The Dickinson press., 1911-03-25
INSTRUMENTATION
DRY FARMING mEErlkH
Continued from page ~
PROF. THOMAS SHAW

PROF. THOMAS SHAW
Prof. Thomas Shaw of St. Paul, soil
expert for the Great Northern Ry. Co.,
having As farms scattered over northern
Montana under his supervision, spoke
on DRY Farming Methods in eenreal.
It will interest the readers to know
that Prof. Shaw spent Is years of his
early life on a farm in Ontario, Canada,
subsequently,, devoting is years to argi-
cultural work in colleges, ii years of
this time being in the University of
Minnesota. He is the author of some of
the best agricultural books that have
been written and is nov engaged in
preparing copy for a book on DRY
Farming" He has also been a frequent
contributor of farm articles to leading
agricultural papers for many years. and
his writings are always taken as the
highest authority.
Prof. Shaw started his address at both
Belfeld and Richardton by saying that
he did not think any one. after last
seasons experience. would deny the
fact that this was a dry country at
times. In spite of this he said the
farmer could always raise good crops if
the soil was properly handled. He did
not think the hot winds, so we'll known
to old timers, would return. These
winds came from the southwest, sweep
ing over a vast area of land having no
vegetation and by the time they reached
us were extremely parching. The de-
velopment of our once waste land in the
southwest has changed all this. How.
ever, the speaker did not think our
moisture would materially change, n
year with another. The present average
of is to 10 inches is abundant for all
kinds of crops if it is only conserved.
There will be years when it will fall
below and that is why we must handle
the soil on scientific lines if we are to
farm safely, said the speaker
Land cannot be farmed, at its best,
if We try to get a crop of small grain
every year, said the speaker. Summer
fallow a part of the farm every year if
you would get away from crop failure.
Prof. Shaw does not advocate summer
fallow for land that blows. Such land
can more successfully be planted to corn.
care being taken to keep the weeds
down. and the soil will be in splendid
shape for wheat the following year.
The principal Of summer following is
to bottle up the moisture Of 1911 for
the crop of 1912 and tide owe a possible
dry period. To illustrate this the
speaker cited his experience at Chester.
Mont, in 1910. where the grass did
not get green during the entire growing
season. . There was absolutely no rain,
but there had been rain in 1909, and
the land that wa summer followed that
year in June, when the moisture was
in the ground, plowed to a depth of six
to eight inches, and properly packed.
gave a wheat yield of IS to 20 bushels.
Land in adjoining fields, where the
moisture had not been conserved, gave
no yield. the grain not even germinat-
ing. The productive plots were har-
rowed as soon as the blades of wheat
came up. again when three to five
inches high and when five to seven
inches and the fourth time when eiaht
or nine inches high. This formed a dus.
mulch which held the moisture for the
plant.
Prof. Shaw said that the farmer could
not make rain and if he allowed all the
moisture to escape from the soil he
would certainly have to wait until more
fell. He advised doing breaking when
the greatest amount of moisture is in
the ground-usually in June and put
the plcws down at least six inches and
more if possible. AS a rule, don't
break after July 4. The new farmer has
to hazard many crops and flax or corr
are least likely to fail on breaking. Gel
these crops in early.
Prof. Shaw said that he favored fall
blowing when it could be properly done,
but he would never plow when dry. Gel
down as deep as the land was broken
and follow with harrow to prevent
loss of moisture. The season is toe
short to pillow all the land in the spring.
Spring wheat, said the speaker. is the
great money crop. 1t may be winter
wheat later. Sow wheat early and not
more than four pecks to the acre,
The speaker believed that farmers
could successfully raise winter wheat
and in this way better distribute work,
at the same time getting increased
yields. If Turkey Red Is drilled into
clean stubble ground the last of August
or early in September, it should make q
good wheat crop. Some drill into corn
land, leaving every third row Of stocks
for protection. Wintefswheat must have
some protection. At Richardton Ben
jamin Webb reported an 80 acre field of
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