The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1917-01-30

ISiuoi'e" VI the uOH-STOWlnR season.
1t Is evident, therefore, that the
problem of moisture conservation in
the Great Plains and the methods
there used, where most of the pre-
cipitation comes during the spring
and summer months, would not be
applicable to the Great Basin Area
where most of the precipitation
comes during the fall and winter
months when no crops are being
grown. While some methods and
practices are common to both areas
there are many others that are not
applicable in both sections.
The settlement of Utah in 1S47
was made possible by the introduce
ton Of irrigation methods. 1t was
only a short time after this date I'M
til attempts to grow crops without
the artificial application of water
were recorded. These attempts at
first were largely failures due to a
lack Of information regarding the
relationship that exists between
crops and the soil in which they
grow. Some dry-land grain was pro-
duced as early as 1865. but the de-
velopment Of the dry lands of Utah
did not receive much attention until
1880. At this time the population
was increasing much faster than the
construction Of canals and the home
seekers naturally turned to the pos
lands. Between 1880 and 1900 the
farmers in various parts Of the state
and especially in the more favored
localities were gradually bringing
the dry lands under cultivation and
producing profitable crops.
In 1901 Director J. A. Widtsoe
and Agronomist l.. A. Merrill, of the
Utah experiment station. made
rather thorough survey of the dry
farm areas in Utah and reported
their findings in Bulletin rs of the
Utah station.
In 1908, by an act of the legisla-
ture, six experimental dry-farms
were established in various parts OF
the state, viz, Iron, Juab. San Juan,
Sewer. Toole and Washington coun-
ties.
The experimental work conducted
on these farms was carefully out
lined and some interesting and in
structive data were obtained. The
work consisted primarily OF varietal
tests OF dry-farm crops. rate. date,
depth and method of seeding these
crops. fallow VS.. continual cropping
to winter wheat. and depth and time
Of blowing for fallow.
The results of these investigations
can be briefly summarized as fol-
lows;
Cd Winter cereals is superior
to spring cereals for the dry lands
of Utah.
CD Turkey, dollhouse, Gold
Coin and Kofoid are the leading
winter wheat varieties. The Turkey
variety gave the highest average
yield at three of the five farms.
go Common and Durum spring
wheat have been tested. Neither OF
these groups yields as well as the
winter varieties. The common and
Durum spring wheats yield about
the same with a slight advantage in
favor of the common strains.
ca Winter and spring varieties
OF oats have been tested. When fav-
orable stands for the winter varie-
ties are obtained and winter killing
is not severe these varieties outyield
spring varieties. Boswell winter oats,
| Swedish select. Black American and
sixty-day spring oats are the lead
ing varieties.
CD Winter and spring varieties
of barley have been tested and the
results indicate that winter barley
is more profitable than spring bar
ley. Utah winter and Coast Spring
barley are the leading varieties.
(6) Rye is drought-resistant,
hardy and especially we'll adapted
for srazins purposes. and for hay
during favorable ssaSonA