The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1911-11-09
DR.. CHAS. w. ROOK
Reports Dry Farming Congress
Held at Colorado Springs, Co!o.,
October 1920, 1911
(Continued from last week.


Prof. Palmer of the North Dakota
Agricultural College, spoke on the eff
ect and result of deep plowing. His
address was made much more impress
i've, by reason of pictures showing the
efforts plants vera making to grow
under different methods of culture.
Prof. N. H. Watson, of the Wyom-
ing Agricultural College, had on exhi-
bition awheat plant showing its won
derful root development. by carfulIy
dissolving away the soil from the roots
of the plant. he was enabled to secure
its entire root system, which, upon car
ful measurement, and estimates, was
found to be one and quarter miles in
length.
Prof. G. w. Shaw, president Cal
fornia Agricultural College, spoke very
interestingly upon some experiments in
growing wheat in soils brought from
other states to California. He is trying
to determine whether climate or soil
conditions most effect the starch and
gluten properties of wheat He also
spoke of the necessity f deep plOwing
in order to successfully farm in Cali.
fornia. In that state the whole of the
prel. ..::tn ton occurs in the winter mon
this, hence ,he plowing must be done in
the fall, ard must be deep enough to
retain al! the moisture needed for the
next years crop. During many seasons
norain falls from seeding time till after
harvest. He advises the seed bed to be
made from Ii to I6 inches deep.
DR.. j. A. Widstoe, president Of the
Utah Agricultural College, Logan Utah
who was chosen president of the Con-
gress for the coming year, spoke of the
pioneer work done in dry farming by
the Mormon Settlers in Utah, He refer
ed to the fertile soils in much of this
semi-arid country. and how necessary
it was to employ proper cultural meth
DDS in order to succeed. He advised
deep plowing in order that all preci,ita-
ton might be stored for future use
There is no danger, he argued, in plow-
ing this semi arid soil too deep, forhe
had taken soil from ten feet below the
surface, planted seeds therein had them
germinate and make perfect growth.
Over large areas of these semi-arid
lands the farmers have at least four
farms, one below the ether. He advised
farmers to plow deeper and make use
of those lower farms,
DR.. Lory, president of the Colorado
Agricultural College, Fort Collins. spoke
upon the Work Of the Agricultural
College in preparing young men ard
women for farm life. He had given
much thought TO the subject of how
scientific help could be brought to the
men now upor the farms, and who can
not go to the Agricultural College. He
offered the following suggestion which
met the hearty approval of the dele
gates present, that the County Com
missioners in each County be urged to
provide for and appoint County Agri-
culturalist, whose entire time shall be
given to the personal instruction of the
farmer in matters of seec selection,
cultural methods, stock raising and
dairying
Prof. H. NJ. Cottrell, who is well
known by many of our citizens. and
who is now Agricultural Commissioner
foI the Rock Island Railway, gave a
very interesting address upon the grow
of milo and Spanish peanuts in the semi
arid regions of the southwest. He
urged the planting of milo, which has
! food value nine-tenths that of corn,
and which is much more drouth resist
ing than corn. If planted in deep seed
bed it would endure long periods of
drouth and still MAKE good. In speaking
of the Spanish peanut, he claimed the
value Of its vine growth was equal to
good alfalfa, and that the peanuts were
as nutritious as corn. The vines ard
nuts, if cured and fed together, make
a balanced ration upon which all
animals thrive.
Prof w. NJ. Jardine, of the Kansas
Agricultural College advised the farmer
of the dry region to grow potatoes; that
potatoes would be found to be a very
dependable and profitable GRO >. He ad-
vised hand picked seed, and. if not too
large. plant single tubers having not
more than two eyes. Ii large. cut tubers
in halves, leaving bu; Two eyes on each
half. Plant in rows three feet apart,
and in hills 20 to "a inches apart
Employ level cultivation, billing the
row orly for the purpose of preventing
the sunburning of the potatoes. He
Early Petoskcy. Irish Cobler and Early
Ohio