24 
Bulletin 103. 
brome grass are also grown to a considerable extent, particularly the former, 
and alfalfa is being tried with considerable success. It seems to do well 
once it is well started in the ground. In the Flathead country also, spring 
crops are grown, but here the clover seems to do a little better than the al¬ 
falfa, although it is not a permanent crop. In the Gallatin Valley the fall 
wheat will usually yield from 20 to 25 bushels per acre on the average and I 
believe around Great Falls somewhat similar crops are obtained as the con¬ 
ditions are a little more favorable.” 
Prof. A. M. Ten Eyck of Kansas, in speaking of the tools used 
for preparing the seed bed in western Kansas, says: 
“Disk plows are being commonly used now in western Kansas. They 
appear to be better adapted for plowing dry, hard land, than the moldboard 
plows. Other tools used are the disk harrow, common harrow and some 
make use of a sub-surface packer, or corrugated roller.” 
Prof. James Withcombe of the Oregon Experiment Stations, 
says: 
“Replying to your letter of the 7th, beg to say we have no specific date 
as to wheat growing under semi-arid conditions without irrigation, in this 
State. There are, however, several million bushels of wheat grown annually 
under practically arid conditions and without irrigation. 
“Precipitation in several of our wheat growing counties will range from 
8 to 14 inches annually and the wheat crop in these sections will range 
from 15 to 35 or even 4 0 bushels per acre, some seasons. 
“The prevailing system is to summer fallow every alternating year; in 
this way some of the moisture of the preceding year is conserved for the 
wheat crop. There is no especial system of culture developed and ordinary 
agricultural implements are used, such as gang plows of the ordinary mould 
board pattern, and the disk plow is used. The better class of farmers en¬ 
deavor to work their ground down well immediately after plowing; in this 
way the furrow slice is thoroughly pulverized and made compact, and in this 
condition it conserves the maximum amount of capillary moisture. 
“The soil in these sections is in excellent physical condition, being 
largely volcanic ash with considerable organic matter. However, the pres¬ 
ent system of farming is very injurious and in time will doubtless develop 
very unsatisfactory conditions for wheat production. While from 8 to 12 
inches of precipitation may be sufficient to produce a good crop of wheat 
now, later when the organic matter becomes reduced, a great deal more 
moisture will be required as the soil will be less capable of retaining moisture. 
“Trusting this supplies the desired information and if we can be of 
further assistance at any time, you will kindly advise us.” 
VI. AMOUNT OF MOISTURE REQUIRED BY 
FARM CROPS. 
The amount of moisture required by the various farm crops 
varies with the character of the crop and the climatic conditions 
under which they are grown. The experiments already carried on 
in the agricultural stations of Europe, and the Eastern and Central 
States, east of the Mississippi river in the United States, show that 
the leading grain and root crops require from 271 to 576 pounds of 
water to produce one pound of dry matter under normal conditions, 
in a normal season. 
Hellriegel of Germany and Prof. F. H. King of Wisconsin, 
give the amount of water to produce one pound of leading crops as 
follows: 
