Progressive agriculture, 1916, tillage, not weather, controls yield

Preface

Progressive Agriculture has been selected as the title of this book for the reason that these two words have much meaning to the American people on two very vital lines.

Progressive, as defined in the dictionary, means going forward, advancement, improvement, developing greater things, conditions, crops. Agriculture is farming, husbandry, tillage, the raising of food for man and beast. Therefore applied Progressive Agriculture means briefly increased prosperity and happiness.

In semi-humid regions the problem of general farming is one of how to avoid waste. Twentyone years ago we began writing and speaking on the subject of soil tillage to conserve the moisture and obtain better crops, having begun our observations 14 years before. Now we are able to give in these pages results of 35 years of actual field experiments in the rich region which stretches from the Missouri valley to the Pacific and from Mexico to the north boundary of Alberta. Much progress was made in the early years, but never so much as in the past four years, in which time we have had the hearty cooperation of a large number of progressive farmers, over a wide scope of country.

Our ideas have undergone change with better knowledge of the problem and a more practical field information as the result; and while in a way there is nothing fundamentally new in it,

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the practical application of the vital principles is all new, and today we are better prepared than ever before to give information that will be immensely helpful to all who are engaged in general farming in the west.

The real question is one of results — large crops in all seasons, surer crops every year, cutting out uncertainty and chance wherever possible. It can be done, it has been done, you can do it.

A great army of doubters has been forced to recognize the plain fact that these problems are being solved, and public sentiment now more than ever before favors the demonstrated fact that by soil tillage very much can be done to overcome the handicap of limited rainfall in the semi-humid west. There is better appreciation of the close relation between soil tillage and available plant food, together with the quantity of seed and time of seeding, and consequent increase of crops. It is a growing and expanding subject with immense possibilities.

Results of actual farm work form the basis of this book. The principles stated and discussed have been developed from actual experiments in the great variety of soils under many climatic conditions. The pictures used are from photographs, and names, dates and actual results are invariably given to illustrate what has actually been done.

This book is dedicated to the farmer who is desirous to make progress in agriculture, who will study these pages and take home the lessons of these pictures, who approaches the subject without prejudice or skepticism, and who is will-

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ing to take the steps that will surely increase the returns from his labor. This is true Progressive Agriculture.

Yours for greater prosperity in the semi-humid sections. Hardy W. Campbell.

Lincoln, Nebr., Jan. 1, 1916.

CHAPTER I A FEW OPENING SUGGESTIONS What is tillage of the soil?

Writers have been answering the question for a century and they have not told it all. That part of Agriculture which deals with soil tillage is, and ever will be an unfinished science, because we shall go on learning more and more about it and never quite reach the end.

Tillage, in its broad sense, means all handling or treatment of the soil incident to crop growing, — plowing, packing, disking, harrowing and cultivating.

Under this broad term comes any mechanical work or process that is applied to change the physical condition of the soil, to prepare the seed bed, to assist the growing plant and to keep the field free of weeds.

Not all farmers, or those interested in farming, or persons who have made some study of agriculture, agree as to the relative importance of tillage as compared with other phases of farm work. Some place the emphasis at one place and some at another. There are those who insist that success in farming is wrapped up in animal husbandry and others who make a fad of crop varieties and of seed selection and seed testing. Then there are those who have asserted that tillage is nothing as compared to climatic conditions, or in other words, that every farmer everywhere is at the mercy of the clouds and sunshine, the drouth and storm.

But most practical farmers know that tillage is very important, and they understand pretty well how to get some good and sure results through intelligent tillage. But there are some things that are more important than others, and that, so it has been demonstrated, are doubly important in the semi-humid regions of the country, in connection with tillage. For instance: —

Tillage and its relation to available plant food in the soil by the storing, controlling and utilizing of the available water, whether from the clouds. 4 ditch or sub-irrigation. This has not heretofore been considered as of first importance.

The farmer must recognize this importance, and he must eventually come to understand just what happens in chemical action or bacterial development under certain ideal soil conditions, as well as what happens when the soil is not in condition to properly utilize the water.

Available plant food depends on this process which goes on in nature's laboratory during the time soils are being prepared for crops or between the time of fitting and planting of the crops. The farmer may, to a large extent, guide and control this. Intelligent tillage is the key to the situation.

