Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-07-26
Farming n Science.

A-NANAANN - q W bANA AAAANs Al~Nh AA
general sense, signifies TO know ,
: understand the laws and adaptation
Of means to an end, the compreher
s!On Of principles upon which som
u useful trade or occupation Is based
In short, science means to know tn
: truth and principles ofarts. 1t haC
long been thought that tillirg tht
| soil had no science in il. That al
there was about it was to plant, SOW
, and reap. If the soil aud seasor
, were favorable good crop would
{ be produced. But the thoughtful
and observing tiller has long agC
discovered that there is something
else Oftilling the soil besides pillow.
ing and sowiug-somethiug besides
good soil. The observant farmer has
discovered that certain conditions.
many of which are the work Ofman,
are necessary to produce a good crop
OF anything growing out of the
earth, that soil and climate are not
all that is necessary for lountitul
yield. In other words, it Is now
known that agriculture is science,
no less so than arithmetic, grammar,
surveying or engineering, and is
based upon fundamental principles.
| EXperienc has shown the farmer
that the condition of the ground at
the time ofseeding must be cousid-
eled. If the ground is too wet at
seeding time it Is not favorable to
the best results, even if the soil is
excellent and the season propitious.
On the other hand, ifthe ground is
too dry at seeding time the seed will
not germinate.
The depth Of filth must also be
considered. Too shallow plowiug is
not favorable for vigorous growth,
without which poor results will fol
low.
y thorough pulverlzing of the soil
is also essentially incident to II boun-
tiful yield. Fertilization must not
be wholly neglected.
There are various salts in the earth
which furnish plant food. The aka.
lies, and acids; the lime, soda, starch,
saccharine, albumen and other
elements of plants must he studied
and such conditions complied with
as will facilitie absorption or taking
up of those elements by the plants.
The elements of plant food are taken
up 10y the fibrous roots of the plant
and conveyed through the circula-
tory system of the plant to build up
the stem, stalk or tibrous part, and
carry up those elements to produce
the fruit. In order to facilitate this
work the ground must be as friable
rs practicablC-the more thoroughly |
pulverized the better.
The soil in Oregon ha, a greater
tendency to soiidify than on the |
prairos Of the Mississippi valley, |
and hence more care is needed in its /
preparation. The ground needs |
breaking up for summer fallow late .
IN the spring. This will admit of .
the suns more direct rays to act up /
on the root of weeds aud other veg |
elton which it is desired TO kill aud .
aid in ferliI;zing the soil. 1t would /.
also be advisable to pasture these
lands during the summer that all .
vegetation which might escape the
Killing heat of the sun, might be
fed down and prevent them going
to seed.
Another advantage Of summer fall
lowing is "resting the land There .
are numerous salts in the earth
which are continually rising 10 the
surface, by the action of the SUI, in
part, aud in part 10y the volatile ia
lure of those elements in solution.
This "resting OF the land" allows
these various chemical propertie9 81
accumulate near the surface by the
rapid absorption of the moisture 10y
the direct rays of the sun with 40 .
vegetation to appropriate or take
them up for one summer, and gives
Il double portion Of these plant
foods for the ensuing year. II
then the soil il well pulverized aud
the crop put in early Oh well drained
ground mere abundant crop may
be reasonaL ly expected.
If it be practicable during the
summer, barn yard manure or any
other fertilizers might bee added with
benef bal results, IL is true hand
thus treated will cost some l3bDi
and ,ome outlay or money, hut
what will he lost In this way will be
more than compeusated by an iu-
crease ia the yield and lees
ia harvesting. SO,
IL fouv acres Of summer fnI-
low will produce double the um.unt
which il will-there will bee a sIy-
ing Of half the eXpense Of seed, bali
the amount Of blowing and half The
expense OF harvesting. Thi- viii
be readily perceived by tine intcili-
gent farmer The cost ~ putting
IN 40 acres will b. only half that of
80 acres, and II he gets as much from
40 acrr- by the summer nlluw pro-
cess az from 50 acres by the coutiu-
uul cropping one he il the gainer
Thereby Let some farmer Try b.