The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1914-07-24
DRY-FARM PRINCIPLES
importance OF Packer and O<1aor I'm
p'emsnts Fully Realized by EAHy
Settlers-Summer Rains Sup
PITY Needed Mois4ure.


There are few districts in the west
arm provinces and very few farmers In
any district but what would be greatly
benefited by more careful and intel
hgent application of dry-farming prin-
clpies to their operations on the land.
These principles embody the essen
tlAl elements of all good cultural meth
ods. ThorouGhness and System" and
are based on An experimental and
scientific knowledge of the nature and
requirements Of the soil and the VA
riety and dependability of the climatic
conditions peculiar to ones own local
fty, writes John Trumbull OF Sask-
kafcnewan In Farmers Advocate
The benefits resulting from the en-
ploying dry-farming methods in the
handling OF western soils soon became
evident to many of the early settlers
In the arid and semi-arid districts. dur.
ing dry seasons and dry spells in many
seasons. They sought to follow these
methods In measure, as far az the
means at their disposal would permit.
This was before the fame of Mr.. Camp.
Dell mad reached their ears, or his
doctrines had been az clearly expound.
90 as they now are. While the packer
and other dry-farming implements nee
essary to fully carry out the system
were lacking, 1t was evident they fully
realized their Importance by the many
schemes and home made contriyances
tried and used In cultivatinR and pack.
ing for the control and eradication of
weeds and the receiving and conserva,
ton of moisture In the soil.
Moisture supply.
The cardinal principles OF dry farm,
ing are now so universally understood
tnat little explana ion is required. Sec
ing we are dependent upon the sum.
mer rains as the greatest source of
our moisture supply, 1t is surely wis,
oom on our part to endeavor to take
the greatest possible advantage of
what is offered in this way by having
goodly portion OF our land under
summer tillage each year whether it
De breaking the virgin prairie, thus
preparing new land for next seasons
crop, or summer-fallowing land that
has already been in crop.
The blowing should be done we'll AZ
early In June as possible and from
hve to six inches deep. We do our
breaking as early in June as we can
and do not favor breaking much after
July Is in, as for various reasons the
sod does not rot SO we'll except in un.
usually wet seasons. This we put into |
good filth and texture with disk har- |
rows and plank drag; we prefer the
plank drag to the packer on breaking,
as 1t nils up holes and levels 1t of bet |
ter. facilitating the rotting process. |
and is handy for hauling OF stray |
stones
The land intended for summer till
age should, as far as possible. have
nad some kind OF surface cultivation
ne previous fall In fact, all stubble
and should be so treated If possible.
's this prevents undue loss of what
may yet be in the soil by
evaporation during the dry fall days,
'nd at the same time mingles the stub
lie roots and fiber with moist earth az
iNe~AliJ IOl ana decay |
eneh turned under by the plow,
the disk harrow has been
bout the only implement we could
Use at this job. This at times, how.
ver, where the grain had been lodged
no heavy stubble had been left. did
lot do very good work; in such cases
was necessary to pillow or await a
|
tuobie. | have often tried to figure
ut something that would cut under.
cath the stubbie roots from the rear
S the over-cut principle Of the disk
arrow requires much pressure and
ngle to turn them out and has a bad
abit OF riding over the strawy
atches, etc.