The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-07-14
PLENTY OF RAIN
SAYS PRES. WORST
SPEECH OF FARGO MAN WAS
FEATURE or CLOSING sEs-
SION or RETAILERS
MEET.

Minot N. d., July 14.-That there
Is no reason why North Dakota cannot
produce big crop OF wheat in tho
aryest OF years and that this is ac-
Icompiished by other states that Get
Tess than half the moisture that North
dakota gets is the statement OF PROF
=. II. Worst, president of the North
Dakota Agricultural college. at the an
nual convention of the North Dakota
Retain Merchants association. which
closed its session at Minot. last might
CTher states that do not get hair
as much rain as North Dakota are.
producing good crops OF grain under
the dry farming system, and 1T Ia.
FOOLISH for anyone to say that we do
not get enough rain in North Dakota y.
said Professor Worst. From six to
seven inches Of rain is enough for re
ducing crop Of wheat. In North ga
kota, we get is, 49, 90 and 90 inches
Ia year. This is more than enough
II we only conserve the moisture DUR
ing the wet years and save II up for
the dry years, This can be done
through a proper system of cultiva-
ton.
TO do this, the farmer should foI-
low his binder In the fall with a disk.
thus creating mulch that prevents the
evaporation OF the moisture after the
grain is cut and there is nothing 10 |
shade the ground or protect 1t from
the wind. After the grain Is cut in |
the fall is the time when the greatest |
evaporation of moisture takes place. |
II this is done, it is very easy to plow
the ground to a depth of eight inches. |
when it Is time to pillow. After plow- |
ing the subsoil should be thorouehly
packed with a SUBJ surface packer,
and every rain in the fall should be
followed by a dragging, which breaks
up the crust, which causes the evapora-
ton, and prevents the moisture from
escaping.
When the grain starts to come IN
In the spring, it should be narrowed.
This kills millions OF weeds, which
take millions of dollars worth moisture
put OF the soil every year. When the
wheat is about four inches high, es-
pecially after rain, 1t should be
narrowed again, This conserves the
moisture and destroys more weeds.
When the grain gets bushy later on, |,
30 over 1t with a harrow again: Don't
De afraid to kill the grain. You can't II
10 this. ] know of one farmer who
vent over the wheat so many times
hat he thought he had all the grain
killed, and 1t went twenty eight BUSH
lis to the acre.
Now the reason why crops in North
Dakota do not look as good this year :
Is they should from the amount of rain !.
We received in May and June is be- !,
ause the farmers during the last few :
ears have been very wastefuI of the !,
loisture. This spring, there was
practically no moisture in the subsoil, !
because the moisture that has fallen :
Turing the last few years has not been :
'ottled up As result the first hot :
weather. that came along seriously i
amaged the plant. In ordinarily hot .
weather., without proper cultivation, an
nch Of moisture will evaporate in a
yeek This is equivalent to 112 tons
water for every acre. At an expense
approximately 81 an acre, the mois- Z
lre that falls during the summer can
e bottled UP. Is not this good in 1
for the farmer?"
Professor Worsts's address was the
eature of the closing day of the con-
ention, and vote of thanks was ex-
ended to him by the association.