The Dickinson press., 1912-03-09

often to be a constant reminder.
Prof. Shaw states that it is his con-
viction that in the semi-arid country,
where the annual precipitation is IL to
IS inches. it is easily possible to farm
land so as to eliminate the element of
uncertainty or hazard in growing crops.
Where the rainfall is not more than IL
inches in a year. it may be necessary in
many instances to grow but n crop
or the land in two years, but where the
precipitation 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 practically
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 sown.
When land is summer fallowed in the
plains country, where the bulk of the
precipitation falls in the growing
period. the ground should be plowed
when it has the largest amount Of
moisture in it. That usually occurs in
late May. in June, and sometimes in
early July. It should be plowed then
because it is more easily plowed 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. 1t 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 a roller. q planker.
a s%ub-surface packer, or a disc. The
conditions must determine which of
these will be best. 1t must then be
narrowed as o. as at all possible.
The dust blanket thus made must be
maintained throughout the season.
After every considerable rain the ground
must be narrowed when in proper con-
dition for narrowing. The frequent har-
rowings given will aid in keeping the
land clean. It ought to be kept clean.
for weeds will soon sap all the moisture
out of the soil if allowed to grow un-
checked.
When the fallow is managed thus. in
a normal season there will be moisture
enough in the land to terminate winter
wheat Or winter rye sown on it, rel in,
a dry year, though sown as early as
August. II wheat is rot sown. the
mulch must be maintained till the close
OF the season. Small grain of any kind
may be SOW the following spring.
When a cultivated crop is grown. the
ground for il should be plowed. perfer-
ably in the autumn. 1t may be stubble
ground. Early autumn blowing puts
the soil in condition to admit precipi-
tation that subsequently falls. In the
spring the moisture should not be al
lOWVu " OSCdp0 A4VAA NAO oO1As ~
Corn will be the chief crop grown as
a cultivated crop in dry land 1t
will be grown more as q fodder crop
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 outlay fpr
labor but should also return q profit
besides, If the corn has been kept
clean-which it ought to be-by the aid
of the harrow and c%ultivator. The land
will be virtually summer tallowed.
The 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 render
the seed bed less firm and it would al
low the escape of much moisture. The
disc and the harrow will prepare it fol
being sown. When small grain is sown
on land thus prepared a fair crop may
be looked for in q dry year. Should
the year be one Of normal rainfall the
crop will be good. Should the precipi-
tation be more than normal the crop will
be unusually large. Thus. in any
event. the extra photographed in pre-
parine the land is not lost.
Fodder corn be successfully grown
in nearly all b e-.tillable- portions Of the
mountain states, and also in the plains
country, where the elevation 10 not more
than I. 900 feet above the sea.
Where corn may Be- thus brown with