The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1921-10-14

ment association started to advocate
summer fallow clubs like the one at
Harlem. where business men and farm
ers are all in together to make the
showing. Politics and deaf ears made
it impossible to show much progress
but the scheme did get far enough SO
there is absolute and positive proof of
its feasibility and practicability and
it's 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 8. en-.
route to Hulrs 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
he seen in the entire days travel until
Hulrs farm was reached.
| But there a keen, TAIL biue-eyed man
Of possibly 50 took the secretary out
! into u wheat field Of 40 acres that
touched his belt and was as even as
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 smooth brown
field Of exactly the same acreage, sum-
mer titled and with not a weed in
sight. 1t had been double disced the
| fall before. it had been plowed in May:
behind the pillow surface packer had
followed. After three weeks when
weeds had started. the acme harrow
had destroyed them. Hull dug down
with his shoe aud at depth Of Ave
! 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 1t.
t 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
! in9 and a whirlwind hurried into the
distance.
How long have you been hsre."
asked the secretary.
"Since 1919" said Hull--he seemed
timid~-hs answers to former questions
had been very conservative--vsry care.
fully made.
| How much land?"
"Three twenty"
! Got 1t paid fort"
Yes"
Have the cash when you Gamer
"Homesteaded half, bought half on
time"
make the money here to pay for
{, it,"
YES"
"Since 1882"
"Yes. Had a good crop in 1919,
plenty Of rain. Have summer titled
every since. Lost out In 1919 No
moisture the fall before"
"Get crop other years."
Yes"
Every year,"
"Yee. every year. i.owsst yield Ia
bushels"
What banks do you owe!"
why the personal questtons?"
You're so different. Jus. wonder.
ed
Il don't owe any banks---l have some
money in the bank"
And this IL July-and everything's
paid for and you made 1t here on this
farm since 1915. one good year only?"
"Yes, but I don't like to talk about
my personal affairs"
II know, but you ought to be willing
to sacrifice your personal feelings Tor
the cause. Why don't your neiehbor,
/ do likswise:"
II don't know. One Of them does,
His land is better than mine, He has q
better CROP
Whsrey"
Pour 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 10 the plan. Seeing Is Re.
'ieving One crop in fifty miles travel
an effective argument!
II every farmer and business man in
Montana couid only have seen It.!
Official returns reached the Office
today.
Hull threshsd from the 10 acre,
2l70 bushels. an average Of 2cx bush.
els.
We talk and talk-tAs farmery tan
and talk-business men talk and talk.
the agricultural college talks and talk,
and demonstrates-and the farmers
grow Russian thistles.
/ But the summer falIow club idea