Great Falls weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1894-1???, 1895-05-10

Inc advantages Derived From Subsoilin.
and Surface Cultivation,

derived from SubSOi1inw
and Surface Cultivation.
The seasons of 1890 and 1894 have
impressed The value of thorough work
very 1orclhly on the progressive farmers
OF the west. While the great adyan.
tages to he gained from some form of
irrigation arc evident, not all are locat.
ed to readily use the help of irrigation;
henco improved methods Of prcparine
the SOIL to store up and conserve mois-
ture arc i'll order. The nurservmen west
OF tho Missouri are already familiar with
the marked advantages of deep work in
plowlng land intended for trees and
plants. 1t is observed among those Or
chardlsts who practice deep preparation
OF tho soil that better root growth and
healthier trees are obtained in dry sea
sons than wet. The dry season invites
trees to root deeply in the SUBSIDIZED
land, and the absence of rain compels
such frequent surface cultivation as
shall aerHte the soil and hold all mCi>-
turc gwen by rain for the use Of trees
and plants cultivated. Subsoiliny to the
depth ri III to IS inches allows the SHOWS
ana rams vi winter and spring to soak
into the soil, instead Of running away,
AS SOILS can take up 80 to 80 ncr cent
OF tilclr weight Of water q large amount
IS stored for use of plants III dry wealth
er. ~ NrhraSka farmer Of long expo-
1lenco writing to Prairie Farmer SAYS:
Eor best results in Nebraska | would
prefer t. Suhsuil in autumn, though for
20 years | have SUBSIDIZED in sDriny as
well as fall with good results. Our
practice Ii to use three horses ON lead
stirring rlow and carry nine to ten
inches. Follow with three strong horses
oil a suhsoil pIow, looscnine the hard
SOIL seven to eight inches deeper and
leaving 1t lOoscncd in the bottom Of the
1urrOW. ] prefer such subsoil plOws az
have adjustable beams (dial clevis is
hardly sufficient, enabling the 'offn
horse OF the three to walk in the fur
row, instead of Oh plowed soil. If woll,
IS done i'll the fall, leave it rough and
looso to catch the snow. If this is done
III spring, harrow each half dav, or at
least daily, to fine the surface, prevent
clods and hold moisture. In the cult
walton Of orchards. small fruits and
nursery stock on lands properly pre-
pared and then cultivated weekly |
have never known a complete failure.
and after trees and plants arc once root
moisture enough has always been
held to secure fair growth of trees and
plants.
III heavy rains do not fall to make
the soil sufficiently firm to enable the
to rise to the surface, then
harrow or pulvcrizo i'll any way open
with the tools at hand to firm the soil.
Subsequent work is simply with any
form OF surface working machinery to
prevent moisture rising by capillary
to tho surface and being cvaporat-
Any tool which will keep two
ct the surface loose will answer
purpose. BE careful not to cultivate
SO deeply as to break roots. In localities
to drought DO not crowd the
on plants. Too mlny trees cyharst
jhe moisture, just as certainly as six
'orn$tAlks in a hill are ton many. In
lSjI our orchard, rs by rs, worked each
way with Il disk p~uivcrizyr and har-
owed frequently, held q good supply Of
until September, Mllilo the or.
with rows l2ia by - that could
'nly be worked one way suffered.
Nursery seedlings always receive fro-
lucnt cultivation with the inyariable
that when followed by corn or
ram Il large increase of yield is noted.
Il 1871 0 ! following seedlings yielded
o. bushels and 40 pounds per acre Of
corn. This, ON high prairie and
class of land that, with ordinary cul-
urp IN the same year, gave no more than
. bushels per acre. With such prrra-
atlon and culture nursery fields hold
moisture for fair growth in
rycst years. Tho same methods applied
D farm crops should give improved re-.
Ats.