The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1889-07-20
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
Suggestions for May.

part OF the period OF cultlvatlng the
main crops of the South, corn and cot
ton. The farmer who has good stands
and his fields in good condition on the
first day of the month, and pushes his
work with skill, energy and good judg-
ment to its close, will have practically
won the fight, so far as depends on his
efforts. 1t has often been said that a
crop well planted on well-prepared
land is half made. Such preparation
and planting involves good seed and
liberal manuring. as well as good
blowing and careful management of
all details, and almost certainly re-
suits in good stands. The real objects
of blowing and hoeing the crops should
be kept steadily in view, and the means
for their accomplishment should be
adapted to the ends. 1t is an error to
proceed in the cultivation of crop as
as if the only object were to destroy
the grass and weeds; and yet these
must be either prevented or destroyed
or the crop will prove a failure. Weeds
and grass. these are not an unmixed
evil to some farmers, since the neces-
sity for their suppression. and the
means employed for that purpose. as
sure to the crop. to degree, the STIR
ring and aration of the soil that will
be necessary to vigorous growth and
development Of the plants and a boun-
tiful harvest
The main object of cultivation
should be to keep the surface soil, to
the depth of one or two inches, in a
loose, friable condition, SO that the
air may have easy access to the roots
Of the plants, while at the same time
the moisture is prevented from too
rapidly evaporating. A shower OF rain
sufficiently copious to stand for a few
moments on the surface will cause the
| particles of soil to run together"
| Just as If handful of soil be dropped
| in a glass of water and the ves-
sci briskly shaken few moments.
The running Of the water on the
surface. or the combined agitation by
the successive falling raindrops, pro-
duces the same condition of the upper
half inch of the soil as observed in the
| glass. Now pour off the water in the
glass, or permit the water to flow of
from the soil, or sink into it. and the
same result will shortly follow in both
cases-the formation of a compact
crust or cake. In both cases the par
ticles OF soil have adjusted themselves
to each other more closely. just as
kernels OF wheat or corn in a half
bushel will do when shaken. In this
condition the soil is like soft brick,
or lump of sugar, and will draw up
the moisture more readily and rapidly
by capillary action. Any one can
easily illust rate the principle of cap
Hilary action, and the rule by
which it is governed. Take two
panes or pieces OF glass; lay one
on the other. separating them by sew
eral thicknesses of paper along two
opposite edges. Now dip the open
edge of the combined glass in water
and note the rise of the fluid in the thin
space between the surfaces of the two
pieces of glass. Note further If the
thicknesses of the paper be reduced so
as to bring the pieces of glass nearer
each other, the water will rise higher
and higher in proportion as the sur
faces be brought nearer each other.
Now the particles of soil, when in the
condition described just now, are much
nearer together than the thickness OF
single sheet of the thinest paper,
and thus form a series of very fine cap
Hilary tubes. capable of drawing up
the water many inches. As the water
thus drawn up reaches the surface.
and even before it reaches the surface
of the soil, it is converted into vapor
and escapes into the air. II now we
disturb or break up the close contigui-
ty of the particles and thus destroy
the continuity of the capillary spaces
or tubes, we to that extent prevent OF
greatly retard, the escape of moisture
by evaporation. This is accomplished
by stirring he surface OF the soil, and
forming it into a mellow, loose layer.
This layer may be considered as mulch
to the subjacent soil in which the roots
are feeding. for it acts very similarly
to mulching of the usual materials
in preventing undue evaporation. But
not only does the hard. compact crust
facilitate the escape of needed moist
ure, but it also prevents the free en-
trance of the air into the soil.
We believe properly conducted ex
periments would also prove that the
stirring of the surface soil tends to
facilitate the sinking of the super
abundant water into the underlying
| suhsril and into the natural or arti.