The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1911-01-26
OUTLOOK FOR SUCCESSFUL FARM
ING WITHOUT IRRIGATION
IN MONTANA
CONCLUSIONS BY PROFESSOR SHAW BASED ON OBSERVA-
TIONS OF PAST YEAR. RIGHT METHODS ASSURE
THREE GOOD CROPS OUT OF FOUR

In response to the request for some
OF the conclusions l have reached
with reference to the agriculture of
Montana, l enclose the following:
These conclusions are based largely
OH the experience Of the past season
in handling Montana lands, aud to
some extent to observation. The
conclusions with reference to the ag-
riculture as yet undeveloped are
based on natural conditions pertain
ing to soil and climate, linked with
the inevitable trend Of increase aud
development in certain directions.
First. ! am satisfied that, al
though good crops are sometimes
grown OH spring plowed land. there
is in nearly all instances all element
Of hazard in growing them. The
season can not be forecasted: hence
ifa crop is sown in such land and a
very dry year follows, the yield will
not be good, and under many condi-
tions, it may not be forthcoming at
all. The safest crop to sow o,, such
land is fax. But when it is sOWn
the aim should be to SOW it on land
plowed early, and OH which u good
fine seed bed has been made. It
should be soWn rs early rs May.
Late sown flax may do we'll in a
moist year OH spring breaking, but
who can be sure that Il moist year is
ahead? Corn fodder is the next SAT
est crop, when grown OH land thus
prepared. Third in point Of safely
is durum spring wheat, closely fol-
lowed by speltz. But the aim of the
farmer whose rotation is establish
ed should be to avoid to the greatest
extent possible the sowing of crop on,
land that was not prepared the prev
ious year.
Second That the element of un-
certainty may be eliminated virtual
iy in growing crops OH the bench
lands, providing the land has been
properly prepared the previous year.
by properly prerartd is meant the
proper conservation of moisture in
the soil by summer fallowing it or by
growing a crop that is cultivated,
such as potatoes, corn, field roots,
rape, and broom corn millet. Ground
thus managed will certainly produce
a crop the following year, even
though it should be unusually dry,
providing the planting of the crop is
timely, and that it is properly cared
for while growing.
Third. BY this system it is posi-
BILE to grow three crops in four years
on Montana lands. The rotation in
such instances will be virtually as
follows: Summer fallow, follow ed
by winter wheat or rye, or by a
spring cereal. The next crop will
be one calling for cultivation while
it lie growing. Such crop will! be
entirely safe on stubble land, provid-
ed the land has been plowed the pre-
vious autumn and has been properly
cared for. Grain will again follow,
and after grain the summer fallow.
The objection to the system of farm
ing Montana lands is the large
amount of the cultivated crop that
would be called for. That should
not be al objection, however. " hen
the farmer is growing such crop,
hs is virtually $ lmmer fallowing his
land and while thus engaged is get
ting what will more than pay him
for his labor. In addition, it corn is
the crop thus grown, he is getting II
supply OF the fodder which he so
lnncl, needs. There is the further
overwhelming advantage from such
a system of farming, that it makes
it easily possible to keep the land
quite free from all kinds OF nOXious
weeds.
Fourth. Winter wheat is going to
be the great money crop of Montana
and in tins respect flax will be sec
md. This does not mean that
spring wheat should not be grown;
out it does mean that it will never
.qual the winter crop in Importance,
Dr i'll the success attained in its
growth. The following reasons bear