As it is now fully understood, that which is done to bring about the most favorable condition for this laboratory action, — whatever it is or however it comes about, — will also produce the ideal condition for the soil for quick germination of the seed and rapid root growth. (See Cut No. 11.)

Now all of this means a great deal to the farmer and it will require thoughtful care and intelligent handling right from the start, no half-hearted work will win out. At the outset it should be said that set rules, regarding the mechanical work in all soils, cannot be made that will take the place of those worked out by local intelligent observation. The most that can be done is to establish the right principles most favorable to plant growth, leaving to each farmer to work out the problem of mechanical work largely with his own tools and in his own way and according to the special conditions that obtain in his own fields. Once you catch on to the real fundamental principles, you will ever after find yourself intensely interested.

Please observe, as previously outlined, that it is not alone needful that there shall be such tillage as will tend to store water in the soil that it may be on hand when needed, but the farmer must just as surely direct his efforts to bringing about soil conditions that will utilize this moisture in every available form to increase the available plant food. This means a soil condition where there is combined in the soil, the proper proportion of air and water so that the summer heat, when it comes, will develop the conditions that make for rapid and healthier growth of the plants.

SEVEN POINTS IN TILLAGE

To more clearly establish the main points in tillage the subject has been divided into seven heads or general classes for consideration. It is hoped that in this way the reader may more readily grasp the basic or fundamental principles or ideas involved. In the study of each class, as well as in the application of the principles, the fact must be kept constantly in mind that under semi-humid conditions, more perhaps than elsewhere, nature sometimes helps and sometimes hinders the progress of work done to bring about the ideal conditions.

Because of this fact, be ever alert to note and understand what happens, as for instance, why soil slightly dry or too wet will not assume the same ideal physical condition when plowed as will moist soil that is just right for the plow. Why a half inch of rainfall will not have the same effect in dissolving and settling the lower portion of the soil furrow that an inch or 2-inch rainfall will; neither will a 2-inch rain have the same effect 30 days after plowing that it would have one day after.

Intelligent observation, understanding and recognition of these primary facts is of wide importance. The lack of it has many times misled the investigator and farmer in conclusions as to the correctness of principles and methods he has been following. The farmer always needs to remember that his attitude towards and faith in progress, advancement and confidence in the theories involved in any question, regulates very largely the value and the amount of truth grasped in his investigation of the basic principles.

While the "How" and "Why" of tillage are broad and to the untrained mind complex questions, yet a correct solution can be reached. Greater problems have been solved; and when these questions are really mastered, the farmer of modest means will have more dollars added to to his earning capacity than could be added in any other one way. To this branch of human endeavor that beautiful old adage, " Knowledge is Wealth", truthfully applies.

CLASS I— PLANNING

The first step in Progressive Agriculture is to thoughtfully and carefully plan in advance all tillage work. In doing this recognize the fact that certain principal factors govern growth, production and maturity of all farm crops. Most vital of these are — physical condition of the soil and available food, the quantity of seed per acre, and time of planting. All of this is to be considered in connection with the farmer's judgment, based on observation, study and experience, as to the kind, time and manner of work to be applied, for this is the foundation of all you anticipate.

CLASS II— PREPARATION

The work of preparing the soil for plowing is a necessary preliminary work on which very much depends in most of the years. Most important in this preparatory work under semi-humid conditions is that of loosening the soil at the surface early in the spring, or just after the harvest in summer or fall. This is with the purpose of causing the proper percentage of moisture to accumulate and remain in the firm soil just below the loosened soil, commonly termed the mulch. Proper moisture in soils means life and growth, but dryness death to all plant development. The right per cent of moisture will also make possible easier and better plowing. More surely, also, will this careful preparation assure to the soil the moisture that will make it more susceptible to each and every tillage act designed to obtain the ideal physical condition of the seed and root bed. In short, water is the prime element, not only^for the plant to drink but to aid in getting the soil in ideal condition, to build up the soil and increase plant food.

CLASS III— PLOWING

The third division of the topic is the command to plow the land well, and in this much depends on the moisture conditions of the soil when it is done. If you would get the greatest good out of the least possible expense in tillage, give to the second class very careful consideration, then be sure your furrow is even in depth and width and well turned. As to the depth of plowing, very much depends upon what is possible in the follow-up work as well as the condition of the soil when plowed and the time likely to elapse between the plowing and the planting of the crop. Much also depends on whether the soil is new or virgin soil or old land that has been plowed several years.

