Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1912-02-24
DRY LAND FARMING.
What Is Being Done In Other Arid
States Can Be Done In Nevada.

This Is probably one of the oppor-
tunties which Nevada offers to the
man who knows something about
modern methods of conserving soil
moisture. At present it has not been
given good, fair trial, though there
are reports of success in several To-
calities. The State Experiment Farm
is located in Elko County, where the
rainfall is considerable and where it
is well distributed through the year.
and here experiments the coming year
will be made with all kinds of crops
and continued from year to year until
the problem is threshed out. Pro
lessor Charles S. Knight, of the State
University, writes, cautiously, saying:
Il think that dry farming can be made
TO pay in many parts OF this State,
but until we have given it good trial
such statement cannot be made
with any degree of certainty" Else
where he says: There are undoubt
eddy large areas in Nevada where the
rainfall is sufficient for the successful
practice OF dry farming, but only
by experience will these favorable
places be located"
This is the general attitude of scien-
ll1fl lIltll dt tllS udlO. III AHSNdbd IL
is wise attitude, Reports of success
must be taken with "a grain OF salt
until all the facts are known. Moist
lands, subirregated, or lands par
TALLY irrigated, or success in crop
production only partial, will often be
elements unconsidered, and the report
be consequently misleading. Yet we
are bound to weigh carefully the hope
ful attitude OF many who know New
ada best There is a widespread con
viction that dry farming will sue
coed in Nevada. This is accounted
for, partly by its success elsewhere,
and by knowledge OF conditions here.
Since 1864. dry farming may be said
to have developed into profitable
industry. Large additions to the food
products of the country have been
made on land that half a dozen years
ago was thought worthless, yet it must
be said that this method of farming
is but i'll primitive state. The ex-
pericncc and traditions of our farm
ers are derived from humid countries,
and they must first learn to adapt
their methods to the requirements of
a dry climate. and next they must mas
ter the reasons for certain methods i'll
dry farming. The next generation
will be in better position to sue
ceSsfully farm arid land than we are.
for they will be more free from the
traditions OF their fathers. will be
more scientific. will understand the
soil better. the need OF humus or or
ganic matter, the hurtfullness OF clods
in crop production and the full mean
,,a 81 cultivation The fttl
dry farmer will know more and work
harder than the average, but his land
will cost him but little. and he will
be at no expense for irrigation.
There will be years OF more snow than
usual. and years when good rainfall
will come in June. and this will insure
the crop. il his work in the prepera-
ton OF the soil has been well done.
We venture to suggest, where pos
sible, a combination of moist or irr-
igable land, with land for dry farming
a small irrigablc farm upon which
to raise hay and stock, with veget-
ablcs for the family or a surplus OF
fruit and vegetables for the market,
and say half section OF dry land
close by. one half OF which can lie
fallow. and the other half be devoted
to wheat. under the best methods OF
dry farming. With some rotation OF
crops this combination will furnish
insurance against bad years. and in
crease the income in all years. 1t is
believed that this kind OF farming
will always be one of the leading pha
ses OF agriculture in arid regions.
But do not find i'll this suggestion
n hint of doubt about the success of
dry farming in and by itself We be-
lieve that CAREFUL study OF soil. of
climate and methods of soil proper
alton and culture will insure good re
turns in Nevada as il is doing to-day
in Utah, Colorado, Montana. Idaho,
the Dakotas, and parts OF Kansas and
Iowa.
Professor Campbell may have work
ed out the true method of conser-
wing soil moisture" but it is more
probable that in another twenty five
years he will be seen to have simply
sat IN, motion the wheels of uropreSs