The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1928-07-19
PoWer Farming Increasing,
Farmers InUest Thousands
Mechanical Methods of Tilage and Harvesting Revo-
lutionize Agriculture in Montana and Cause Great
Expansion in Acreage-Next Years Are
Critical Ones for Industry

HELENA, July 14.-Niaeteen
fwenty-eight and the two or three
years to follow are to be critical years
in the history of agriculture, of more
Importance to the states basic and
attendant industries than the average
decade, when the future is considered.
This is due to the fact that large areas
are only beginning in earnest in the
experiment OF mechanical methods
of tillage and harvesting. Accelerated
mechanization is making possible
tremendous expansions in acreage and
size of farms. It is making possible
better living conditions and larger re-
turns. With large crop yields in 1928
and the next few years, this movement
will have attained a momentum suffi-
cient to carry it through an unfavor-
able season.
The elimination of several years of
advertising on the part of the news
papers of the state, the great trans
portation companies and state and
federal bureaus was dependent upon a
successful farm year in 1928. The eff
feet of this campaign, now beginning
to be felt by business interests, will
be redoubled with two or three more
good years, or slowed up to notice
able degree should the next few sea-
sons be unfavorable, says the state
division of publicity in a review of
the agricultural situation just re-
leased. Hence, the especial import
ance attached to the official report of
the United States department of ag-
riculture issued during the past week,
forecasting for 1928 one of the largest
crops ever harvested in Montana.
This Season Unusual
The 1928 crop season to date has
been unusual, the publicity office re-
port says. The year opened with
moisture reserves probably the best
in the history of the state. Snowfall
and precipitation for the winter
months were excellent in most sec
tions. Temperatures were low, caus-
ing more than usual feeding of stock
and depicting a large reserve of hay. T
This favorable condition was fol
lowed by a May the driest for many
years.
Moisture reserves vanished. Top
soils were completely dried out and
farmers We're complaining that early
sown grains were failing to germi-
nate. The pessimists began the an
nual productions of a total failure in
the important agricultural sections.
When few showers came the first
half of June they were only sufficient
in most cases to postpone damage to
crops. Fortunately, temperatures
were low, otherwise dam
age would have been more wide
spread. In spite of this favorable
factor winter wheat and stubbled-in
fields of spring wheat suffered
severely,
Rains Came in Time
Beginning in all parts of the state !
about June 20, the rains came. Before
the close of the month the weather !
bureau was able to report record for
i35 years in the state, Is days of rain
in June, with the normal June pre-
cipitation exceeded in some localities
as much as two inches. The cool
weather continued, permitting the
grain to fill. Since July l, the rains
have been copius until now practically
every part of the state reports an
abundance of moisture and the month