From 5 to 7 inches is a fair range of depth, but the deeper the plowing is done the greater effort must be made to immediately obliterate all air cavities or firm the lower part of the furrow.

CLASS IV— PHYSICAL CONDITION

After plowing it is important to put the plowed ground into proper physical condition, with as little delay as possible. The tendency of the plow is to leave numerous large and small openings in the bottom of the furrow. Sometimes when soils are in ideal condition to plow moderately fair, rains will dissolve and settle the lower part of the freshly plowed ground, but this cannot be depended on; so spare no time in quickly getting the lower portion of the furrow slice fine and firm, leaving the top somewhat coarse and loose. This prompt action is especially important to offset bad effects that will come if there follows closely a period of hot, dry weather. The quicker the seed and root bed are put into condition after plowing, to carry the proper per cent of air and water, the greater are your chances for a high limit in yield from a small amount of water.

CLASS V— KEEPING UP TILLAGE

The fifth thing to remember is to improve the seed and root bed by every subsequent act of tillage, prior to planting. In other words, let the work all be timely and of the right kind, that at planting time there will be most favorable conditions for quick germination of seed and rapid growth of roots. This will also aid nature in her further liberation of plant food. The favorable time for crop making is when the seed and root bed is fine and firm and carrying a high per cent of moisture, with the proper amount of air and the right degree of warmth. To obtain rapid healthygrowth of all cultivated plants there must be at all times a liberal amount of moisture at the top of the firm soil just below the loose soil mulch. The farmer will try every concievable plan to obtain this, for it means much. The simple keeping out of the weeds, where the atmosphere is dry or low in humidity, is not enough. The cultivation must be deep enough and frequent enough to obtain those conditions that will assure, as far as possible, a continuous moist character to the top of the firm soil or root bed.

CLASS VI— PLANTING

The sixth is the matter of planting the seed, and in this we must consider how much of each kind of seed to plant or sow, also, when to do the planting. In considering both quantity of seed and time of planting, due consideration must be given to the physical condition of the seed bed and quantity of available moisture. Success or failure often depends almost entirely on the time of planting and quantity of seed. Later planting than is now common, if preceded by careful spring tillage, will bring increased yields, as a rule, and frequently defeat the ill effects of a drouth. Not infrequently is it true that a well fitted field fails in reaching its best results because of too much seed.

CLASS VII— CULTIVATION

The most vital part of tillage, after all else has been said, is the cultivation of the crop.

It is to the advantage of every farmer to observe and make continual study of his work until he clearly understands why any and all crops are cultivated after planting. Each time there is any mechanical work done the effort should be to better the soil condition for healthier and quicker growth, and a more prolific yield from the plant. The better you know what the soil conditions should be the more effective will all your work be. To get the most good out of labor there must be fimely and correct application.

Vital questions in the cultivation of crops, to which greatest care must be given, are cultivation to keep the weeds down, for the weed pest is a growing one; to keep the mulch coarse and loose to a sufficient depth; and to prevent as far as possible moisture loss by evaporation; but never cultivate deep enough to destroy the roots of the growing plants. Don't let a crust form on the surface or under the mulch.

This brief outline should be studied well before proceeding, as it will greatly aid the reader in understanding and appreciating each of the following chapters. The thoughts involved will be developed more in detail in various ways in the following chapters.

Chapter II Farm Possibilities

Agriculture is not a completed or perfected science. The end has not been reached. We are going forward and every man who becomes somewhere near as interested as Edison has in electricity, will learn new and progressive ideas and principles for years to come.

There is advancement in other lines of human endeavor, in everything that contributes to the convenience and comfort of the human race; why not, also, in the art of aiding Nature in the production of useful crops on a more certain basis. Better and more profitable farming in the semi-humid sections means a greatly increased farm population and more and larger towns and cities. There are millions of acres of unoccupied lands, waiting for the "Home Maker". Not for the man that ignores better and more correct and appropriate ideas and insists on redeeming the country by very deep plowing or some other notion that may apply under 30 to 50 inch annual rainfall for he is liable to fail just the same as thousands have in the past. But to the man who will apply modern ideas, study the question carefully and continue to modernize, there are many vacant fields that can be made to bloom like Mr. Hahn's rose garden. (See Cut No. 2.)

