The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1912-10-19
LESSONS FROM DRY FARMING
Cultivation Of Growing Grain 10 Founo
PractieabIe-oiskins Of Much
Value.

From the dry-farming methods
which are so necessary to success
throughout the west, farmers in the
more humid districts of the east can
often gain valuable suggestions with
regard to the proper conservation of
moisture. One lesson which may be
learned is In reference to the treat.
ment Of the small grains. The east.
ern farmer usually considers wheat.
oats and barley as crops which cannot
be cultivated. Consequently no at
tention is paid to them from the time
they are sown until they are ready to
harvest. Not SO with the upto-date
dry-farmer. He cultivates his grain
fields after every rain from the time
they are well started in the spring un.
til they are too high to allow of further
cultivation. The spiketooth harrow
is used for the earlier workings: as
the grain grows larger the weeder is
substituted. By means Of the latter
implement grain may be cultivated al
most up to the time when 1t begins
to head.
The advantages of this cultivation
are twofold In the first place II
serves to break the crust which is SO
likely to form after the spring rains
and to close the cracks which the
frost has made in the winter grain
fields. This lessons the evaporation
of moisture, which is most rapid from
crusted or crooked soil, and conserves
1t until 1t ic most needed by the grow.
Ing crop The advantage of this pre-
caution is most apparent in the semi.
arid districts, but in dry seasons 1t IL
noticeable anywhere.
In the east rolling winter wheat as
soon as it is safe to go on the ground
In the spring is perhaps to be pre-.
ferred to narrowing If clover Is plant.
ed with the wheat it should be sown
before the rolling is done The rolling
covers the clover seed and also firms
the soil about the roots of the wheat
plants where it has been loosened by
heaving. The other effect Of cultiva
ton is in the keeping down of weeds
and for this purpose it is just as use
tul and just as necessary in the east
as in the west. Small weeds are very
| easily killed with the harrow or weed
er. and if the work is properly done
the grain will not be injured.
Three precautions are necessary In
narrowing small grain. Drilled grain
only should be narrowed, for cultiva
tion destroys portion Of the stand o.
that which has been sown broadcas
and SO lessons the yield. For the
same reason the narrowing should b,
done in the direction of the drills ra
Their than across them. Fields or
which grass or clover seed has beef
sown should not be narrowed, for tn,
young plants are as easily killed by
this treatment as are the weeds. Non,
of these precautions need be observed
If the roller is used on winter grain
but the roller is of little or no use IL
killing weeds. In the east except il
the driest seasons, it will not usual.
pc profitable to harrow grain field
more than once.
\ Another lesson which may be learn
ed from the dry-farmer Is the diskin,
OF land which is to be plowed late
In order to keep the soil from bakin,
until the blowing can be completed
This practice was begun in the ives
on grain stubble after harvest in or
der to hold whatever moisture was il
the soil, for usually little rain fall
after that time. Since the disking cal
be done much more rapidly than thu
blowing, there is less chance for evap
evaporation and the land then remains
for some time in good condition TO
blowing For several years a Mary
land farmer has applied this methot
10 his spring blowing. disking all hi
stubble and cultivated fields which ar
to be plowed just as early in thu
spring as he can get on to them. HI
Is then able to pillow his land at an.
time, whereas his neighb RS are oftel
compelled to postpone their plowin,
until the hard clay soil Is softened b,
rains.
In addition to remaining in condi
ton to plow for much longer pc
riod, land which has been disked II
much less inclined to break up il
clods and lump1 than undisked soil
and hence is more easily put in condi
ton for planting. The loose eartl
which is thrown to the bottom of tn
furrow unites much more readily will
the furrow slice and no large al
spaces are left.-Country Gentleman.