Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1912-07-05
PRINCIPLES OF
DRY FARMING

III Ill nOurS Caik al HODSOn InuES.
day afternoon at the Judith Basin
Development league meeting, A. E.
Chamberlain, of the Great Northern
Railway company, a practical farmer
and a scientist, gave some invaluable
advice to the farmers of this section.
The address was listened to bv large
number of people. 1t proved to be
one of the most entertaining and at
the same time instructive addresses
of the kind ever heard there.
1t is impossible to give an adequate
review of the valuable address by
Mr.. Chamberlain within the limits Of
the space available. Those who were
present and heard it cannot help but
receive much benefit therefrom.
The first part Of his address was
devoted to a discussion Of few un-
derlying principles of dry farming.
He said that in sense the name dry
farming" was a misnomer and some
people think that method Of farm
ing without moisture has been de-
vised. Moisture is needed. There
must be enough moisture. Dry farm
ing principles provide for the conser-
vation of the moisture, holding it in
the soil and using it for the crop lat
er when required. Results prove the
theories, and right principles bring
success. The Judith basin. he said,
was as sure Of crop of winter wheat
as any section, and that right methods
would bring success. However, no
section is absolutely sure of 4 good
crop every year. The farmer, he
advised, should not take chances on
spring grains when he could play a
sure thing game on winter wheat.
The three underlying principles for
succt ss he laid down as follows:
First, get the moisture into the
ground; second, keep humus IN the
soil enabling crops to hold moisture
and prevent "blowing;" third, have
compact soil to get capillary mois-s
ture. On the latter proposition he
placed the greatest Importance. The
soil must be compact, so as to have a,
continuous capillary movement Of
moisture from the subsoil up to the
surface. If the soil is cultivated in
such a manner rs to bring a close
contact between the top, which has
been plowed up. and the subsOil, not
disturbed by the plow, nature will in
time Of dry weather, permit the capil-
larry movement toward the surface,
thus assuring an abundance of mois-
ture at practically all times, provid-
ed. of course. that the moisture has
been gotten into the soil.
The farmers promised to test this
theory by experimenting on two
acres. Mr.. Chamberlain recommend
ed that the farmers harrow the stub
BILE before turning it over. This
would make compact contact with
the subsoil and thus permit capillary
moisture to rise without interruption.
This method would result in bigger
crops.
He said that there was no reason
why there should be failure here in
crops. Many crops looked perfect
and would result in heavy harvest,
while some adjoining crop did not
look nearly as WELL The difference
was in the farming
Diversified farming was recon-
mend. lie advised that all the eggs
should not be placed in one basket.
A man on a farm with five dairy COWS
and fifty chickens, he said, could not
fail. There would be some income
all the year round and wheat alone
would not be depended upon. The
final plea was for ideal homes on the
farm. He pleaded for better and
more inviting homes and surround
ings on the ranch to keep the youth
at home.-Lewistown Daily News.