Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-03-05

expert of the Northern Pacific rail-
way, has put into writing few points
in regard to dry land farming that
will materially .he.p~ the man who
seeks to recover this year some OF
his losses of last season. Prof. Shaw
has laid out the plain facts for the
formers guidance. If our farmers
will follow his suggestions, it is con-
ffdently believed that the yield will
be not only satisfying but in many
cases astonishing. It is sincerely
hopes that every one of our farmers
will not only carefully read the fol-
lowing but clip it out and paste 1t
where it will be referred to sufficient
w often to be constant reminder.
Prof. Shaw states that it is his con-
viction that in the semi.arid country
where the annual precipitation is II
to Is inches, it is easily possible to
farm land so az eliminate the ele-
ment of uncertainty or hazard in
growing crops. Where the rainfall is
not more than ~ inches in a year, 1t
may be necessary in many instances
to grow but one crop on the land in
two years, but where the precipita-
ton is not less than Is inches on the
average, it is quite possible to grow
at least three crops in four years
The element Of hazard-that is, the
element of failure-may be practical
~ eliminated by growing small grains
on summer fallow, or on land that
has produced a cultivated crop the
previous year. This presupposes that
the land has been properly summer
fallowed and that the cultivated crop
has been properly grown.
When land ID summer fallowed IN
the plains country where the bulk or
the precipitation falls in the growing
period. the ground should be plowed
when it has the largest amount of
moisture dn it. That usually occurs
in late May, in June, and sometimes
In early July. 1t should be plowed
then because it is more easily p!owed
when it has a maximum of moisture IN
It. and because much of that moisture
may be retained for the growing OF
the crop that will follow, It should
be plowed deeply for many reasons.
One of the chief of these Is that at
such a time deep blowing is most
easily done. -,
The day that It is plowed it should
be gone over with roller. a planker'
a sub-surface packer, or disc. Tne
conditions must determine which OF
these will be BEST It must then be
narrowed as soon as possible. The
dust blanket thus made must he main
tanned throughout the season. After
every considerable rain the ground
must be narrowed when in proper
condition for narrowing. The fire.
qlent narrowing given will aid In
keeping the land clean. 1t ought to
be kept clean. for weeds will soon
sap all the moisture out Of the soil
If allowed to grow unchecked.
When the fallow &s managed thus,
in normal season there will be mois-
ture enough In the land to terminate
winter wheat or winter rye sown on
it, even in a dry year, though sown
as early as August. II the wheat is
not sown, the mulch must be main
tanned till the close of the season.
Small grain of any kind may be sown
the following spring.
When q cultivated crop is grown,
the ground for 1T should be plowed,
preferably. in the autumn. It may be
stubble grounl. Early autumn plow-
ing puts the soil in condition to ad-
init 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 cultivated crop in dry land areas.
It will be grown more as a fodder
than for the grain. If the proper