The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-03-09
Differs ADVICE
|ON DRY FARMING
Professor Lewis A. Merrill Dis
cusses Essentials for Sue
cessfuI Cultivation.
'NLARGED HOMESTEAD ACT
BRINGS MANY SETTLERS
Prime Necessity Is Understand
ing of Soil Conditions and
Moisture Conservation.

Compiled In a booklet OF 1862 pages is
med as bulletin No. 112, Prof Lewis A.
Nerrill, director OF dry farming expert
ments for the Agricultural college. has
put together the results of seven wears
1Iligent work In Investigations OF dry
{arming systems in Utah. with the data
cbtained from the stations under his di-
Eection. The bulletin is a veritablc fund
of knowledge for the prospective dry
FQrmers, as well as for the many sue
1ea5fu farmers now tilling the arid lands.
In his work OF compiling the informa-
Ion, Professor Merrill has included ta-
6Ies showing comparative precipitation
h Utah for several years. The bulletin
b exhaustive In Its treatment OF every
ubject In connection with the dry farm
ug Industry. The bulletin may be had
Without charge by application to the coll
ege at Logan. On account OF the time
Nr. Merrill has devoted to the subject
" dry farming and the study he has
nhde OF its possibilities and ccrtaintics
p Utah, the issuance OF the bulletin con-
lining the result OF his research work
nd actual experiments. these booklets
Will fail into eager hands
,nong the farmers.
In calling attention to the work of the
Experiment. stations and offering prac-
ica1 suggestions In the way OF general
exclusions Mr.. Merrill says:
Take Advantage of Act,
.'fThe interest in dry farming in this
kate has been greatly stimulated because
4 the passage OF the enlarged homestead
omestead right TO select $40 acres of
land The passage OF this
ct has enabled many homesteaders TO
cure land, and there has been a gem
<al movement towards the selecting OF
1eBe lands and placing them under cul-
ITRtion. The net fortunately provides
at certain amount shall be cultivated
Ech year until at least one-half OF the
1rm is under cultivation.
1T should be borne in mind that dry
INNING Is simply problem of moisture
nd conservation. In this state. with
1e excessive evaporat ton. 1T is not wise
select a loca ation for dry farming where
~ average annual precipitation Is less
IAN twelve inches, and even then there
70 great many conditions that AFFECT
1e yield
Prn. selecting site for dry farming one
>ould make an attempt to secure a rec
u of annual precipitation. In many To-
Hons IL will be found impossible to
t accurate data on this subject since
Ned long enough. However, IT is usual
q possible to get a fairly accurate idea
4 70 the amount OF precipitation.
Selection of Soil.
VThe next important consideration is
secure soil of great depth. The roots
the wheat plant penetrate the SOIL TO
depth of ten or twelve feet under or
nary dry farming conditions. AT the
1ab county experimental farm. roots OF
istool OF Turkey red wheat were fol-
we'd 10 a depth of seven feet. At that
Int the roots entered heavy blue clay
Id &c was impossible 10 trace them Iur-
Ier, although it is known they pene-
afed this layer OF soil. 1t is necessary
"a important that fertile and produc-
pe soils are selected containing proper
lyBical properties In order that moisture
|6y be retained.
fsFollowing the grubber the land should
\ plowed to e depth OF from eight to
b inches and II this plowing. done In
'ny or June. is followed by the usual
ecipitation. it is safe to plant during
D same fall. Better results. however.
Ne occurred If the land is allowed 10 re"
lin fallow and kept cultivated FOR a
ar. Flowing is done in this state. both
III the disc and mold board plows and
1(ie the draft IS known to be less in the
be OF the disc than In the case OF the
pld-boaTd. yet 1t Is generally conceded
It better results are obtained by the
D OF the latter. Frequently, IL is found
be impossible to use the mold board
fw. because OF the character of the soil
because Of the lack Of moisture IN the
II. For cases of this kind the disc
NV is certainly an excellent machine.
Preparation of the seed-Bed.
'I'The treatment incidental 20 keeping
I49S ana volunteer gram GOWN lS also
becfiye In preparing the proper seed bed.
t1e soil should be thoroughly fined, COM
,cted and sufficiently moist just under
~ mulch to furnish the necessary wa
4 20 young plants. On most Of the soils
ere Is little danger Of n too thorough
eparation. Where the soil is light
"a sandy, the use OF n wooden leveler
lHmoother just before seeding gives the
n the necessary frmaess. This is sell
J Am necessary, however. on heavy clayey
ig. There is one danger as pointed
rf by DR., Briggs In securing too fine
|j9nfface mulch. II the soil is too fine
'tre is q. tendency to pack during driv-
( Showers and so the ground fails to
sorb the rain freely after these rains.
rough, lumpy surface is preferable so
~ the ground should be left rough
"a uneven during the winter time and
sfy spring when most OF our rains
a. Choosing Seed
TIN selecting the seed care should be
wen TO secure seed that Is acclmated
% adapted to dry farming conditions,
sreu selected from irrigated farms will
DO we'll on the dry farm until it be-
mes adapted.
From the evidence presented in this