The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-08-26
NORTHWEST CROP IS
GREATEST N
HISTORY
Thomas Shaw Says it Has
Probably Never Been
Equaled.
RAINS
BRING RESULTS
Fair Yields Assured if Farm.
ers Will Pay Attention
to Lands.
RAINS
BRING
{ BY Prof. Thos. shawA

{ By Prof. Thos. Shawl
The crop of 1912 is simply phenom-
|enal in the states Of the northwest
In n aggregate it was doubtless
never equaled. But the conclusion
snoula not be reached that this result
lis owing to the high class character OF
the farming. With the same rainfall
as In 1910 the results would be little
pr n improvement on the crop OF
n year. The bumper crop of the
present Is owing almost entirely to
II unusual rainfall of the present
season and to the timeliness with
Mhieh 1t fell. This rainfall. unusual
in the length Of its continuance. has
not only given the farmer the bumner
crop referred to. but it will also give
MN at least a reasonable crop in 1919
it 1t is properly conserved. even
though the season should be a dry
lone. How shall this moisture be con-
Served? First by discing the stub
Dies; secon by blowing later in the
season; third by stirring the soil in
the early spring with disc or harrow
or both. and fourth by narrowing the
grain once or oftener after 1t has be-
gun to grow.
Discing the StubbIcs.
In an exceedingly dry year discing
the stubbles after harvest NAV not ac-
|complish much by way of conserving
moisture. but it will open up the dry
soil 80 h a rain may penetrate it
more easily should it fall. But In a
year like n present there is much
moisture even in stubble land. 1t Is
greatly important that 1t shall be con-
served. AS soon. therefore. as the
crop is removed the stubble land
should be we'll disced. II the harrow
can follow the operation will be more
complete, but this is not absolutely es-
sential. The discing will exert a very
poten influence on the retention of
moisture. 1t also allows moisture that
may fall subsequently to the discing
t. penetrate more deeply than 1t 9TH
erwise would.
Flowing In the Autumn.
The land that is thus disced should
be plowed later in the fall. Some
farmers argue that stubble land
should not be plowed or even disced in
the fall, since the undisturbed stubbles
may better hold the snow. but the pre-
ponderance or argument is easily in
favor of autumn blowing. The land
that has been disced is easily plowed
and the same power will blow it more
deeply than If it had not been disced.
1t is not so essential to plow disced
land in the fall that is to be planted
with corn. If the stubble land thus
disced cannot all be plowed in the fall
the blowing of what is intended for
corn can best be deferred. Much has
beer written about packing fall plow-
ed land. but it is not very often that
lands plowed in the autumn require to
be packed.
Stirring the Soil in the Early Spring.
Stirring the soil in the early spring
with disc or harrow OF both as occa-
sion may call for, Is but little prac-
tised. 1t is. nevertheless, of great mo-
ment and should be done as soon as
the ground can be stirred thus with
out injury to its mechanical condition.
1t stops at once the loss Of moisture
from the soil, at least for a time. Even
as IN the case Of alfalfa, this stirring
lof the soil Is very important. OF
course 1t can only be done on summer
falowed land or corn or potato land of
the previous year, or on land that had
been autumn plowed.
Narrowing the Grain.
When grain has been sown on land
further held by narrowing the grain.
The best stage for the first narrowing
Is when the grain is just beginning to
appear. The best implement for har-
rowing 1t, all things considered, Is a
light adjustable steel harrow. The
teeth should be slanted backward with
some few exceptions. But a weeder
may be more suitable for very soft
soils. If a second narrowing is given
the grain should be. say 4 or 5 inches
high at the time. so that none of it
will be buried. Even flax and alfalfa
may be narrowed, but not when they
are coming up. If they are narrowed
lit should be when they are several
inches high. Narrowing grain is not
profitable when many sods or much
trash Is on the land.
Fair Crops Assured.
If the farmers of the northwest will
but handle their lands thus they will
be assured of at least fairly good crops
next season. but if they give no atten-
ton much moisture will be lost. If a
very dry year follows the crop will
then fail. 1t would be peculiar UNI
fortunate not to improve the oppor-
the present are all too rare. Unless
the farmers stack much of their grain
they will not be able to handle their
as outlined, for the shocks will
be in the way.
Favor Winter Wheat.
The copious rains Of late July and
early August are specially favorable
to the winter wheat crop of 1913. If
the farmers will only take advantage
of the opportunity that is thus brought
to them: These rains will readily
'sprout the grain sown in August
whether soWn on summer fallow, on
corn land Or drilled in amid the stub
bies of small grain. The opportunity
should. therefore, be embraced to SOW
freely winter wheat in both the Da-
kotas and Montana.
In Montana winter wheat sown in
August on summer fallow land will be
sown under specially favorable condi-
The wheat will not only germ
mate readily. but 1t will make a strong
growth before going into the winter.
In North Dakota experience has
shown that to SOW winter wheat with
out protection on summer fallowed
land or on any other kind Of lane is
hazardous, and therefore. 1t should no
be done. What has been said Of sum
mer fallowed land will apply equally
to corn land. There will be ample
moisture in the corn and to sprout the
grain. In both Montana and Dakota
when winter wheat is sown in corn
land with a small one-horse drill, 1t
should be sown in August, regardless
OF the stage of advancement in the
growth Of the corn. But in Montana,
except near the North Dakota border.
1t Is not necessary to leave the corr
stalks standing in order to protect the
In North Dakota this is inn
h corn stalks should be
left standing. These will aid in hold
ing snow and they will break the force
Of the cold winds.
Special Conditions.
But the rains referred to make 1t
possible to get fair crops Of winter
wheat next year by simply drilling the