Weekly journal-miner., 1917-02-14
DRY FARM FOR S|LAGE, TIP OF
 FORBES
P RES corr DRY FARM PROV VAL U E TO SMALL STOCKMAN OF SILO CROPS.

of Arizona).
 Six years ago, at the earnest re-
 quest of the citizens of Prescott, the
 University of Arizona agricultural ex-
 pertinent station began the study of
 the possibilities of dry farming on a
 tract of land few miles north of the
 city, representing large areas of un-
 developed country in this part of Ari-
 zona. In the beginning there seemed
 to be little prospect of success, for the appearance to an outsider, of this
 district, IS not very favorable, agri-
 culturally considered. Nevertheless,
 operations were begun. The land was fenced, cleared and broken A dwell
 ing and a barn were put up and
 scheme of crop tests outlined.
 Mir. L. L. Bates was placed directly
 in charge
 ] Dozens and scores of varieties of crops and plants were planted, and | hundreds of tests were made of vari- cities, methods of preparing the soil,
 manner of blowing, time of planting,
 etc, in the effort to discover the crops
 which will make satisfactory growth | here.
 ! Of many crops tried a few have succeeded sufficiently we'll to warrant
 the attention of practical growers among these. Sudan grass for hay, certain grains and forage sorphums, some varieties of Indian corn, several kinds of beans and carly potatoes. Of these, beans are valuable as a hu- man food and to keep up the fertility of the soil Sudan grass affords ex- ccllcnt hay, and grows quite satis-
 factorily on Summer rainfall only. Potatoes, especially the Coconino
 Blue, do we'll on new land and find ready sale in nearby markets.
 The sorghum and corn crops that may be produced on Summer rainfall, however, are probably the best source Of income 10 the dry farmer of this region, or to the small stockman, when converted into silage
 In order to demonstrate the value of the supply of silage to cattle over the period when there is no feed on the range, small bunch of lean COWS has been secured from a neighbor and are now being fed the silage pro- duced on the Prescott Dry Farm last Summer. These COWS are to be kept two months and then will be taken back to their owner in good, strong condition. probably with the addition of couple of calves. Uncared for on their home range, probably six of these COWS would die during the next two months, just as hundreds and sometimes thousands of range cattle die every Spring in the Southwest.
 Now consider the benefits that will result from feeding silagc to this little bunch of cattle. In the first place there will be saved the loss of six cows and probably calf or two, from shortage of feed on the range. Valu ing those at about S27.50 each (this lot weighed only about 500 pounds apiecc) this amounts to saving of Sl65. otherwise a dead loss. After feeding these COWS two months. they with their calves will be worth not less than $40 each, or a total gain in value of SIPS, the loss saved, plus the gain expected, make a total of S290 gross returns at the end of two months when the COWS arc to be re- turned to their owner, as we may reasonably expect, in far better con dition than ordinary range cattle come through this period of the year.
 To do this will require about ten tons of silagc, that can be produced in two acres of dry farmed land In- dian corn and grain sorghum. This silage costs to grow and to put up. an extreme maximum figure of SS a ton, ordinarily much less than this, leaving handsome margin from the operation 10 pay for time and trouble required to carry it through.
 Enough has been said to show that ,ilagc crops and silos are of utmost to the small stockmen of his region, as we'll as to the dry farmer with bunch of steers or dairy ;ows or hogs or sheep, to which he an feed his crops in the form of iilaGe, with little loss or waste. With he building of sjlos-chcap pit Silos in locations above ground, silos for hose who can afford them, the uncer- aiulicS of dry farming and of the ivcstock business y this region will n considerable degree, disappear.
 For information as 10 the growing 'f silagc crops. and the construction 'f pit siloS. address the University of \rizona Agricultural Experiment Sta ion and Extension service, at Tue on.