SPECIAL FARM TOPICS 245 



the standard commercial varieties that have given the best satisfac- 

 tion in the Columbia River Valley. Opinions have differed widely 

 regarding this matter in the past, and the question is not fully settled 

 at the present time. For this reason it is difficult to say just what 

 should be planted, and the following recommendations are only 

 made in the light of the best obtainable information. 



Crops Grown. Many varieties of wheat are grown in the dry 

 farming sections, but the Turkey Red fall wheat has given the most 

 general satisfaction. This wheat was imported into this country 

 from Russia, is a very hardy growing variety, and the grain pro- 

 duces a flour of superior bread-making qualities. The straw is of 

 medium size and strength. 



Fall rye is a hardy grower and produces a large yield of straw. 

 It is not considered a very satisfactory crop to grow. The Kubanka 

 variety of macaroni wheat has shown itself to be one of the most 

 satisfactory of the dry farm spring wheat. 



Early maturing oats are more satisfactory on dry farms than 

 are the later maturing varieties. The Sixty-Day and Canadian 

 White, two rapid growing varieties, have shown good returns. The 

 early maturing hulless and beardless varieties of barley seem well 

 adapted to dry farm growth. 



Flax appears especially well adapted to grow on new spring 

 breaking. When the production of flax is to be carried on year 

 after year the land ought to be plowed and then carefully cultivated. 



Corn is a dry farm crop of great promise. At altitudes below 

 4,000 feet the seed may be matured while farther to the south three 

 or four tons per acre may be grown almost anywhere. Select early 

 ripening dent varieties. 



Clovers are not generally successful on dry land. Ordinarily 

 they require liberal water supply and do not thrive where the water 

 is scarce. Alfalfa gives promise of becoming the best forage crop for 

 the dry land farm. 



Excellent crops of potatoes may be produced upon dry land~and 

 the quality is generally regarded far superior to that of irrigated 

 potatoes. 



Roots, such as mangels, sugar beets, and rutabagas, require a 

 deep, mellow soil plowed the previous season. Sow in the moist 

 earth one or two inches deep. Keep the surface stirred and level. 

 Beans are a very promising dry land crop. They are light users of 

 moisture, hardy, admit inter-tillage, and have a high market value. 

 Garden vegetables are very successfully grown, provided the land 

 has been well tilled the preceding season, and the earth mulch main- 

 tained by early and frequent cultivation. 



Summary. (1). That fall plowing is generally to be preferred 

 to spring plowing. 



(2). That while subsoiling has shown some indications of be- 

 ing beneficial it is not yet known whether the practice will be profit- 

 able and that plowing to a depth of 7 to 10 inches will probably give 

 satisfactory results. 



