The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-20
Soil MoistIlra

When ground is plowed in the spring
and stratum of soil four to six inches in
depth is shaved completely from that be-
low, and reversed in loose condition upon
it, there is provided a covering which acts
as a strong mulch, saws the Grange Home.
it has for long time been believed by
studious observsnt farmers that this
checks, in a marked degree, the loss OF
water by evaporation from the undisturbed
soil.
Precise figures have been lacking, how
ever, until recently the Pennsylvania ex~
pertinent station made careful inyestiga-
tons.
One plot was plowed April %, 1892, and
the soil was carefully tested in comparison
with a similar unplo we'd field, May g. The
unplowed ground contained in the upper
four feet 9. l3 pounds less water per square
foot than did the plowed ground, as equiv
alent Of 1.72 inches of rainfall.
When 1t is observed that the amount of
water available for crop and production,
on almost all lands, is less than that which
can be used ~ the best advantage when Que
year is taken with another, such fact has
an important bearing upon problems Of till
age. 1t teaches that where corn and potato
ground Is to be plowed in the spring, the
blowing should be done as the soil is dry
enough 10 permit It, and that where corn
is to tie planted upon fall blowing, the disk
harrow, or similar tool, sh uld be used upon
this ground as early as practicable, to avoid
a loss OF water by surface OF evaporation.
The prevention of excessive waste OF soil
water is not the only important gain
which results from early spring tillsge.
With all clay soils and clayey loans there
is certain degrees of dry rss at whlcN they
work with the least Te5ie q c.. ard sIo at
the same Time in tue best possible TIL as
these soils pass from the excessive wet stage
through the stage of best moisture to that
Of too little, they shrink and draw together
ITO the laI ger or smaller clo0s which are 80
a moving, 50 produr l. o or labor, aud SO
preventive of large yields.
The ground referred to in the above ex>
pertinent was plowed on April 20, was left
In excellent tilth, but that which, side by
side with 1t, laid eight days longer without
blowing, had developed in IL during that
time great numbers of clods OF extreme
size and excessive hardness, and, conse-
quently, it became necessary to go over this
ground twice with loaded harrow, and
twice with O heavy roller before it was
brought into a condition Of filth only APP
proxlmating that which it might have had
had it been plowed ou April %. Not only
did the delay in blowing increase fcurfold
the labor Of fitting the ground, but at the
same time it resulted in an unnecessary
waste of water, which was very large and
greatly needed.
We are last coming to believe that surface
tillage diminishes the rate of evaporation
from tie soil, hut ss yet we are without
positive data IN regard to how great this
saving may be- 1t was found that during
sixty-four days, for each column of soil one
square foot in section and six feet long, the
uncultivated ground had dried 8. 81 pounds
more tran cultivated.
A saving of 8.S4 pounds per square foot
is equivalent to a rainfall of Ii inches;
sol. 40 pounds of water are required for a