Devils Lake weekly world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1914, 1912-08-30
THOMAS SHAW SAYS IT HAS
PROBABLY NEVER BEEN
EQUAIIED.
(By Prof. Thos. Shawl


The crop of 1912 is simply phenom-
email in the states Of the northwest.
In the aggregate it was doubtless
never equalled. But the conclusion
should not be reached that this result
is owing to the high class character Of
the farming. With the same rainfall
as in 1910 the results would be little
If any improvement on the crop of
that year. The bumper crop of the
present is owing almost entirely to
the unusual rainfall of the present
season and to the timeliness with
which it fell. This rainfall, unusual
in the length of its continuance, has
not only given the farmer the bumper
crop referred to, but it will also give
him at least reasonable crop in 1913,
If it is properly conserved, every
though the season should be a dry
one. How shall this moisture be con-
servedf First by discing the stub.
bles; second by plowlng 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 stubbles.
In an exceedingly dry year discing
the stubbles after harvest may not &C.
complish much by way of conserving
moisture, but it will open up the dry
soil so that rain may penetrate it
more easily should it fall. But in a
year like the present there is much
moisture even in stubble land. It is
greatly important that it shall be con-
served. As soon, therefore, as the
crop is removed the stubble land
should be we'll disced. If the harrow
} can follow the operation will be more
complete, but this Is not absolutely
essential. The discing will exert very
potent influence on the retention of
moisture. It also allows moisture that
may fall subsequently to the discine
to penetrate more deeply than it 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 stub
bles may better hold the snow, but
the preponderance or argument is
easily in favor of fall blowing. The
land that has been disced is easily
plowed and the same power will pillow
it more deeply than if it had not been
disced. It is not so essential to pillow
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 intend
ed for corn can best be deferred.
Much has been written about packing
fall blowing, but it is not very otter
that lands plowed in the autumn re-
quire to be packed.
Stirring the Soil in the Early Spring
Stirring the soil in the early spring
with disc or harrow or both as occa
sion may call for is but little prac.
tised. It 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 condi
ton. 1t stops at once the loss Of
: moisture from the soil, at least TO,
time. Even though the crops are tt
be planted late, as in the case Of
alfalfa, this stirring of the soil is
very important. Of course it can only
be done on summer fallowed land o,
corn or potato land of the previous
year, or on land that has been an
tumn plowed.
Narrowing the Grain.
: When grain has been sown on land
thus prepared, the moisture may be
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
narrowing it, all things considered, is
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 second narrowing is given
the grain should be, say 4 or inches
high at the time so that none Of it
will be buried. Even fax and alfalfa
may be narrowed, but not when they
are coming up. If they are narrowed
it should be when they are several
inches high. Narrowing grain is not
profitable when many sods or much
trash is on the land.
Fair Crop Assured.
IT 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
attention much moisture will be lost.
If very dry year follows the crop
will then fail. It would be peculiar un-