326 



THIRD ANNUAl^ SESSIONS 



Co-Operative Clubs. 



Not infrequently new settlers in dry farming sections will feel un- 

 able to purchase the complete outfit of machinery required. However, no 

 excuse is sufficient for doing without implements that can possibly add 

 to the efficiency of the work, cheapen the cost of production, or render 

 the operations more speedy. If the money cannot be borrowed or if it 

 seems undesirable to go in debt for so much machinery, let a half-dozen 

 or more farmers unite, form a co-operative association and together pur- 

 chase the needed outfit. Rules providing for the alternate use and for 

 the repair of the different machines may readily be formulated. Every 

 farmer will need certain implements. Those can be purchased in greater 

 numbers. Of certain implements, a single machine may often serve for a 

 number of farmers. 



Farm Experiments. 



Every farmer should do some experimental work. The manufacturer 

 is continually experimenting in order to discover new and better methods. 

 The farmer should also investigate so as to keep abreast of the demands 

 of the times. His experiments should be on a small scale so that, should 

 the results prove disastrous the financial loss would be small. All large 

 problems involving much time or large expense should be turned over 

 to the agriculture experiment station, but there are many smaller prob- 

 lem,s that require study in each locality. Great care should be taken to 

 undertake the solution of only one thing at a time making all other con- 

 ditions as nearly identical as possible. Thus erronious conclusions may 

 be avoided. 



Important Things to Do. 



1. Give attention to detail. 



2. Double disk by lapping one-half as soon as the crop is removed. 



3. Plow deep, from eight to twelve or more inches before the rainy 

 season sets in. 



4. Form a level, fine surface after plowing before leaving the field 

 each half day. 



5. Renew the surface mulch as soon after every shower as the soil 

 is dry enough to work without puddling. 



6. Cultivate at intervals of from two to four weeks whether it does 

 or does not rain. 



7. If the ground was plowed in the fall, cultivate with a light har- 

 row as early in the spring as possible, following this by a deeper cultiva- 

 tion when the soil has dried out somewhat more deeply. 



8. Sow or plant rather deeply with a machine that will deposit the 

 seed at an even depth in the moist soil beneath the surface dust mulch 

 leaving a loose surface above. 



9. After seeding cultivate at frequent intervals, and as soon after 

 each rainfall as possible, suiting the cultivation in frequency, depth and 

 continuance to the crop and conditions prevailing. 



