The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-08-28

Topic was Dry-Farming a Live Issue.
He said:
So-called dry-farming Is unoues-
tionably one Of the biggest problems
that confront the country today and
one that vitality concerns more than
half h farmers of the United States.
Should natural precipitation always
occur exactly When the growing crops
require tt-neither too much nor too
scant-agriculture would then become
a very simple matter and the chances
Of failure would be reduced to a min
imum. However, such Is not the case,
Far from 1t. Even in humid districts
rain is likely to fall to such an ex-
tent "out" of season, with intervals
of drought during the growing period,
that crops fail or are injured notwith-
standing the fact that more than
twice as much rain may fall during
the year as Is required for maturing
the crops. For this season dry-farm-
ing methods should be more univer-
sally practiced, even the in humid
countries dry-farming methods and
drainage should go hand in hand.
Speaking directly of the western
half Of the United States, -four things
or agencies must be taken into con-
sideration by the farmer-four things
absolutely essential for the maturing
Of profitable crop namely, air, sun
shine, water, and soil. With air and
sunshine, we need not now concern
ourselves. Moreover, throughout the
greater part of this vast territory but
little immediate concern need be Civ
en- to the soil, for the virgin soil is
naturally well supplied with elements
of fertility. Water, however, is the
chief element that requires consider
alton, the one element that cannot be
overlooked if the farmer would make
his business profitable. The texture
and fertility of the soil, moreover, has
a material bearing upon the quantity
Of water that may be required for
producing profitable crops
Moisture being the chief considera-
tion-the one element most likely to
be lacking at critical times, the sup
ply of soil water, therefore, should
receive constant and scientific atten-
ton. First OF all, the soil shouH
be kept in such condition that the
least possible amount of moisture will
be necessary TO nourish the growing
crops. for 1t is a well settled fact that
| plants themselves can be rendered not
only drought resistent but economic
of moisture. Where the soil is we'll
supplied with humus and mineral fer
tility, less water is required to pro-
| duce a crop.
In other words, the more available
plant food the soil contains the less
water is required to support the
growing plants, on the same theory
that half a gallon of milk is as nour-
ishing for a young animal as twice
the amount, provided it is made half
water.
Fortunately, the soil in the semi
arid regions is, as a rule, extremely
fertile. This fertility unquestionabIy
is due to the fact Of limited rainfall.
For where excessive precipitation oc-
ours, the fertility is carried away by
the "run-off'' and the land is left
to that extent depleted of it's fertility.
Limited rainfall, therefore, is a bless
ing rather than a hindrance, provided
there is sufficient moisture, where RI
gid conservation methods are prac-
ticed, to produce a crop. In all re-
gions of limited rainfall, therefore.
1t requires relatively more patience.
more thoughtful labor n I may add.
more brains. to be a successful farm
er. Moreover, the extra thought and
ingenuity required to produce crops
under apparently adverse conditions
such as limited precipitation has a
good effect. upon the character OF the
people engaged in agriculture and as
such climate conditions also render 1t
of the soil it is a good thing for the
future of the country. That is, 1t
makes it more difficult to exploit the
natural Of the soil, which is
a good thing for the future of the
country.
The first step, therefore, in dry
farming is to plow the ground to a
sufficient depth to enable 1t to take
In the natural precipitation, permit
ting the least possible amount OF run
off,. The second is to keep the soil
sufficiently supplied with humus in the
form of barnyard anu to both retard
evaporation and minimize the amount
Of moisture necessary to nourish the
crop. Humus itself retards evapora-
ton.
Storing Water.
DIR. S. A. Knapp says a pound OF
humus will store up sever and a half
times as much water as a pound OF
sand and it retains 1t three and a half
times as long. A pound of humus will
hold four times as much water as g
pound Of clay n retain 1T twice as
long. Moreover, humus In the soil en-
courages bacterial development. The
mission Of the bacteria seems to be tc
make the plant food, both vegetable
and mineral, available for the growth
Of plants. In effect, though not in 8
strictly scientific sense, the bacteria In
the soil feed upon or devour the vege-
table material that is supplied In thu
form of manure and when thus acted
upon, it ultimately assumes the form
of what I shall denominate bacteria
refuse or manure. In this condition
the plant food, becomes available and
where sufficient moisture exists, sol
uble in water, and when drawn up into
the plant by osmosis, is retained there
and utilized for the development o.
the plant just as the grass or grair
an animal sun is transmitted in.
to the tissue building material tina
supports animal growth.
For this reason, doubtless corr
stubble land is practically as sure q
producing a crop, SO tar as moisture
is concerned, as rare sumTner faNow
The bacteria multiply prodigiously u
the top four inches OF soil In the corr
field. owing to the shaded condition O
the soil, while in the bare summer TAI.
low, the effect of sunlight is destruct'
i've of, rather than beneficial to bac'
terfaI development near the surface q
the ground.
The summer fallowed land evidently
contains relatively more moisture thai
corn stubble land for b corn Will,
growing takes UP large quantities o
water. yet owing to the greater multi
p~lication of bacteria In the corn field
less water is actually required TO nour'
ish the crop; hence, in many localities
q crop of small grain can be grown
quite as successfully upon corn stubbl
: where the moisture a been largel!
consumed by the corn crop, as upol
hare summer fallow, where the moist
ure a been more effectually CON
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