Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1890-07-19
Eavstt 1#teFtsts,
Breaking the Capillaries.'

much was SAID ABOUT the benehclal
effects to be derived from thorough
and timely cultivation during
AT length some one asked
"What is the principle involved ?
How does cultivation give increased
for the crop?" No one else
answering, your correspondent gave
his views, and the unusually intelli-
gent audience present seemed to be
satisfied with them, as not a word of
dissent was uttered.
But since then the Farmers Home
of that city, in an editorial four col
umns long, has attacked the explana-
ton given, and says more forcibly
than courteously, that it sis not
true" and ais as absurd as it is falla-
cious." Having been called on many
times to make this same explanation
1 would naturally like to know
whether it was really false or not.
Therefore l will repeat it as nearly as
l can, and then shall be obliged to
those of your readers who have given
the matter attention, if they will cor
rect me, if 1 am wrong in their esti-
nation.
We will suppose one has a good
soaking rain on his potatoe field,
when the plants are partly grown.
AS soon as the ground is dry enough
to get on to without injury to it, the
farmer stirs all the surface about two
inches deep. Everyone knowsthat if
that ground had remained unbroken
for five or six days the moisture from
the shower would have been evapo-
rated. Under some conditions this
might have taken place even sooner.
And all good farmers also know that
that stirring of the surface as soon as
possible after the shower would keep
the rest of the soil moist much longer,
or in other words would check the
evaporation from it. This loose soil
on the surface seems to act as mulch,
and prevents the soil below from dry
ing out as fast as it would if the sur
face was not stirred. The moisture
is constantly working towards the
surface by what is known as capillary
attraction. When we cultivate the
surface we break up these little tubes,
more or less, for the time being, and
the moisture brought up by them is
checked when it gets to the lower
part of the moved soil.
Now according to my experience
and observation this is the way we
get nearly all Our benefit from thor
ough cultivation during a drouth
What does the F. H. say? First, thai
moisture is retained on the principle
of an augmented capillary, and Sec
ond, that by far the greatest benefit
derived from thorough culture, il
thedry season, is the rendering of TIT
soil capable of condensing the great
est amount of moisture from the at
mosphere.
According to the best Of my obser
walton it is very little moisture tina
my fields get from the air in a yer!
dry time. look for by far the large
part of the benefit from cultivation
to come from the saving Of all tn
moisture possible that is already il
the soil. TO that end we take tn
greatest pains to cultivate at just tn
right time. Having once let tn
moisture get away into the air,
have never been able to get YER
much back. 1t will not do to cult
vate over two inches deep, when tn
crops are growing, or partly grown
and that does not let the air in yer
far.
According to this man it does NJ
make much difference Che does NJ
speak of any when cultivation
done. One has only to stir the sol
no matter how dry, and get plenty
moisture from the atmosphere.
his readers take his advice, or folio
after his teaching in this line, in m
estimation great harm will be don
In regard to breaking the capillari
by cultivation, this writer says it cal
not be done and in substance tht
cultivation only makes them fin
and increases the capillary action.
he had ever followed a cultivate
and kept his eyes open, he won
know that although the connectiC
was not entirely broken by the sti
ring of the surface, there was a parti
break in it, and that the stirrt
ground was much looser and mo
porus, and had larger capillaries in
so to speak. than If had before If VI,