Experimental Work in Dry-Farming 605 



Rape: Dwarf Essex rape was planted in May, 1912, yielding 

 1400 pounds of dry forage per acre. 



Due to drought, a plot of rape failed in 1913. 



Dwarf Essex rape was again tested in 1915, yielding 1300 

 pounds of dry forage. 



Teosintc: A plot of teosinte planted in May, 1912, had attained 

 a height of eighteen inches when it was frozen down in the fall. 



Teosinte in 1913 produced at the rate of 2560 pounds of dry 

 forage per acre. 



In 1914 teosinte failed, yielding only 136 pounds of forage 

 per acre. 



Turnips and Buckivhcat: Both turnips and buckwheat were 

 tested in 1915, but were unable to withstand the ensuing drought. 



CULTURAL PRACTICES FOR DRY-EARMS 



Plowing: The best results on the Prescott Dry-Farm have 

 been obtained from deep fall plowing, which assists soil readily to 

 absorb precipitation in winter and early spring. Furthermore, the 

 action of alternate freezing and thaAving puts soil in better tilth and 

 assists in the release of plant food that otherwise would not be 

 available. Fall plowing permits the farmer, with the advent of 

 spring, quickly to establish a soil mulch with a minimum loss of 

 moisture, and gives him ample time properly to prepare his seed 

 bed for planting. Subsoiling is unnecessary, but the depth of plow- 

 ing should be varied annually to prevent formation of a "plow 

 sole." The depth of plowing should not be less than eight inches, 

 and occasionally the soil should be stirred to a depth of ten or 

 twelve inches. 



Cultivation: To insure crop production by dry-farming meth- 

 ods, a mulch must be persistently maintained, and the most prac- 

 tical method is cultivation. Variation in depths of cultivations 

 tends to prevent formation of sub-surface crusts. Usually not less 

 than four cultivations will be necessary effectively to control weeds 

 and maintain a mulch. In addition, weeds should be kept out of 

 the rows by hoeing, the entire moisture supply being needed by 

 the plant. It is evident that much moisture will be saved and 

 less labor made necessary if weeds are destroyed when they first 

 appear. Because of the usual drought in June and July, lands 

 should be kept especially clean and well mulched until precipitation 



