The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1912-07-20

Prof. l.. A. Merrill of the extention
vision of the agricultural college Of
itah, returned Tuesday from an in
pection tour of San Juan county,
there in addition to investigating the
uccess of dryland farming as tested
ut at the experimental station locat-
d, at Monticello, he visited numerous
armers, viewing their fields and hear
ng their stories Of bumper crops.
Prof. Merrill has made frequent ref
,rence both through the columns OF
tate papers and at farmers institutes
o the splendid agricultural opportun-
ues in San Juan county. He first
ysited San Juan county some eight
Years ago and at that time located an
experimental farm of 40 acres under
the direction of the state authorities.
AT the time the farm was located con.
siderable doubt was expressed as to
whether wheat could profitably be
grown at that point. Up to that
time 1t was found impossible to get
grain in, so that before maturing
early frosts came and as result the
fasssaess had become discouraged and
had practically imported all of their
wheat
Speaking concerning his visit to
that county and It's future prospects
Prof, Merrill says:
Tells Of First Visit.
"On my first visit there, dry farm
ing was an unknown art and as a
matter OF TACT little faith was ex-
pressed By the people of that sec.
ton in the practice. A few of the
farmers. however, notably w. C. Ly.
man, George Adams and others were
extremely anxious to have an expert
mental farms upon which the question
could be solved. The farm has been
extremely successful; the yields have
been phenomenal; the precipitation
has been found to be much above the
average precipitation In the state.
There is no complete record Of the
precipitation for the first year after
the establishment of the farm, but
during the growing season, that 10
during March, Alril and May of 1904,
the precipitation was 1892 inches. The
following year. or from August, 1904,
to July, 1905, the precipitation was
10 05 inches, though two months.
November and December, were lack
lug from that record. In the follow
ing year the precipitation was POOP
that year is entirely lacking. The com
plete record for the year ending July
=. 1907, shows a precipitation OF 1911
inches. The records for 1908 and 1909
are very incomplete, but where tho
record is given the precipitation 10
much better than for other parts OF
the state. During the year ending
July, 1910, the precipitation was 1852
inches. The yields have been ex-
tremely good. On the experimental
farm the yields have varied from 25
to 30 bushels per acre. Many Of the
farmers have also recorded excellent
yields.
San Juan Is Dry Farm Leader.
las result of the operation OF the
station confidence has been estab-
lished in the dry farming industry
and without question San Juan
county today ranks as the very best
dry farming county in the state o.
Utah, and. Ia my judgmest the be
dry farming section in the west.
"A number of the farmers there
have taken up land under the en-
larged homestead act, and last year
enough wheat was produced on the
dry farms to supply local needs.
Among the prominent dry.farmers in
this section are Geo. A. Adams who
has a splendid field of Turkey Red
wheat and small acreage planted
to dollhouse; the Hyde brothers,
who have rather large acreage of
Turkey Red wheat; julius Bailey,
who has 80 acres of Turkey Red
wheat; ID. b. Perkins who has so