The Springfield herald., 1915-02-26
A Weekly Talk
On Dry Farming,
What to Plant

what to Plant
BY reason of the probable
doubt of their dependability, and
the cost attaching to expert
mentations with them, in the
what to plant" the small grains
call for first consideration.
Personally, we believe for the
two above reasons, in addition to
efforts that have been made with
them in the past ten years, that
newcomers should let them
alone.
By reason of the introduction
of Macaroni wheat, and other
dry-grain plants. small grain
growing was given a second in
ming about ten years ago.
1t had been tried here in the
old days, and some good crops
were raised of wheat, rye and
oats. One bumper crop during
that time set everybody wheat
crazy, 81 everybody sowed every
bushel he could get hold of the
next year, over the entire west,
with the result that not
enough wheat was grown over
the whole country to pay back
any one man for his seed
The impetus given to the small
grain industry by the introduce
ton of the so called dry small
grains, about seven or eight years
ago, for the second time set ev-
erybody crazy over the small
grains; and although we never
tried them, we were at that time
one of the most enthusiastic a.
mong those who believed in their
possibilities.
Notwithstanding that we con-
cede the planting Of the grain
hasn't been on the whole scien-
tific, as our newcomers now
point out, yet we believe that a
sufficient test has been given to
at least make it safe to let them
alone.
We will give you the small
grain proposition in n nutshell,
In probably five years out of six
it will push up we'll to about
heading time, when the moisture
is exhausted; and although there
may be an abundance of straw,
the grain yield is cut down to
two to fve bushels per acre.
So during the past ten years
we have found this: That if
there could each year be ordered
one good, soaking rain, we would
then be blessed with fairly
good central Kansas wheat coun-
try.
In this connection we notice a
staff writer in the Denver West
ern Farm Life advises the plant
ing of wheat in the dry belt 70 be
done the first of August, the OBJ
ject being to give it plenty of
time to properly cover the
ground; and we believe the logic
to be good.
Our idea of the grasses is the
same as of small grain. Soudan
grass is just now being boosted
as a drouth resister; but we be-
lieve it wise to contine expert
nents with it to one or two
pounds.
There is this difference though
between grain and grasses, that
of the latter only straw is want.
ed, and so if a grass can be found
that will do even as we'll as small
grain in straw bulk, it would be
profitable crop.
For this reason the sowing oil
the sorgums is profitable, it be.
ing sure for hay crop the most
of the time; and after the silc
! has founi it's proper place in the
county. sorghum sowing We be.
lie We will be still more profitable,
and still more popular.
Watermelons, muskmelons,
! piemelons, roor-man's apples.
cashaw pumpkins, and japanese
pie pumpkins are always sure
and should always be planted.
The other pumpkins and squash.
f, es are not dependable, particu-
larly on account of parasite
that works in the roots close to
the surface, thus causing the
vinoc fO 0ftnn u;lt rl,1r- - No..