The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-03-09

than for the grain. If. the proper
kinds are chosen and If the work is
we'll done, not less than two tons OF
cured fodder can be obtained from an
acre. 1t will not only repay the OUT
lay for labor but should also return q
profit besides, If the corn has been
kept clean-which 1t ought to be--by
the aid Of the harrow and c~uItivator.
The land will be virtually summer fall
lowed 4The cultivation given to the
crop should retain enough moisture In
the soil to grow a crop of grain that
follows the corn. A similar result
should follow on potato land and ON
land that had grown beans or field
roots.
After the cultivated crop the land
should not be turned to prepare it for
the next crop. To pillow it would rem
der the seed bed less firm and it would
allow the escape of much moisture.
The disc and the harrow will prepare
it for being sown. When small grain
is own on land thus prepared a fair
crop may be looked for in a dry year.
Should the precipitation be more than
normal the crop will be unusually
large. Thus, in any event. the extra
labor expended in preparing the land
is not lost.
Fodder corn can be successfully
grown in nearly all the tillable por-
lions of the mountain states, and also
in the plains country where the eleva-
ton is not more than 1000 feet above
the sea.
Where corn may be thus grown,
with q rainfall averaging from say
fourteen to sixteen inches a year. 1t
should be quite possible to grow three
crops in four years. The order would
be as follows: Summer fallow;
small grain (preferrably winter wheat)
corn OIL other cultivated crop, coming
back to small grain again. The three
crops should be, practically, sure re-
CARELESS Of the character OF the sea-
sons. This system would also keep
the land free from foul weeds as it
would have one faIIow and one culti-
waited crop, that is, two cleaning crops
In the our years.
But there is one lack about this ro-
~tation. 1t does not provide for a rem
ovating crop. This, however, may be
readily introduced into the rotation.
The renovating crop will be alfalfa
1t will enrich the soil and put humus
into it. and 1t will furnish hay. It
may be successfully grown where thu
rainfall is twelve inches and more, and
when the land is broken it viii be in
an excellent condition mechanically
for growing several crops or grain.
When growing alfalfa. the ground
should be prepared by summer Tallow-
ing or by growing a cultivated crop.
1t should be manured literally with
farn-yard manur before the summer
fallow or the cultivated crop as the
case may be. From the opening of
the following spring, the land should
be kept clean and a dust mulch should
be maintained on 1t. The seed should
be sown with the drill late In May.
Not more than eight pounds per acre
should be sown and probably a less
amount will answer. 1t should be
buried two inches or aNlittle less, Sc
cording to the soil. 1t should be har-
rowed with q light harrow when about
four inches high. It should be sown
alone and clipped when about ten
inches high by running The mower over
ii.
Small amounts OF seed Of all kinds
must be used lest there should be d
larger number Of plants than the mois-
ture In the soil viii maintain. The
grain crops should also be narrowed
from n TO flve times according to the
conditions after they have begun to
appear. One of the best times for
narrowing is when the grain Ii Just
beginning to- appearA,