We are all by environment made skeptics and it is true we are suspicious of any new idea or advanced theory. Some of us are not even willing to be shown. We are all inclined to be selfish and to be filled with egotism. Each one of us thinks his way is the best and what he does is right. But mistakes are so easy, yes, we have all made mistakes. And while we dislike to admit or take the blame for any losses from our mistakes, we all are hoping right down in our hearts to do better and to accomplish more, yes, much more some day.

We do not want to stay in the rut, so to speak, however much we deny there is any rut, and we note with pride the very marked advancement and improvement in all other lines such as in automobiles, flying machines, wireless telegraphy, wireless telephones, moving pictures and phonographs, all of which contribute to our comfort, pleasure and entertainment, and we rejoice, then why should we be content with the present farm methods and their uncertain and sometimes meager profits.

When we consider what has been done we can but realize there may be some further advancement and improvement in the many practical lines of farm work, if we put forth a little mental, as well as physical effort. Observe, see things, then do some real thinking. We are sure this will result in a more certain annual cash income per acre.

What was it that gave us, only a few years ago, such little faith in farm results? Why was it so difficult to keep good men on|the farms and at work along lines that we know ought to be most profitable? Why so much discouragement? Were it possible for the average farmer to turn to business and professional callings and succeed with no more real knowledge of the business than is displayed by him in his farm work, the farming industry would long ago have been abandoned. Too many however, have already tried such a change and find even greater and equally perplexing problems to be solved. Really, when we come to know the soil we find it more submissive and much more responsive to good treatment than the human race.

The real fact is that, as farming has been done, there is much cause for discouragement that is hard to overcome, and it is due to the occasional years of big crops, then a few years of fair crops, interspersed with crop failures, and as we were inclined to rely on the weather, it is no wonder that under these conditions, as they have prevailed, we are continually out of balance, in debt and faith shaken.

Prosperous and happy farm homes are the hope and ambition of every man and his family who are endeavoring to so plan their labors on the farm that there may be each and every year a little surplus profit. Though this may be modest, if it comes every year it lends enchantment, but when they find the profits of two or three years wiped out by crop failure the next year, they not only find their cash short, but their courage and energy depleted and we all know what follows. Not only is the home minus the cash for the neccessaries and comforts, much less for pleasures, but sorrow and peevishness too often pervade the home circle, under which condition many things are done at a disadvantage and loss until hope for better things almost or quite fades away.

The experience of our New England forefathers was a beautiful illustration of the point we wish to make. They were principally farmers on a modest scale, they did not make much each year, but every year found their holdings and conditions slightly improved because of the safe and sure methods and contentment and happiness pervaded every home.

Many thousand dollars have in the past been loaned for our western development by individual New England farmers, who started on 60, 80 or 100 acres of timbered land with little capital outside of a strong physique and ample energy, but from the start a little was added every year until there was a surplus.

Not that we would go back to the old narrow, modest routine grind of our forefathers, but before any country, state or section can be on a stable, prosperous basis, gambling and extreme uncertainty of success must be very largely eliminated, and one of the heavy screws in the balance wheel to this question is, to prevent crop failure or even a small crop, and it is the ease with which we believe this can be done by tillage of the right kind at the proper time that prompts us to beckon the man of modest means to the new semi-humid west, and to say to those who are now located in this great belt, "Eureka".

Don't misunderstand us. We wish our reader to look the situation squarely in the face and then no matter who you are or where you are, you will not be disappointed in the outcome. We shall show you big crops that have made big profits. We have a few farmers that are getting these big profits every year, both in years of very light rainfall and heavy rainfall.

We shall try to explain to you how to do it, and if you become interested and really try, you can easily beat any record we have, but the greatest source of enthusiasm with us is based on the fact that crop failure in this great belt will not occur to any man, barring hail storms and cyclones who becomes familiar with the principles and applies them as we now understand them ; therefore, the possible steady annual farm profit, so much needed.

We personally know many who have overcome, to some degree, the handicap under which they formerly labored, and by a little careful thinking have vastly improved their situation, and are still improving. They have endeavored earnestly to make progress and to follow the principles that we developed and commenced to advocate a good many years ago. Many of them stand ready to testify to the good results attained by actually getting out of the old ruts and applying plain and sensible methods to the newer problems of their immediate life.

