The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1911-09-07
DRY FARM PRINCIPLES
Opening Up Heretofore Called
American Desert.
Methods Can Be Used to Advantage
In Region With Double Amount
Of Precipitation a. That Of
Arid West.

of the heretofore-called American
Desert or the arid region Of the west
Land which was formerly considered
unfit for agricultural purposes be-
cause of the lack of water is now
yielding fair crops to the man who is
Just learning the why's" and where
fores" Of the proper. tilage Of the soil.
writes Guy s. Ellis In the Breeders
Gazette. The fact that this land
yields crops OF fair average has
brought many to study the theory OF
dry farming. The subject might also
have q direct bearing on the tillage
of land in the humid region. In the
humid region We usually nnd q time
wish to SOW forage crops or turnips
and there is not moisture enough to
start the seeds or to supply the needs
of growing crops. Here is where dry
farming methods can be used to ad-
vantage in \ region with double the
amount of precipitation as that OF
parts Of the arid west.
The first requisite is firm sub
SOIL In firming the sub-soil. we
break up the large Jumps and compact
the whole SO that the particles of soil
lie closer together. forming perfect
connection between the unbroken sub
soil and the loose soil OF the furrow.
Capillary connection is established.
that is, the very minute pasageways
are established through which the
soil moisture can rise from the sub
soil to the soil above. BY using
harrow or disc dust mulch can be
made which will hinder the further
UNIV ard passage Of water and hold 1t
within reach of the growing plants
or sprouting seeds.
A firm sub-soil which is in good
physical condition is favorable to
holding large amounts Of moisture, and
to the most rapid movements of mois-
ture by capillary attraction. 1t is also
favorable to the development of
the greatest amount of available
fertility and the most prolific
growth and development Of lateral
roots. We should therefore bear in
mind that the soil is natures labera-
tory. where the proportions of air
and water may be combined in Just
the proper quantities II the soils are
too loose. then there Is too much air
for the water the soil can hold. and
only under very ideal climatic con-
ditions can a fair crop be grown.
With firm seed-bed In which the
soil is in good tillage and the mois-
ture near the surface, we have good
medium in which to plant seed. II
the soil has been properly tended
these conditions can be carried thus
throughout the season.
The process of farming the sub-soil
furnishes FIVE aids in carrying the
growing crops over long dry periods.
We have more water in the soil. BY
destroying the many large non-capil-
larry pores in the surface soil we
bring its grains closer together and
the water is aided In its upward pas
sage.
We gain a stronger capillary move
ment of moisture. Prof. F. H. King
of Wisconsin says. I'm rolling the soil
Its water-lifting power is increased to
such an extent that often within
twenty-fonr hours after rolling, the up
per / minute to 2 minutes beneath
the firm ground contains more mois-
ture. while the lower 2 minutes be-
come dryer than soil adjacent which
| is left untreated."
We have a more rapid development
of bacteria and nitrates- There is
no time Of the year. according to
| Campbell, when water held In the
soil near the surface in sufficient
quantities will bring about as many
valuable chemical changes as in July
and August A large amount Of bac-
terra and nitrates are developed then.
| This comes during the months when
| Iowa generally has her drouth. II she
has any, and to get these valuable
chemical changes we must study and
use proper tillage methods which will
nut this moisture near the surface.
There is a more prolific growth of
roots. Roots or rootlers will not pene-
trate air spaces in the soil so II we
wish strong vigorous root system we
must first see that the ground is pack
ed so as to break up the Jumps and
bring the surface soil particles closer
together. Again the development Of
bacteria and nitrates aid in making
vigorous root systems. The moisture
arising from stronger capillary at
traction brings food into a soluble
form and the -ootlets spread out to
gather in this supply Of plant food.
We gain a larger percentage Of
available fertility during drouth. The
growth of all plants depends upon the
amount ANY energy of the available
fertility. This is great or small In
proportion to the physical or mechan-
fcal condition of the soil.