The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1914-02-05
Sheep Paid Well.

Sheep Paid Well.
The flock Of hundred sheep OF
! more, were grazed on the roughel
lands. They did we'll on this rough
land. kept the weeds down, and eact
year almost doubled in number
in addition to producing fine cult
ing of wool for the market. In win
ter the sheep were kept in a lot near
the barn in severe weather, fed on
corn fodder and hay, some small grain
and mixture of bran and potatoes
We fed them the potatoes that were
too small to market. Also each year
we raised a large patch of turnips
which were cut up and fed the sheep
in winter. ..
We Really Piowed.
Now l want to tell you about cult.
walton. When we plowed a piece OF
ground we really plowed it. We had
no gang plows or traction outfits,
but used the old walking plow. When
we got through blowing piece of
ground there was not piece of green
stuff in sight. We plowed good and
deep, and many a time have been
taken to task for leaving some weeds
stick out, or for letting the plow skin
out of the ground when we struck a
piece of hard pan. If the plow slipped
out of the ground even if is was only
for few feet it was an iron bound
rule to back her up" and turn up that
hard pan that much deeper. A piece
of ground once plowed. the next thing
was to get on it with roller or pack.
er and pack it down. Some times we
would not wait until the entire field
was plowed but would roll each days
blowing. This kept. the moisture in
the ground and helped to rot the
weeds turned under. OF course we
had more rain than in North Dakota,
but just the same we had our moisture
troubles, the longer summer and hot
ter sun pulling it out more rapidly
than here. Next came no less than
three borrowings Of the field, either
with spiked or spring toothed harrow,
and then the seed bed was ready. The
crops were carefully drilled in and
many times after they were planted
or just as they came through the
ground the roller was again used. II
it was wheat or oats this left the
ground in fine shape when we went
on with the binder to cut the grain.
Our object in dragging the ground is
very plain. In the first place it at.
forded a fine seed bed pulled out all
the weed roots, and when the grains
were planted there was little chance
for the weeds to get start, for we
had weeds, worse and more of them
than you have in North Dakota. I
have cut many field Of wheat, which
was sown in the fall, as we raised no
spring wheat, where you could not see
a weed showing above the grain.
What weeds were in the ground look
ed short and stunted, from Of course.
lack of sunshine and an early start,
the grain getting the best start took
the nourishment and moisture away
from them.
Corn Growing.
We raised considerable corn. The
land for the corn was prepared with
equal care, and the corn was check
rowed so that we could plow it two
ways. We cultivated our corn from
three to four times. The last cul-
tivation pulled out all the weed roots,
and when time corn was waist high.
By blowing both ways we got nearly
all the weeds, and sometimes at the
last blowing the field was sown to
buckwheat by hand just before plow-
ing. This helped to keep the weeds
down and left something to turn under
for the fall blowing, when the field
was plowed for wheat Sometimes we
could. cut fair yield of buckwheat
from the field after the corn was har.
vested, as buckwheat grows fast and
natures rapidly. @
Win Apply Here.
l have often thought that if the
methods used by my father were ap'
piled in the North Dakota soil a crop
would be practically assured regard
less of the season, and most certainly
the product from a given amount OF
land could be vastly increased. re
alize fully that no large amount OF
land can be cultivated by these meth
DDS, but what's the use when you car
get more from smaller area and al
the same time keep your land in goot
shape. We only farmed about 1O(
acres or less, and it kept my father
and hired man busy, as we'll as my
self, though was not more than large