The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1911-09-26
PERIOD OF MATURING
Critical Time for Crops in North
western States.
Short Yield Commonly Arises From
Two Causes-lack OF Sunic'ent
Moisture and Injury Done by
Warm Winds.

The critical period for crops In the
northwestern states Is not usually
when the crop is sown, nor during the
early stages OF growth, but later; that
is, toward the period OF maturing. IL
is easily possible to carry a crop on
that is big with promise until 1t comes
near the ripening period, and when
that stage approaches. the realization
of what was promised earlier Is not
attained. In some instances, II is
so far short as to amount in sense
to failure.
The result referred to more COM
monty arises from two causes. says
the Dakota Farmer. One is the lack
of sufIl cient moisture to carry the
crop to maturity, and the other Is the
injury that may come from warm
winds that blow for successive days
and interfere with the filling OF the
grain. 1t might seem at first thought
that the farmers are at the mercy OF
the elements, and can do nothing TO
prevent the injury referred to from
either OF the causes named. But such
Is not the fact. 1t is true OF course
that the farmer cannot make 1t rain,
and 1t is also true he cannot command
the winds. Nevertheless he can do
much TO ward OF the injury that
would otherwise result from either
should 1t threaten.
The soil may be prepared for the
crop in way that will hold the mOis-
ture that falls for period sufficiently
long to bring some relief to the crops.
should they be threatened with
shortage, or with injury from undue
heat The preparation called for may
be two-fold In character. 1t may con-
sist OF keeping In the moisture by sur
face cultivation. or 1t may mean the
stocking OF the land with humus.
These may both be accomplished In
are resorted to in different seasons.
The stirring of the surface soil in
wolves bringing the summer-fallow In
to the rotation or the growing of some
crop that calls for cultivation during
much of the period of growth. Which
of these methods Is to be chosen must
be determined by the attendant con-
ditions. II the soil is infested by per-
ennial weeds that are diff cult of eradi-
cation. the summer-fallow Is to be
chosen. The same is true Of any soil
that wants cleaning. II the farmer is
not prepared to utilize to advantage
the crops that may be thus grown.
Where he is so prepared then the cul-
tivated crop is to be preferred to the
bare fallow.
Humus may be put into the soil by
introducing any kind OF a grass or
clover crop into the rotation. When
the sod of any Of these is broken. a
large supply Of humus is put into the
soil In the form of roots and stubble
or top growth. The increased power
given to the soil by this process is
very considerable. 1t is specially
helpful when hot winds come. for
there is then reserve, as it were, of
moisture In the soil that would not
otherwise be there. and its presence
may be able to carry the growing
through a critical period where 1t
would otherwise fail.
The two processes may be carried
on the same season, as for instance.
when the land is summer-fallowed and
one or two crops are buried during
the summer-fallowing process. This
may easily be done by making one of
these winter rye and the other some
quick growing crop on top of the
buried rye.
The necessity for giving attention
to these methods Increases with the
wearing of the soil. When land is
nrst broken 1t is usually we'll supplied
with humus. Each grain crop taken
from 1t lessons the supply. The result
u.s. finally. that the humus supply is
so low that the soil Is not we'll able 70
resist the influences of drought
wherever the rainfall is short in a
normal season, and wherever hot
WINDS are liable to prevail. close at.
'entlon should be given to both those
methods OF warding off crop failure