DRY LAND FARMING IN FASTFRN COLORADO 
15 
and milk. Poultry will keep the grasshoppers down, and potato and 
squash bugs may be killed by a club. A constant fight against them 
is necessary.” 
Early Richmond Cherries resist drought well and the fruit ripens 
while supplied with spring moisture. Set them 20x20 feet apart. 
Prof. B. C. Buffum recommends horse radish and rhubarb as among 
the strongest drought resisters. Mr. Payne states that gooseberries, 
native currents, plums and cherries are reasonably sure to produce 
good crops if given special care. 
RAIN FALL IN COLORADO. 
Records furnished by Prof. L. G. Carpenter, Director, Colorado 
Experiment Station, Fort Collins. 
TOWN AND COUNTY 
|No. Years Record 
Kept . 
1 ---- 
Average Inches Rain¬ 
fall 3 Winter Months 
Average Inches Rain¬ 
fall 3 Spring Months 
Average Inches Rain¬ 
fall 3 Summer Months 
1 
Average Inches Rail- 
fall 3 Fall Months.. 
Average annual Rain¬ 
fall, Inches . 
No. of Years Rainfall 
was below average.. 
Least Rainfall in One 
Year . 
Rocky Ford, Otero . 
19 
I-I 3 
4.10 
5.50 
2 .II 
12.84 
II 
6.93 
Denver, . 
39 
1.62 
5-53 
4.27 
2.53 
13.96 
18 
8.48 
Hamps, Elbert . 
15 
0.91 
5-21 
6.15 
1.69 
13.96 
10 
7.62 
Fort Collins. Larimer . 
25 
1-37 
6.24 
4-63 
2.63 
14.87 
13 
7.II 
Cheyenne Wells, Cheyenne 
15 
0.93 
5-27 
7.88 
2.3s 
16.43 
6 
8.41 
Le Roy, Logan . 
19 
1.46 
6.06 
6.72 
2.44 
16.68 
II 
7.-34 
Yuma, Yuma . 
18 
1.70 
6.05 
7.63 
2.41 
17.79 
8 
10.34 
Wray, Yuma . 
14 
1.09 
643 
8.29 
2.85 
18.66 
5 . 
10.74 
HANDLING THF SOIL. 
Only the principles of handling the soil can be given. Their ap¬ 
plication will vary each year on every farm and with each crop. The 
dry land farmer’s success will depend upon his skill in applying them 
to each individual crop. 
The best soil for dry land farming is a sandy loam, then a light 
clay loam, and next a sandy soil. An adobe soil is to be avoided, as 
is also one with a coarse gravel subsoil. 
The soils of the Plains are rich in mineral plant food. Often the 
subsoil, to a depth of thirty feet or more, will produce good crops 
when brought to the surface. The yield of the crop is determined 
by the quantity of available water which passes through the plant. 
Often when the rainfall is ample for a full crop, none is raised because 
the soil is in such condition that the rain can not be absorbed and the 
water runs off into the streams. Frequently when the soil has 
absorbed a plentiful supply of moisture to produce a good crop, the 
yield is unprofitable, because a soil mulch has not been provided, and 
the water is lost through evaporation. 
