The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-03-09
PROFESSOR SHAW GIVES
ADVICE ON DRY FARMING
Tells How to Help the 1912 Ydd-Advice Which Every
Farmer Who C~ulivates Landin Semi-arid
Regions Should Read

Prof. Thomas Shaw, agricultural
expert of the Northern Pacific railway,
has put into writing a few points In
regard to dry land farming that will
materially help the man who seeks to
recover this year some OF his losses OF
last season. Professor Shaw has laid
out the plain facts for the farmers
guidance. If the farmers will follow
his suggestions, 1t is confidently be-
lieved that the yield will be not only
satisfactory but in many cases as
tonishing. 1t is sincerely hoped that
every one of our farmers will not only
carefully read the following but clip it
out and paste it where 1t will be re-
slant reminder.
Professor Shaw states that it is his
conviction that in the semi-arid
country, where the annual p~recipita-
ton is twelve to fifteen inches, 1t is
easily possible to farm land SO as to
eliminate the element of uncertainty
or hazard in growing crops. Where
rainfall is not more than twelve
inches a year. it may be necessary In
many instances to grow but one crop
on the land in two years, but where
the precipitation is not less than f1f-
teen inches IN the average, 1T is quite
possible to grow at least three crops
In four years.
The element OF hazard-that is. the
element of failure-may be practically
eliminated by growing small grains on
summer fallow, or on land that has
produced a cultivated crop the pre-
vious year. This presupposes that
the land has been properly summer
falIowed and that the cultivated crop
has been properly grown.
When land is fallowed In the plains
country where the bulk of the precipi-
tation falls in the growing period, the
ground should be plowed when it has
the largest amount Of moisture in 1t.
That usually occurs late In May. in
June, and sometimes in early July. It
| should be plowed then because it is
more easily plowed when it has a
maximum Of moisture In it. and be-
| cause much of that moisture may be
retained for the growing of the crop
that will follow. 1t should be plowed
| deeply for many reasons. One OF the
i C0l9I MOIS LIG6G lS LID dt SACl a N11I1G
deep blowing is most easily done.
The day that 1t Is plowed 1t should
be gone over with a roller, a planker.
a ub-surface packer, OF a disc. The
| conditions must determine which of
these will be best. 1t must then be
narrowed as soon as at all possible.
| The dust blanket thus made must be
maintained throughout the season.
After every considerable rain the
| ground must be narrowed when in
proper condition for narrowing. The
| frequent harrowings given will aid in
keeping the land clean. 1t ought to
Vi kept clean, for weeds will soon sap
| all the moisture out of the soil If al
lowed to grow unchecked.
When the fallow Is managed thus,
in b normal season there will be
moisture enough In the land to germin-
ate winter wheat or winter rye sown
on it, even in a dry year, though sown
as early as August. II wheat Is not
sown. the mulch must be maintained
TIL the close Of the season. Small
grain OF any kind may be sown the fol-
lowing spring.
When a cultivated crop Is grown, the
| ground for 1T should be pIowed, pre-
Yerably, in the autumn. 1t may be
stubbIe ground. Early autumn plow-
ing puts the soil In condition to adj
nit precipitation that subsequently
FALLS. In the spring the moisture
should not be allowed to escape from
the soil.
Corn will be the chief crop grown
as a cultivated crop In dry land areas.
ut will be grown more an d fodder crop