American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-12-09
PROPER DRY FARMING METHODS
An Interesting Article From County
Agent Kjosness, Applying to This
Section

Dry Land Forming as practiced in
the most up-to-date section today, has
resolved itself into a safety first prop
osition. The intelligent and success
full dry land farmer has well defined
purpose and clear understanding of
what method means in the way of crop
production. No longer does he pro-
ceed from an unknown to an uncertain |
result as has been too often charac- !
teristic of the past. On the other hand
he wisely finds out first and acts ac-
cordingly. Much experience and fact
has discovered the truth and the wise
man is governed by these.
So it has come to a place nowadays
when the well balanced mind acknowl.
edges the wisdom of cropping half the
land with an assured good crop and
the foolishness of cropping all the
land.
OF course, a perfect dry farm sys-
tenn cannot be worked out on sod and
sage brush land and the same rules
cannot apply to land heavy In roots
and brush as do to old, perfectly
prepared seed bed For this reason 1t
is well to remember a few especially
important rules about new land. 1t is
decidedly important, after all brush
is cleared off, to make the first plowins
shallow SO that the disc may reach
through and completely cut up the
sod. 1t is very undesirable to leave
too many air spaces and channels In
the soil as water cannot Jump through
these and consequently the roots are
unable to find enough moisture An
other advantage of having the sod near
the surface on first plowing is that
this contains the greatest abundance
and portion of plant food in new soils
and after being thoroughly worked II
should be the first and second seed
beds. The drill should be able to reach
this easily. OF course, the depth OF
first blowing should he determined by
the compactness, looseness and thick
ness of the sod on each farm and ev-
cry farmer should use his best judg-
!, ment in determining this. In general
for the first plowing.
1t cannot be said either, that stub
bling in is strictly improper the sec
ond year, where a summer fallow sys
tenn has not yet been worked out. Gel
erally a man has only a small portion
of his farm turned under at time un
til the whole is reached and it is real
ly an advantage to leave the first plow
ing under for two years and merel.
fall dsc again the second year. Inn
long burial of the sage and grass ant
extra cutting with the disc is the short
est way to proper conditioning O
the soil.
However, once that man has turn
ed his land over a second time, h
should Immediately commence sum
mer following if he raises only on
crop. He should also commence
sink his plow gradually deeper an
deeper. an inch or two increase ever
wear until he has reached depth
twelve inches. The very essential thin
to bear In mind is that the soil turne
over is the dining room of the plar
and the most important portion OF Il
reservoir of water. The deeper OF
plows a good workable soil, the mol
plant food is liberated by wetherin
airing and bacteria that need air an
warmth to live. Chemical actions ais
take place assisted by light tn
that sweetens the soil and liberat'
more plant food.
Right here is a good place to CO.
slider the matter of humus or the veg
table matter in the soils. 1t Is e
tremely necessary that man inco
porate as much vegetable matter In
the soil as will nicely rot in one sc
son. Original soil is merely pulve
ized rock. 1t is the plant roots al
dead leaves In 1t that aid chemic
action, Nberates plant food and stor
abundant moisture in 1t that IL W
hold. This has been proven beyond
shadow of doubt. Not only that D
a black soil Is much warmer than a
other kind and s conducive TO comic
to the plant.
Before leaving plowing one me
point should be brought out, name
time lines. Flowing should be DO
in the fall, if possible. II not Q
should get onto the fields as early
the soil will possibly tolerate wol
= ing. The knowing dry farmer
learned that success in the applicatl
OF his knowledge of conditions
nature lies in doing things at the I'll
time and in the right way. Get
the soil early. The early bird catcl
the worm.
The plow should be immediat
followed up by the harrow. The D
farmers run over the ground tw
Again as soon as the first crop
weeds show themselves above
ground the harrow should be appi
u If a rainy period OF one day to
or two or three weeks comes on
till you are reasonably sure that
rains are over fer that time and