Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1916-06-30
PROFESSOR SHAW URGES FARMERS
TO SUMMER FALLOW BIG ACREAGE
By Prof Thomas Shaw, Northern
Pacific Agricultural EXperO


When journeying thru North Dakota
recently, the attention of the writer
was arrested by the ve1y large amount
of land that was yet unploughed. The
date was May IL. Now all authorities
will concede that it is not safe to
SOW wheat or any other kind of cereal
after that date, unless it be barley. In
some years good crop may be obtain
ed, but the chances are all against it.
The late season has been caused by,
first, the unusual amount of snow and
frost; second, by the phenominally
cold weather that prevailed during the
spring months, and, third by the unu-
sual amount of rain that fell, which
hindered the early tillage of the land.
These causes no human foresight could
prevent. But another cause was the
small percentage of the land plowed
in the fall of 1915. Human foresight
and effort might in many instances
have prevented this. Since it did not,
what is to be done?
Too Late for Wheat
Why, the farmers after June Is
should not think of sowing or planting
any other crops than barley or flax,
corn and alfalfa. 1t is folly to sow other
cereals after the date mentioned. One
year in twenty cereal crops sown later
may succeed but not more frequently.
Barley may produce reasonable crop
sown after May IS and before June 1,
but not SO large a crop as if sown ear
Her But 1t brings with it the advant-
age of aiding in cleaning the land when
sown this late, providing the land is
again plowed as soon as the harvest is
reaped. The same is true Of crop Of
/, millet. With reference to corn, it usu-
ally does we'll in North Dakota when
planted about May rs, but the results
as rule from corn planted this late
will be better from fall plowed than
from spring plowed land. The conclu-
sion, therefore, is, that after May Is
the crops that may be suwn or planted
| of greatest promise are barley, miilet
and corn. To SOW other crops would
| be to invite the risk of failure.
Urges Summer Follow
Under existing conditions why would
it not be good plan for the farmers
of North Dakota and Montana to sum-
mer fallow large portion Of the land
| in 1916, and thus prepare it for grow
| ing good crop in 1917. This sugges-
ton will be specially applicable to
| Western North Dakota and Montana
! where the normal precipitation runs
low.
The farmers should not take chances.
TO do so is in a sense gamble. If the
| backward seasons forbids the sowing
| of wheat on time, wheat should not be
sown. Some other crop should take its
1 Fny N
stance, millet, corn or alfalfa, cannot
| be planted on time, then there is still
! resource. That resource is the sum-
mer fallow. The summer fallow is too
little in evidence in North Dakota. 1t
is more frequently in evidence in Mon
/ tana, for the necessity for this was
| impressed upon the farmers in the
| first years of settlement.
Will Increase Yield
! The aim should be where crops cam
not be planted on time, to summer fall
| low the land. Such u course will give
no return for the current year, but it
will bring an increased return in the
years that will follow from the same
land. The weeds of North Dakota, in
many places. are notorious. The bene-
ficent influence to the farmers in re-
ducing them by the summer fallow are
| all too little understood.
Suppose piece of foul land is sum-
mer fallowed, what will follow when
it is plowed, say in June, and packed,
| which it ought to be in all dry areas?
Why, weeds will grow and they will
grow apace. if unrestrained. What are
the restraining influences? Why, rum
| ming the harrow or the weeder over the
land as soon as the weeds begin to
grow. Other implements, as the rod
weeder are good. A flock of sheep
given free access to the summer fal-
lowed land are excellent. The point
to he emphasized here is, that the Da-
kota farmers should not object to the
| summer following Of land that cannot
be planted In time. Such summer fall
| lowing will aid in cleaning the land.
| That will in itself promise marked in
| crease in the crop of the following
years. Will not that be much better In
every way than sowing crops out of
season? What do the farmers say to
this r,rnnOSitiOn?