18 



THIRD ANNUAL SESSIONS 



reason opportunity has been afforded for a severe test of the merits of 

 dry farming in the area under consideration. 



Results From Methodical Work. 



"In some cases crops of corn were observed where the stalks were 

 withered and drooping, while in a neighboring field the vegetation was 

 seen to be flourishing and vigorous. Inquiry would reveal the fact that 

 the good crops were the result of dry farming, while the poor crops were 

 grown by men who did not believe in new fangled ideas. 



Experimental Stations. 



"In the vicinity of Rapid City, in Pennington County, much inter- 

 est is taken in dry farming methods. The enterprising business men 

 of that city have taken steps to establish an experimental farm and are 

 proceeding to encourage the practice of scientific soil culture on the 

 bench lands and the lands lying beyond the reach of irrigation in the 

 adjacent region. They are enthusiastic over the matter and will un- 

 doubtedly succeed in doing much good. 



"The following extract from a letter written in reply to an inquiry 

 from my office about results in dry farming in Pennington County dur- 

 ing the last season may be of interest: 



Soil Treatment for Alfalfa. 



" 'Now, in regard to my field of alfalfa at Bend, it was sowed six 

 years last spring; I first plowed it with a "disc plow," harrowed it at 

 noon and supper time each day it was being plowed; and after the 

 plowing was done, I ran over it again with a harrow, making the field 

 as soft and fine as a flower bed. I then sowed 19 pounds of clean seed 

 to the acre, no nurse crop at all. The young alfalfa was clipped once 

 in August, and the hay left on the ground as a mulch and to protect 

 the roots of the young, tender plants from the rays of the sun. 



"The next year, such a crop it was, I cut it only once, but that one 

 crop was a bouncer, all who saw it were amazed. Thick as a lawn 

 and 26 or 28 inches high. The second year was better. I received two 

 large cropis the third year and two crops each year thereafter; I could 

 have cut a third crop last year, but I needed pasture and turned in some 

 stock. 



" 'I was and am yet favorably impressed with alfalfa on dry land. 

 "'A second letter reads as follows: 



" 'Location of farm, four miles west of Viewfield on the table land 

 north of Elk Creek. I have thirtj^-five acres which I fall plowed. 



Seeding Amount to the Acre. 



" 'In the spring I disked in one bushel of oats to the acre as a 

 nurse crop. I sowed ten pounds of alfalfa seed to the acre, the^ har- 

 rowed good. When the oats were ready to cut the alfalfa was so tall 



