meth
od Of farming. He has found that in|
Europe it is not necessary to treat the
ground oftener than once in three
years.
The state agricultural college and
the state agricultural department are
making the experiments on Crawford'sI
farm and the government agricultural
experts are watching the experiments
just as closely as the state.