The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1913-08-15
DRY FARM ESSENTIAL
ideas of Practical Farmer on
Need of Deep Flowing.
Very First Requisite In the Conserve
ton of Moleture-PreventaF orma-
ton of What Might Be Called
PIoW-Pan.
CHy J. 8. MURPHY, Practical North Da-
kota Dry Farmer.1

TfoW-FdHs
By ]. 8. MURPHY, Practical North Da-
kota Dry Farmer.)
III were asked what is the one thing
above all other things necessary In dry
EARNING l would say deep blowing. For
purposes OF dry farming all Of the sub
soil in this state lying west of Red
river is practically the same. and is
composed of drift brought here during
the glacial period, one of the most stu
Dendous events this old earth ever ex-
Derienced. Now, this subeoil or drift
Is chiefly decomposed or disintegrated
rock, and has all the crop-producing
properties, such as nitrogen. lime, pot
ash and phosphorus. which are the
elements especially needed In cereal
production. Deep blowing Ii the very
first EHssentiaI In moisture eonserva-
ton, sthe thihglit does Is to increase
the absorbing storage capacity OF the
soil; and the first step In DRY farming
Is to Get, water Into the soil and deep
blowing IL the first aid III this par
uculaEy1 .1ss4#z HasrD .a4eaH aflloI IS
Thea Too. deep blowing prevents
the formation of what might be called.
for the want Of a obettef. name q
plowSpan, II have examined literally
hundreds of fields, and never yet ex-
amined o field. in a dry pear espe-
cially,t that THIS plowIpan :. you'd not
pc in evidence when the pIowing was
less than seven inches. This plow-
pan is caused chiefly from the pressure
Of tho sdbs6ff. producing q sort Of .
glazed surface. and this prevents any
proper contact between the furtow.
slice and the snbsoil. In dry farming
The blowing should be so deep that you
woulddfindlit quite impossible 10 hnd
where the furrow-slice ends and the
subsoil begins. When that condition
Is present there is always proper
contact between the furroH-gliee and,
without even thinking. you can see
that this is necessary. when you are
depending chiefly on the water stored
n the soil. which you get BY capil.
larry and not On free water. 10 mature
your crop. Furthermore. when this
plow-pan exists. the average rainfall.
up to one Inch. never penetrates the
gubsoil at all. any more than II did
the sod, and for the same reason
The subsoll Is the farmers reBer-
yoir for the storage water that sup
plies the moisture during the season.
After you have once plowed your land
TO. say, a depth of ten inches. 1t Is
not necessary. of course. 10 plow so
deep each year. When | summer-ull
: piece of land | pillow deep. for this
Is the time 10 bring up new soil 30
as To give 1t plenty OF time 10 become
weathered. Now. as soon a. the crop
IS harvested On this land the next
season ! disk It Immediately and
when ! pillow It for the next crop. and
L should be done that fall Ii possible.
! only pillow 1t about six Inches deep.
Some four years ago I acquired a
piece OF land that had been TILED ESQ
CALI for twelve years. No part of
this land was ever plowed five inches
deep, and determined to get down
Into II, and I did. Now estimate.
anu W 1HAI1AaAa N0tA-
gervative, that 1t took a full third
more power 10 break up this hardpan
formed by twelve years pillow pressure
than Il would TO break the original
prairie sod. find that the average
farmer-and the average farmer is al
ways attempting to do more than his
power justlfies doing-ransly plows
more than five inches deep. and he
viii come nearer blowing four inches.
Turning four Or five inches Of the top
soil over this year and Topping 1t back
next year. Is not dry farming: II isn't
farming at all: and the man who fol
lows that slipahod system. whether
he Is handling go acres or 1000 acres.
Il going to lose out.
Now you might properly ask right
here: How deep do you advocate
blowing in beginning this eystem7" I
answer: Not less than eight inches,
and nine would be better You can
always pillow deeper In the spring and
early summer than you can in the
Ifnner proper or fall, and the land
should never Be plowed when dry.
want to Say right here. Il you have
: piece of land that lie full Of weeds
and that has been farmed indlfferently
Ike the average In the western part OF
the state, Just double.disk that land the
first thing In the spring. This dishns
will break the crust, establish mulch
conserve the moisture in the soil and
enable the spring rains to penetrate;
also it will help to terminate millions
Of weeds seeds Then about June
or as soon thereafter as possible, pillow
that land eight inches deep. follow the
pIow promptly. with a harrow-ant
when | say promptly, | mean the day
you pillow, and the hour you pillow would
be better. Nov sweep over that lane
with harrow-and 1t should be 6
fairly heavy harrow for this work
after the crust caused By the sur
and rain and prevents evaporation o.
moisture, but Il re-establishes the
mulch, drives the moisture down ant
kills more weeds. Keep this field goot
md black all the next summer.
Spraying Compulsory.
h.. L.