The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-05-27
OUTLOOK BRIGHT
FOR DRY FARMER
Recent Heavy Precipitation
Means Bumper Crop in
Utah This Year.
RAINFALL FINDS GROUND
IN EXCELLENT CONDITION
Expert Says That Yield Should
Be Nearly Doubled as a
Result.

If conditions as reported from dlf-
ferent arid farming districts of the
state and the gratifying increase over
last year in precipitation as thus far
recorded by the local weather bureau
are TO form criterion effecting future
results. the dry farmer bids talr 10
"come into his own this year Thurs.
days and Fridays rainfall, which Sec
tion Director A. A. Thiessen of the
Utah weather bureau announces was
general throughout the state, has added
much to already favorable conditions,
and those who have placed their faith
and money in the arid farming indus
try in Utah arc apparently elated over
this year prospects.
According to Mr.. Thiessen. last year S
precipitation up to the end Of May reg
istered 40 of an inch or IA of an
inch below normal while the tabulation
for the same period this year shows 500
of an inch, being slightly above nor
NAL This, coupled with other condl-
tons said TO be particularly favorable
10 dry farming at present, promises 10
more than Offset the dry farming de
preston of last year. which was vitally
effected by one of the most severe
droughts recorded since the establish
ment of the Utath section of the ma
tional weather service in 1874.
"'The rainfall for Thursday and Fri
day in the Salt Lake valley registered
so of an inch. - said Mr. Thicssen yes
terday, "whIlc it was much heavier IN
the northern part of the state, gradual.
ly growing lighter toward the south.
The heaviest general precipitation was
west of the main range of the Wasatch
mountains. and vas of a character cal
culated to be of vast benefit TO the dry
farmer. Half the fall recorded would
have proven beneficial.
Total for the Year.
"'The total precipitation for last
wear was 1927 of an inch, the lowest
figure since 1890. when 1888 of an inch
was recorded. Despite this fact: how
ever. dry farmers have reported that
although their crops were exceedingly
light, there was not single failure to
their knowledge
A. both the weather bureau and the
Commercial club reports are coming. In
from Juab. Iron. San Juan, Sewer,
Tooele. Washington. Cache, Box Elder
and other counties. where arid farm
ing mas been successfully introduced: 10
the effect that the Increased precipita-
lion with intermittent dry spells mas
given the dry farmer not only opportun-
ity to pet his tracts in proper condition,
but has supplied 4 rich amount OF mols-
turc which is being conserved under
mulches formed at the proper time,
which will retard evaporation IN the
hot season 20 come
Will G., Farrell, Salt Lake insurance
man. who is heavily interested IN dry
farming in Cache valley and the Rush
valley district in Tooele county, said
Yesterday that favorable outlook had
been made still more promising by the
precipitation that began Thursday.
HThis storm means velvet of 100 per
cent to the dry farmer said Mr.. Far
rell HIt will mean that much profit.
The way the year has begun indicates
at least Il sea son of success for the ARID
farms Of the state.
Big Crops Assured.
'sl know of 500 acres of dry farming
land in Cache valley that was expected
to yield about fifteen to seventeen bush
els Of wheat 10 the acre this year, which
would he exceptionally good at that,
but this storm means that each acre
will yield between twenty and thir
ty bushels. The same applies 10 l440
acres in the Rush valley district, where
an expected weld per acre of from tifi
teen to eighteen bushels has now been
increased to probable thirty bushels
per acre. This gladdens the hearts Of
so many of us who suffered through last
season s havoc playing drought
Mr. Farrell s views are substantiated
by the Grace brothers firm and Stephen
Boswell Of the Nephi district. from
whom reports were received yesterday,
and also Attorney Frank B. Stephens
and DR.. J. G.. W0odmansee of Salt Lake,
both of whom view the season IS pros
poets with unusual favor. According to
these men and others heavily interested
in Utah dry farming. the last preeipita
tion could not have occurred at more
opDortune time
It was said that most of the dry
farms had been kept properly plowcd
during the summer months. and that the
moisture resulting from the winter IS
good snowfall, especially in the northern
and western parts of the state. had been
conserved TO greater degree than usual
while by early narrowing the grain
tracts had been placed in almost per.
feet condition TO receive the rainfall
which began Thursday and which was
not too heavy to do any harm or drain
off into the streams