Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-05-18
FIRST ARTICLE

Be a Real Farmer
There is no question in the mind
of many successful farmers in TIM
region as to the value Of corn. Corr
can be grown successfully and VII
prove to be a valuable crop on many
farms where at present it is not
thought possible to grow it. The corr
belt has moved north very rapidly
and the demand for a cultivated crop
to replace the expensive summer fal-
acw. and that viii furnish valuable
feed for stock is claiming the atten-
ton of good farmers in all parts OF
the northwest. A few years ago corn
wa practically unknown to the farm
ers of northern North Dakota, Mon
tana and western provinces OF Can
ada, Now there are thousands OF acres
devoted to this crop, and there is a
greater interest is being taken in secur
ing suitable seed and information as
to the best method of growing corr
than ever before.
Reasons for Growing Corn
Grain Misunderstanding on ust
one source of income-has proved a
very hazardous enterprise IN many
sections. and sooner or later fails
everywhere. The farmer who keeps
at least a few cows, hogs, sheep or
chickens has been able to pull through
the lean years with less difficulty
than the one-crop man. There is
no crop that equals corn as a feed for
all kinds of live stock.
Corn properly planted and culti-
waited on well prepared land, leaves
the soil in as good or better condition
to grow a grain crop, as summer fal-
low. Weeds, plant diseases and insects
may be controlled to a large extent
by rotating or changing crops-not
growing the same crop on the same
land year after kear. Growing corn
and feeding livestock makes it pos
sible to return some of the fertility
TO the soil. After the land has been
farmed for ten to twenty years, a
light application of manure will work
wonders.
Corn on our demonstration form at
Corn on our demonstration farm at
sihle TO clean out wild oats. mustard
and even small patches of quack grass
and thistles. The yield of wheat for
three year before u rotation got
around was eleven and a half bushels
per acre. For the five years after
the rotation went around once, the
yield averaged twenty-five bushels
per acre. Our rotation is grass (al-
falfa, sweet clover or timothy and
clover-stubble manured), corn, well
cultivated and small grain wheat,
oats and barley.) This rotation may
be varied to suit the needs of any
farm, but we certainly feel that ro-
acknowledging a cultivated crop
and a legume, such as alfalfa, sweet
clover or red clover5is Heedeld@-f
Grow More Wheat
We do not advocate the growing of
corn and other feed crops and reduc-
ing the acreage Of wheat. Our rota-
ton indicates that as much or more
wheat a be produced on half or two
of the land now sown to wheat,
if a proper rotation Of crops is prac-
We believe that the yield and
of wheat in the northwest
AN be maintained only by a proper
rotation of crops-growing corn, al
falfa, sweet clover, ETC., feeding it to
i've stock and returning sone active )
matter, and fertility to the !
'oil in the shape of barnyard manure.
How to Grow Corn :
IN the northwest the seasons are |
hort and cool, as compared with the !
'orn belt, Iowa and Nebraska; hence {
orn must be planted as early as pos (
and on properly prepared land
the best results. Also acclimated q
arieties must be planted-seed should I
secured from as near home as pos '
ible. Our best corn has been grown b
land that had been in either clover e
timothy, alfalfa, or sweet clover, il
MANFRED and fall plowed. slightly S
eeper than usual-six to eight a
If this land is rather loose, n
,e pack after the pillow, with any $
eavy packer. In the spring this land
thoroughly worked, just before
lanting, with the spring tooth or +
uck foot and narrowed. We have !
seed corn on MANFRED spring 4
lowed land, but fall blowing will !
corn a week or ten days earlier !
and to be spring plowed should be 8
disked early, and plowed about =
be usual depth, packed and har- .
owed just before planting. 1t is a,
cry important that the land be care d