The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1925-06-18
u. S. OFFICIAL
RESEARCH AIDS
DEMONSTRATIONS CONDUCTED
IN NORTH DAKOTA BENEFIT
N. E. MONTANA FARMERS

Some valuable information to
farmers of Roosevelt County is gl-
ven in recent United States Depart
ment bulletins showing results of ex-
pertinent station demonstrations con-
Quoted for sixteen years at Dlckln-
son, North Dakota and eleven years
at Hettinger and Williston, North
Dakota, where conditions are very
similar to northeastern Montana. In
this period of time carefully record
ed data proves that spring grains and
corn have produced slightly higher
yield with spring blowing, especially
at Williston where both ear corn,
wheat and fodder produced the lar
gest tonnage by a slight margin on
spring blowing. However, with the la
Dor factor considered and where mois-
ture conditions are suitable in the
fall, fall blowing is a recommended
practice as the margin of difference
is so small. This data also proves
that discing corr ground is more e.
~COlOIIllCdl IndG ClOiCI OPlllS VI ioit
piowing in preparation for tie grain
crop after the corn has been taken
cfr. Also that corn in rotati IN is Of
far greater value that the feed pro-
duced, giving wheat, oats and barley
a larger yield on disced corn ground
than either spring or fall plowed
grain stubble and the yield slightly
below summer fallow.
Wheat, at the three stations over
this long period of time averaged
1873 bushels on fallow and 16.5 bu-
shells on disced corn ground. Disced
potato ground proved to be as good
as corn ground and almost as good
as summer fallow as a preparation
for small grains the following year.
Manure applied before blowing in
the spring did not increase the grain
yield during eleven years experience
at the Hettinger station. There was
a marked tendency in wet years to-
ward an increase and dry years a
decrease in yield of wheat and oats.
Bronze grass and alfalfa are, from
this information, recognized as great
productive perennial hay plants for
the area but of doubtful utility in
short rotations. Continuous crop
ping of wheat, oats and barley on
blowing and on fall blowing
resulted in a marked reduction in
yields of these crops. This reduc-
ton appeared to be the result of the
weeds rather than in a decrease of
the fertility Of the soil. Continuous
cropping of corn increased the yield
IF mature grain and fodder at Will
.iston and of silage at Hettinger but
at the Dickinson station the quantity
If fodder was slightly decreased.
Their tables of rainfall should be
# much more interest in that it shows
relative high percentage of annual
'ainfall which comes between April
and August 1, that the variation
# the June rainfall is from seven
inches to one-half inch. Since June
S the most important month for
ain for the growing crop the amount {
reduced in general determines the ]
ield. Under the evaporation ret
ords kept at these stations thirty S
hree inches evaporated from an O. 7
tank during the six months from t
lpril 1 to October |. This is about c
alf the evaporation in the Great b
of Texas. There is one reason n
Thy fifteen inches of rainfall, which t
about our average for the year,
worth more than twenty-five in
hes in Texas great plains region 4
here the evaporation is much larger. 0
esults at these stations also prove
eyond any doubt that weeds are
lie largest factors of moisture loss n
most Of our tillage methods and
here they are properly controlled Il
bod yields are the results. The fact
lat the methods above have given
rger yields of crops over a period
eleven to sixteen years should II
owe beyond any reasonable doubt
at such fundamental principles
.ould be the ones upon which to base pl
If farming program. al
ct
g q q q q q @RaE q tie