American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1916-01-13

No- PiORtihy ooAAh6 aS NAH
viii be found that at a depth of less
than three inches a good supply OF
moisture has been stored in the soil
and will be in readiness to receive the
seed under the most favorable condi-
tons, even II the fall should be ex-
tremely dry. In contact with this
moisture the seed should be planted
as nearly uniform as possible. Much
has been said about the proper amount
of seed to be planted on summer TIL
led ground, but l think there is little
more to say, because this is a matter
to which l have given the most serious
consideration and have tested II thor
oughly under all kinds Of conditions.
To many it will seem like a joke when
the summer tiller speaks of twenty
pounds of seed, or wen less, to the
acre. However, there is a well de-
fined and thoroughly understood rela-
ton between the amount of moisture
available to mature the grain and the
amount to be seeded.
1t is far safer to start the field with
a few less plants so that the moisture
will not become exhausted before the
crop has reached its full growth. If
this happens the field will look fine
when growing, but the greater lumber
of plants when a field is heavily seed
ed will sap the moisture to make the
straw and non will be left to make
the seed. Therefore, an important
safety first" comes with the fewer
plants to start with, and IL the follow
ing summer is favorable it Is wonder
full how the comparatively scattered
plant swill stool and reach out and
cover the ground, so that from actual
experience aad a well defined mode
of operation in connection with the re-
quirements of growing plants, i. is safe
not to SOW more than twenty pounds to
the acre. OF course, where there is
unlimited moisture, a heavier seeding
can be lot only started but can be car
ried to maturity without danger of fail
ure. Under irrigation a full bushel of
seed may be perfectly feasible, for the
reason that whenever moisture is re-
CURED it can be readily supplied. On
the uplands the moisture is decidedly
limited, and in order to make this linn
tied moisture grow a fair crop, many
facts and conditions must be care
fully studied and scientifically applied.
Another important item in n
ton with summer tillage is rotation
Rf nrnNC 1nhf1 l.. 80 -,. " --..
greater Importance to successful up
land farming than 1t is in any other
kind of farming. But there is a rota-
ton which is especially adapted to
summer tillage.
After fall wheat, corr or other crops
which require cultivation should be
planted. Much moisture can be saved
by going through the corr and keep
ing the soil in a loose condition. The
cultivation of corn. If 1t is done with a
view to retain moisture, can be made
almost, equal to irregular summer TIL
led field. Many have obtained very
good results by a rotation of corn and
fall wheat for a number of years.
The rotation which | practiced with
results that drew attention to my
style OF farming is summer tillage and
fall wheat; corn, spring wheat or oats
and then summer tillage again. Once
the ground is summer titled 1t is in
such a splendid condition that with
the normal amount of precipitation Il
seems to Withstand periods of drouth
better han land which has never been
summer titled.
Summer tillage is especially desira-
, BILE for garden and potato ground.
Continued summer tillage has been
rewarded with a number of very fine
orchards, especially cherries, Before
summer tilase was practiced thou
sands of fruit trees were planted and
just as many thousands as we're plan
ted were dug out dead within a few
!. years. Now most farmers have an or.
chard in the making and their sue
cess will be just i'm proportion to the
care they give 1t in the way OF summer
, tilage. Hard, weedy orchard-deat
and dying trees. Loose. free orchar,
hardy growing trees. This is tn
rule without exception.
1t may appear to many that summe.
tillage requires a large amount of ex
ira work. But this is not so. Afte
the field is once thoroughly cultivatel