The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1921-09-30
SUMMER FALLOWNC
MEANS SUCCESS FOR
MONTANA FARMERS

"ASS nave hCNCl given AK StutS a .
chance to demonstrate.
They have not dry farmed!
In April, 1920 the Montana Develop
ment association started to advocate
summer fallow clubs like the one Al
Harlem, where business men and farm
ers are all in together to make the
showing. Politics and deaf ears made
1t impossible to show much progress
but the scheme did get far enough 81
there is absolute and positive proof OF
Its feasibility and practicability and
Its wonderful possibilities.
Throughout the state the papers are
talking about the success of Alvin G
Hull, seven miles west Of Collins, with
scientific dry farming. On July 9, en-.
route to Hull's farm, the secretary OF
the Montana Development Association
drove all day over brown prairies and
between burning wheat fields where
the scanty crinkled grain had withered
and died beneath the blazing summer
sun. Not one respectable crop was to
be seen in the entire days travel until
dulfs farm was reached.
But there a keen, tall, blue-eyed man
Of possibly 80 took the secretary out
into a wheat field of 40 acres that
touched his belt and was as even as a
floor. Both the wheat and the man
were smiling complacently on the hot,
dry day, for the field had been properly
summer fallowed.
Next to the grain lay a smooth brown
held Of exactly the same acreage, sum-
mer titled and with not a weed in
sight. 1t had been double disced the
fall before, 1t had been plowed In May;
behind the pillow a surface packer had
followed. After three weeks when
weeds had started, the acme harrow
had destroyed them. Hull dug down
with his shoe and at a depth Of five
inches brought up moist earth that
formed into balls when he compressed
It in his fingers.
There could be no doubling. That
was the only crop in the dryest part of
the state, no rain had fallen since early
spring, but the crop was there-no one
could doubt It.
IAN unusually hot, dry season here"
said Hull, "but it ought to make eight
cen bushels, don't you think?" His
keen blue eyes swept the distant ele-
walton where heat waves ROSE simmer
ing and a whirlwind hurried into the
distance.
"How long have YOU been here?"
asked the secretary.
"Since 1915" said Hull-he seemed
timid-his answers to former questions
had been very conservative-very care
fully made.
"How much land?"
"Three twenty"
"Got it paid for?"
Eyes"
Have the cash when you Gamer"
"Homesteaded half, bought half on
time.
Make the money here to pay for
it?'
eyes,
"Since 1872"
Eyes. Had a good crop in 1915,
plenty Of rain. Have summer titled
every since. Lost out in 1919. No
moisture the fall before"
"Get a crop other years|"
"Yes."
Every year?"
Eyes. every year. Lowest yield 10
bushels"
what banks do you owe"
"Why the personal questions?"
"You're so different. Just wonder
ed"
II DOM owe any banks-I have some
money in the bank"
"And this is July-and everything's
paid for and you made it here on this
farm since 1915, one good year only?"
Eyes, but I don't like to talk about
my personal affairs"
II know, but you ought to he willing
to sacrifice o Il personal feelings for
the cause. Why don't your neighbOrs
do likewise?"
II don't know. One of them does.
His land is better than mine. He has a
better crop"
Where?"
-Four miles over there" He pointed
to a green. spot in the brown distance.
Since that memorable July ninth the
secretary has known that the summer
fallow plan is the plan. Seeing is be-
lieving. One crop in fifty miles travel,
IN effective argument!
If every farmer and business man in
Montana could only have seen it!
Official returns reached the office
today.
Hull threshed from the 40 acres,
2470 bushels, IN average Of 22h bush
els.
We talk and talk-the farmers talk
and talk-business men talk and talk
the agricultural college talks and talks
and demOnstrates-and the farmers
grow Russian thistles.
But the summer fallow club idea
would make them believe!
Montana business men and farmers
Joining hands in summer fallow clubs
could put the thing over in Montana.
The association will furnish full plans
to any community that will ask for
them.-Official Bulletin Montana De
velopment Association.