Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-10-05
G. X. HART.

DRygy At Law and Notary Public Special q fine
i,.oiiou given to collections and forecosng at the
tmSsFfifetSs sfE cri xflsaa d pfeParing the soil,
when blowing, is one of the greatest
causes of deterioration, in quantity and
quality. of our wheat crop all over the
country. To this, combined with want OF
care in the selection of seed, may be at
tributed, mainly, the decreased health and
productiveness of this one staple, and the
increased number and destructiveness of
insect and other enemies. Remedy these
two causes and improvement will soon be
seen and felt in greater average product
iyeness, not only of wheat, but also OF all
other grains and other products.
Only admitted number of farmers, judg-
ing from their practices, appear to appre-
cae the important influence fine and
mellow seed-bed exerts on the following
crop. A congenial seed-bed induces quick
termination of the seed and early and
rapid growth of the young plants, putting
them beyond the reach OF injury by worms
and other insect enemies. Such enemies
find less inducement for lodgment in a
soil properly prepared; and where the
culture is continuously thorough for sue
Cessive crops and years insect enemies
commonly grow less and less troublesome,
for the reason that their appropriate food
is not found in their season. The soil is
put in such a state that the plant-food is
digested and readily yielded to the grow
ing plants, and instead of the plants
awaiting slower process of the elements
of food being dissolved out for them, they
are more free and ready to enter into new
combinations or be appropriated into the
growth of the plant, causing healthy,
vigorous growth to maturity-a growth
and plant so vigorous that insect enemies
are less likely to interfere than where less
vigorous and thrifty Good blowing can
not be done at all times and seasons when
the elements seem to favor. Soils thatneed
the most manipulation to render them tit
seed-beds for grain are the most affected by
wet or dry weather, and are the longest
time coming into condition to be suitably
plowed. Summer-fallows are often made
that the elements may do what the farmer
might well perform at the appropriate
time. Good management and good farm
ing would do away with the necessity OF
ali naked fallows, and in their stead give
US green fallows, or crops which would
stand in the stead of any fallow, and make
the farming more profitable than fallows.
hHHtl1 puifti lieu, hccp soiii Nti' Va aihNa,
will resist drought or be less affected
from wet weather than one less deep and
fine The soil being fine, loose and deep
admits the free passage of water in wet
time; acts in its capillary capacity, hold
ing water in suspension during dry wealth
er, and in all respects is better adapted TO
the maintenance of health in plants at all
times than one of less porous nature.
The surface preserves a more cquable tenn
perature, as evaporation does not use up
heat needed in the soil where plants are
growing; the roots of the plants have a
more natural medium, consequently the
plants are healthier, grow faster with a
healthy growth, and come to maturity
with a better product than otherwise would
be the case on such soil. A dry soil also
holds more moisture by being frequently
and thoroughly worked than otherwise
would he the case, and crops grown there
In come TO maturity with better product
than otherwise. Thorough pulverization
and culture of soil exerts one Of the
strongest influences ON continued vitality
and health of all kinds Of vegetation,
seeds and products. Grain or any other
product is less liable to deterioration from
continued cropping of the same soil where
thorough pulverization and fining the SOIL
and culture is practiced than where less
thorough managementise employed. Farm
ers do not work their land so much as
would be profitable. We have in mind
a progressive wheat grower, who always
raised excellent crops, who asserted that