Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-07-08
CULTIVATION IN DROUGHT.
Interesting Facts Reported by the AgrI

Interesting Facts Reported by the Agri-
cultural station at Geneva, n. Y.
With the aid Of scientific knowledge.
every farmer has noticed that well
cultivated land stands drought better
than that which is neglected. The
reason Of the fact is not so generally
understood. 1t will, therefore. be
source Of satisfaction to all to be pos
scssed of additional evidence and more
exact data on the subject, and may be
of value by stimulating tillers Of the
soil to additional effort at critical peri.
DDS. A bulletin from the agricultural
station at Geneva, n. Y, contains these
interesting facts bearing on the subject
of drought: THAT cultivation, by form
ing a loose soil upon the surface, which
acts as a mulch, conserves the water to
the soil, is a fact which is well estab-
lished and should be more commonly
appreciated. For the purpose of offer
ing numerical values which shall eX-
press the influence of cultivation, we
have tired the following experiment.:
Oak boxes of one cubic foot capacity
were made Of half-inch stuff and thor
oughly soaked with oil. The bottoms
being removed, the frame was forced
down into the earth in the corn-field
and the bottoms aiterward put in posi-.
ton. We thus had foot cube Of soil
in its natural position. The surface OF
the earth in one box was left undis-
turbed, while the surfaces of two boxes
were kept cultivated. BY weighing
these boxes the gain or loss in weight
Is assumed 20 MEASURE the evaporation
which has taken place from each
From July 26 TO August /, six
days, the cultivated soil evaporated
at the rate OF 906 gallons per acre
less than the undisturbcd soil, or less
15l gallons daily per acre. From
August 10 August 10, nine days, the
cultivated soil evaporated 1857 gallons
per acre less than did the undisturbed
soil. or less 263 gallons daily per acre.
During the whole period from July 20
TO August 10, fifteen days, the saving
Of water effected through cultivation
figured up PIP gallons daily per acre,
or, expressing these facts IN another
form, the undisturbed land lost per
acre, from July 26 to August 10, 4, 243
gallons, the cultivated soil LOGO
gallons In calculating our results to
the acre by multiplying the evaporation
which has taken place from square
foot Of surface by 1860, the unavoid-
able errors are correspondingly multi
piled. and while duplicate series can
never be expected to give precisely the
some numerical results, yet the ono
fact became unquestionable that
through cultivation we are enabled to
conserve to the soil large amount OF
water during drought. Indeed, OBJ
servation through extending periods
OF drought also plainly shows the SUI
periority Of fields that have been well
cultivated over those where cultivation
has been neglected The advantage
Of tile drainage In wet seasons have
been shown. Thus are science and OK.
pertinent contributing to the relief OF
agriculture against the extremes of
both wet seasons and dry ones. 1hs
fruits Of these developments and dem
onstrations will be more fully realized
as population increases and lar dA ap-
preciate in value. ~ Y. Observer