The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1919-10-09
Department of Agriculture Gives
Hints on Proper Method of Gull
tivation on Dry Land In
Windy Section.

Washington, D. c., Oct. Far
mers of the Pacific Northwest who
practice dry farming will find ques-
tions Of vital interest to them dis
cussed in Farmers Bulletin 1047, just
published by the United States de-
partment Of agriculture. The more
progressive farmers of this region
have developed methods OF handling
summer fallow that bring much high
er Yields than those that have been
generally followed hitherto. This
bulletin describes in detail these i'm
proved methods as applied on both
blow and "non-blow" soils.
According to the specialists of the
department, three methods are fol-
lowed in summer fallowing, the land
being plowed, respectively, at three
different dates, April l, May /, and
June /. in each case the plowing be-
ing the first tillage operation per-
formed. The purpose Of the first me-
thod is to give no cultivation after
the land is plowed, the weeds being
allowed to grow and then removed
with a hoe, disk harrow or knife
weeder just before they form seed
The second method consists of giving
the land a light narrowing the same
day it is plowed, no subsequent till
age being practiced except to remove
the weeds by hand just before they
form seed. The third system repre-
sents the thoroughly cultivated sum
mer fallow. The land is narrowed
Immediately after it is plowed. AS
soon as the weeds appear, usually in
about three weeks, it is narrowed
again. Sufficient cultivation Is then
given to keep the land free from
weeds. The land plowed April ! and
May l usually requires and some
times three, civilizations. AS few
weeds grow on the land plowed as
late as June /, the usual cultivation
given in this case is to harrow twice
after plowing.
Early Flowing Gives Best Yields.
Since the main objects Of summer
following are to prevent the surface
evaporation of soil moisture, and tc
keep in check the weeds which rot
the soil of water, early spring plow'
ing is one of the most dependable
practices, some farmers even double
disking the stubble land before 1t il
plowed. Dry plowing immediately
after harvest is practiced on mon
blow" soils in certain localities where
the rainfall is scant and where the
Russian thistle occurs profusely IL
the stubble after harvest. The chiei
object is to turn the thistles undel
while they are green and before they
produce mature seed, as where the!
are allowed to grow until the follow
ing spring they usually mat the sol
go densely that II is necessary to burr
them of. 2ight-lap blowing or dou
bic disking just after the grain Is Gu
also holds the thistles In check suf1
GENTLY TO make 1t unnecessary T.
burn off the weeds the following
spring in order to plow. Land tha
has been treated in this way may b.
summer fallowed the following sea
son by again disking or right-lappinI
once or twice, and then controlling
the weeds with a rod weeder. Som
farmers practice the combination o
these systems where the land 1
adapted to such practice.
Cure All Soils That Blow.
Summer fallowing the blow
soils is a more complex problem, a
in addition TO getting the seed bed i
good condition and to providing a
much moisture as possible, 1t is ais
necessary to leave stubble and tras
or clods on the surface Of the field
In order TO prevent the soil from be
ing scattered broadcast by the wint
All operations which tend to rub an
finely pulverize the soil are avoided
as these conditions induce towards II
creased blowing. The aim should b
TO prevent the soil from blowing 8
all but if blow begins, prompt AZ
ton should be taken to stop 1t.
usually is disastrous to attempt
handle blow soils. according to tn
same summer-tallowing system TO
lowed on soils which are not ligf
md subieet TO wind shifting. Ger