The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1912-10-19
LESSONS FROM DRY FARMING
Cultivation Of Growing Grain 10 Founo
Practicable-Diskins Of Much
Value.

From the dry-farming methods
which are so necessary to success
throughout the west, farmers in the
more humid districts of the east can
often gain valuable suggestions with
regard to the proper conservation of
moisture. One lesson which may be
learned is In reference to the treat.
ment OF the small grains: The east
ern farmer usually considers wheat,
oats and barley as crops which cannot
be cultivated. Consequently no at
tention is paid to them from the time
they are sown until they are ready to
harvest. Not SO with the upto-date
dry-iarmer, He cultivates his grain
fields after every rain from the time
they are well started in the spring un.
til they are too high to allow of further
cultivation. The spiketooth harrow
is used for the earlier workings; as
the grain grows larger the weeder is
substituted. By means of the latter
implement grain may be cultivated al
most up to the time when it begins
to head.
The advantages of this cultivation
are twofold. In the first place II
serves to break the crust which is SO
likely to form after the spring rains,
and 10 close the cracks which the
frost has made in the winter grain
/ fields This lessons the evaporation
| of moisture. which is most rapid from
crusted or crooked soil, and conserves
! it until it ic most needed by the grow.
ing crop. The advantage of this pre-.
caution is most apparent in the semi
arid districts, but in dry seasons it Is
noticeable anywhere,
In the east rolling winter wheat as
soon as it is safe to so on the ground
In the spring is perhaps to be pre-
ferred to narrowing. If clover is plant
ed with the wheat it should be sowI
before the rolling is done. The rolling
covers the clover seed and also firms
| the soil about the roots of the whea
heaving. The other effect of cultiva
ton is in the keeping down of weeds
and for this purpose it is just as use
full and just as necessary in the cas-
as in the west. Small weeds are yer
easily killed with the harrow or weed
er, and If the work is properly don
the grain will not be injured.
Three precautions are necessary /
narrowing small grain. Drilled graz
only should be narrowed, for cultivi
that which has been sown broadcas
, and so lessons the yield, For tn
!, same reason the narrowing should
done in the direction of the drills r
. Their than across them. Fields c
which grass or clover seed has bee
, sown should not be narrowed, for Il
:, young plants are as easily killed
f., this treatment as are the weeds. MOI
a of these precautions need be observe
a If the roller is used on winter graf
!, but the roller is of little or no use
!, killing weeds In the east, except
!, the driest seasons, it will not usual
q be profitable to harrow grain felt
more than once.
10 Another lesson which may be lear
y, ed from the dry-farmer Is the diskil
"a of land which is to be plowed lat
h. In order to keep the soil from bakil
until the blowing can be complete
This practice was begun in the we
Y on grain stubble after harvest in {
" der to hold whatever moisture was
the soil, for usually little rain ia
," after that time Since the disking G.
be done much more rapidly than t
blowing, there is less chance for eva
-, evaporation and the land then renal
:, for some time in good condition (
"a blowing. For several years Ma
land farmer has applied this meth
-. 10 his spring blowing, disking all
-, stubble and cultivated fields which @
to be plowed Just as early in I
spring as he can get on to them.
ls then able to plow his land at a
time, whereas his neighb RS are oft
compelled to postpone their plowi
until the hard clay soil is softened
rains.
In addition to remaining in con
ton to pillow for much longer
riod, land which has been disked
much less inclined to break up
clods and lumPl than undisked 81
and hence is more easily put in con
ton for planting. The loose ca
which is thrown to the bottom of
furrow unites much more readily W
the furrow slice and no large
spaces are left-Cpuntry Gentleman