The Raymer enterprise., 1913-01-02
PRINCIPLE OF DRY FARMING
Methods Becoming More Popular
Along With Irrigation and Where
Moisture Is Too Meaqer.

While the possibilities of dry farm.
ing are doubtless overestimated by
many, and it will yet be found that
In most semi.desert regions it cannot
do what has been claimed and hoped
for from 1t. these dry-farming meth.
ods are every day becoming more and
more popular along with irrigation.
and In parts where the moisture is
often too meager. In the last named
parts, where at first business men.
and especially boosters, boomers and
land men, rabidly fought it on the
ground that it gave bad impression
OF the country. It is now being looked
to as the greatest boon that ever came
to make uncertain regions almost sure
crop producers. To irrigators who
have had ample water, and SO foolish
ly used too much of 1t till their lands
are becoming sour and soggy with
subirrigation. 1t is proving q great
blessing; and to those who must irri.
gate. but at times lack ample water
supply, 1t is proving perhaps the
greatest blessing of all, says the Da.
kota Farmer.
In much Of our mountainous region
there Is an over-supply Of water when
the SHOWS are going off in the spring.
but an equal dearth OF 1t when once
the snow water is gone. These peo-
pie are finding that by very deep
plowing, occasionally, and proper sur
face tillage afterward, very much Of
this early surplus of water can be re.
tanned far into the growing season.
This Is meaning much, in fact every.
thing in some parts.
There are other wide irrigated sec.
lions that are opening up more acres
than the old wasteful methods can
supply; but instead Of discouraging
the new acres, all are urged to con.
serve the water taken by frequent
surface tillage, and other methods
known to up.to.date dry.farming.
This, in some cases coming under our
notice. has more than doubled the
acreage possible. In California, in
Colorado and In the western part OF
the Dakotas. and all along the rivers
In Montana and Wyoming, we have
seen an increase Of acreage under this
treatment that formerly would not
have been thought possible.
Nor is the increase OF possible acre.
age the only gain from this source.
It is found that better crops both in
quantity and quality can be grown
where tillage takes the place OF too
much watering. Potatoes especially
are greatly benefited by this, The
old-time water-soaked "spud" in no
way compares with the potato grown
by two waterings at the most. and
proper sort of tillage. 1t is found
that even spuds can be over.irrigated,
and that small amount OF judicious
narrowing, and even disking, can be
made to take the place Of overlooking
70 the general betterment Of the hay
crop. Sugar beets also tell the same
story, as do many other farm prod
ucs.
A great many close students OF the
situation greatly question, and rightly.
In our mind. the possibility OF this
system doing very much for parts of
the country admittedly desert; but no
pne at all acquainted with its posi-
bilities questions for moment that
1t is going to be the means OF adding
greatly to the certainty Of crops
throughout the vast and otherwise
productive region referred to which Is
now SO often discouragingly uncer.
tain.
Deep stirring OF the subsoil, II only
every third or fourth year; more
planted crops well titled; more early.
well cared for summer fallow; more
early plowing following early matur.
ing crops such as winter rye and
wheat, barley. etc.; more narrowing
Of small grain, and disklng OF alfalfa
and other sods. and last but not
least, more deep.rooting alfalfa and
clover. with stock to consume It,
means much In dry-farming and to us.