Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-03-09

he puts nothing back for what he
takes away. Old wheat land, manured,
planted to a cultivated crop, a clover
or grass crop, may be made to double
or treble the yield. Adding active
organic matter to decay n ltberate
plant food, hold moisture and improve
the physical condition OF the soil.
gives this result.
Now is tho Time to Diversity.
The time of the one-crop y grain
farmer is passing in this region. A
realization OF the fundamental Inn
p~ortance of soil fertility is essential
to the proper appreciation OF. the i'm
portance OF a more diversified sys-
tenn of farming; corn, alfalfa, live
stock, crop rotation, and the return
OF as much fertility in h shape Of
barnyard manure as possible. The
farmer who will not start now. event
on q small scale, to devote a part oe
his lane to corn, sweet clover, alfalfa
and grass, and keep enough stock to
utilize these iS:ds. is counting dis
aster for himself and the section in
which he lives.
How to Diversity.
Each farmer must work out the
rotation best suited to his needs. a
three-year rotation OF corn, grain, all
III VI ~" cCI CbOVcIy IC4uAlcS RlON
ing only one-third Of the land each
year. The sweet clover has with III ,
proven the most valuable crop of the
three. The sweet clover hay and
corn fed to stock will produce
enough to cover one field
each year. This Is put on the sweet
clover stubble and plowed under for
corn. The com land is disked as q,
preparation for grain, and sweet
clover seeded with the grain. One
field is kept in alfalfa n rotated
once in five years. We keep enough
stock on the farm to utilize the corn
and hay. In the dricr sections. and
where tn soil is in poor condition.
summer fallow to conserve moisture
IN destroy weeds may be necessary
4 to put the land in condition to be
have to be arranged with this cen
dition in mind.
Permanent Agriculture. -
No extensive agricultural section
has yet devised a system Of farming
that will produce paying crops in
definitely without applying mineral
elements of fertility. The nearest
approach is a system including the
growing of legumes, clovers and 81
falfa, and feeding, live stock. One
half to- tWo-thirds Of the crops grown
should be fed on the farm, and the
manure carefully returned. Such a
system should prolong profitable pro-
duction without the needs of applying
commercial fertilizers tor many years.
The exclusive growing of small
grains. as practiced in this region, is
the most wasteful system possible. 1T
is not really farming, but more cor
rectly, mining and selling soil fer
tility. The grain farmer, if he would
return all the straw and stubble, and
every third or fourth wear plow under
a legumc crop, such as sweet clover
could greatly prolong profitable pro-
duction. Ultimately all soils will need
the element PHOSPHORUS r~eplenished,
by adding rock or acid phosphate.
! We should farm so as to delay this
expensive process as long as possible.
as it. will be necessary to get better
prices for farm products when ex-
penSive fertilizers must be applied in
growing them. 4.
Benefits from Diversified Farming or
Crop Rotation.
There arc s. many farms that are
already experiencing the beneficial
results derived from diversified farm
Ing that it would hardly seem worth
while arguing the question further.
Briefly, the. farm that is divided into
four or more fields, and these fields
!. cropped, paStured and manured &C.
: cording to a previously arranged pro-
!, gram of rotation, has the following
, advantages:
= /. The fertility n physical son
: dition Of the soil are improved by
= growing clovers and putting manure
+ back on the land-yields will increase
a 2. The land does not dry out MOI
blow SO readily more; humus is
j, added.
3. Insects. weeds; wild oats, mus
tard, quack grass and thistles and
l plant diseases, etc.. are more easily
t controlled.
$ L.. A variety Of feeds is available
= bought.
9 5. The work does not all come al
: one time! and there is profitable work
I to be done h year round.
6. Insures against crop failures: 6
e good corn year is usually a pooa
wheat year and {. poor corn year !:
8 usually favorable to small grains
I able for them. There is always some
: thing to sell and eat-eggs, cream
= sheep, hogs or cattle.
7. Smaller farms. more people IL
the community to take an interest II
: local activities, better roads, schools
churches and homes. Becoming a di
4 vcrsified farmer makes one a bette;
= and more satisfied citizen,
9 Cultivated Crops Needed.
(? Corn is an important crop to con
slider in making this change. AS fee
for live stock it has no equal and tn
= thorough cultivation of the soil. which
II is secured in growing it. 10 just wha
e is needed. Properly ~cultivating
crop Of corn. leaves the soil in as goo
is condition for grain as summer fal
re low. besides the crop pays for tn
o work n makes it possible to retur
r something to the soil. The need Q
'e such a crop as corn is SO great tina
g every effort possible should be ma
: to grow it successfully. More atten
4 ticn must be siYen to producin
acclimated, homegrown var1etie