SUCCESS WITH RIGHT PRINCIPLES

While many have succeeded by following the right principles it is also a fact that others have honestly but modestly tried to do the same thing and have failed. It is these failures that have made the most noise over the widened scope of country and have given opportunity for doubters to declare there is nothing in tillage, no rules can be fixed, no way to succeed in the semi-humid country, and that "it won't work in drouthy years". The trouble is that they may have tried to apply the principles without trying to understand them. They have sought merely to do what they have supposed was necessary without really knowing why, then followed the disappointment. This fact should be realized at the outset, that farming is one art where it may not be possible to lay down any hard mechanical rules that will fit every case; for example, a moist soil may be plowed 6 to 7 inches deep and with timely tillage be immediately worked into a perfect seed bed, while the same soil when wet or dry cannot. Many have tried the latter and failed without realizing that the mistake in their own work caused the failure. The same rule applies in putting the seed into the soil, or in the cultivation of the crop, a different amount of moisture will bring different soil conditions from the same mechanical work. Conditions change — climate, soil, elevation, water, winds, etc. But certain general principles can be stated that will help the farmer to meet all the changing conditions, just the same as the correct principles were worked out to build a successful flying machine. This means simply the correct application of true or scientific principles to agriculture. That doesn't mean anything hard to understand, or for the use of college professors alone; not at all, for science may be simple and still be science, it only means the correct way and time of doing things.

Those who chiefly for selfish reasons, decried all efforts to improve the conditions of the semi-humid regions, are far less in number than a few years ago. When an extra large yield of any crop is obtained, there are still those who say it is impractical, it cost more than the crop is worth, it don't pay. Hold on, Mr. Pessimist; the next field may not cost as much, a little more of the know how, and a little efficiency may materially diminish the cost and further increase the next crop. No idea was ever conceived, or learned and perfected in a day. The first question in a new undertaking is, can it be done? Then comes the efficiency and reduction to a system and the elimination of cost without decreasing the value of the device or principle. There are some who continue to deny that anything can be done to make matters better. They refuse to look about and know the truth, for it is the truth that everywhere, all through the semi-humid region, great things have been accomplished wherever men have tried earnestly, and with open minds, to get at the facts. If you want to get at the true situation just call on any one of these farmers who have learned the how, and got results for a number of years. You will find him stronger in the faith and learning more each year. One only needs but to make inquiry to find that very much progress has been made on sound principles, towards better and surer crops all through the country.

EVERY FARMER AN INVESTIGATOR

It must be remembered, however, that most of this is still in the experimental stage. Every farmer must be an experimentor in his efforts to learn, but he must have some fundamental principles upon which to base his experiments or he is quite sure to go wrong either in his work or in his conclusions as to the why of his results. He must study and investigate, if he fails, try to fmd out why he failed. Don't give up. Every little helps. A great deal more in the future is to come right from the farms as the result of intelligence, tillage and observation by good thinking, persistent farmers, than any other way, because such individual farmers go at the experiments in a practical way and his observing neighbors, hungry for information, take note and appreciate a neighbor's advice.

It is said that before Edison produced the first successful incandescent light, he had used in his experiments over three thousand elements or combinations of elements. Why did he persist in so many trials, in face of repeated failures? He believed it could be done, and he did it. So, too, can the farmers all solve the question of surer and better crops at a lower cost. The pessimist who watched Edison finally saw a bright light, later he saw a still brighter one, and then a much brighter one, for not only has the first Edison light been many times improved and made better, but the cost of the light and globes have steadily decreased through other ingenious and advanced ideas not at first thought of. The same will be true of the farmer of the semi-humid west and it is through more timely and more correct tillage that shall more accurately utilize nature's elements that we can and will populate these prairies with prosperous farmers, and beautiful farm homes, and happy will be the farmer and his family who grasps these principles and gets busy.

In the following pages we shall deal with the whole subject broadly. We will present all the results of our later observations and the selection of correct principles, and this with a better understanding of some of the earlier ideas we have put forth, we hope to clearly explain to the farmer the more advanced ideas and how he can carry out experiments in soil tillage and learn how with greater certainty to reach the maximum yield at a minimum cost each and every year, and crop failure in the semi-humid west be a thing of the past. Experiments should be small to begin with, not that the principles may be wrong, but you may not have a correct understanding of every detail. It is with practical experience and observation that the perplexing questions are cleared up and when clearly understood one frequently wonders why he did not so understand it before.