The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1911-05-02
DRY FARM METHODS
Good Results Obtained In Mon
tana and North Dakota.
Brought About by Keeping Top Soil
Loose In Sort Of Mulch, Sealing
Ground and Preventing e.
cape Of Moisture.

received q letter recently from
one Of my valued friends. who writes
the good results obtain
cd this season In portions OF North
Dakota and Montana, by the practice
Of those methods which are known
today az dry farming methods. writes
o. c. Gregg in the Northwestern Az
riculturist. This system Of soil han
ding will soon come to be regarded
- manifestly correct and az absolute
ly necessary to be observed In the
many portions Of our great west. The
reason for 1t II quite manifest to
those who will give it thought. This
Is in substance the constant keeping
Of the top soil loose. This loose top
soil IL sometimes called . mulch.
This, as we have stated before. seals
the ground against the escape OF the
moisture that lies beneath. We can
think Of It as bottling up the mois-
ture that we need 20 that 1t cannot
escape us. This loosening Of the soil
10 made early in the spring 30 there
will be NO escape Of moisture before
planting or sowing is done. and 10 still
kept up after the plants are sown or
planted. In that way the moisture
Is held in the soil and only escapes.
practically, by ascending through the
system and leaf Of the plants that
we desire to grow. When water SO
ascends it acts upon the plant very
much like water that may be held
In the dam but Is allowed to escape
through a sluice and over the water
wheel and 10 turns the machinery
of the mill. When we have an abun'
dance of water why then we let ma.
ture do as it should without our in
| reference, but when we are short
Of water we can stop the escape, very
much as the mill man closes the run
ming stream and makes the water &C
cumulate in a pond where 1t shall be
used at his will. With this prin
ciple In mind we also can unite an
other fact which will become more
prominent as time goes by. There
will be a growing OF those plants
which have Z tendency to resis
drought more than others. Our ex
pertinent stations are working in de
veloping this class of plants which
will be decidedly helpful to US in tn
future. The outlook now Is, tina
that plant which has become SO prom
inent in recent years In dry regions
viz: alfalfa, will be grown by a va
riety that has in 1t a good measur
Of drought resisting qualities.
should go without saying, that "
also use implements upon the farr
that are favorable to the growing q
plants during the dry season. Tn
best Of drills will be used and W
will not regard for one moment tn
use Of broadcasting. We will ais
SOW our grass seeds in drills. rathe
than to cast it upon the ground t
be dragged In at subsequent TIM
The hoed field crops will be grow
with nat culture. The killing up {
potatoes and corn will be regarde
az Z wasteful and costly methot
Such hills or mounds are easily drie
out, while surface cultivation favor
q system Of loose soil that we hav
before referred to. We will plo
deeper than when. we have abundal
rainfall. 80 as to give ample storae
for tire water that we wish to descen
into the soil for future use. Th'
soil too will be repacked to that e
tent that there will be good capillal
action so the water can readily a
cend when drought comes, and the
be stored or retained near the 81
face by this mulch or loosened soil.