Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-07-03

The seasons Of 1890 and 1894 have
impressed the value Of thorough work
very forcibly on the progressive farmers
of the west While the great advan-
tages to he gained from some form Of
irrigation are evident. not all are locst-
ed to readily use the help of irrigation;
hence improved methods Of preparing
the soil to store up and conserve mois-
ture are in order. The nurserymen west
Of the Missouri are already familiar with
the marked advantages Of deep work in
blowing land intended for frees and
plants. 1t is observed among those or
chardists vino practice deep preparation
of the soil that better root growth and
healthier trees are obtained in dry sea-
sons th an 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 aerate the soil and hold all mois-
ture given by rain for the use of trees
and plants cultivated. S~ubsoiling to the
depth Of is to Is inches allows the SHOWS
and rains of winter and spring to soak
into the soil, instead of running away.
As soils can take up 30 to 80 per cent
of their weight Of water a large amount
is stored for use of plants in dry wealth
er. A Nebraska farmer of long expe-
rience writing to PraiFe Farmer says:
For best results in Nebraska ! would
prefer to subsoil in autumn, though for
90 years ! have SUBSIDIZED in spring as
well as fall with good results. Our
practice is to use three horses ON lead
stirring pillow and carry nine to ten
inches. Follow with three strong horses
on a suhsoil pillow, loosening the hard
soil seven to eight inches deeper and
leaving it ioosened in the bottom of the
furrow. / prefer such subsoil plows S
have adjustable beams (dial clevis is
hardly sufficiently, enabling the off"
horse OF the three TO walk in the FUR
row, instead of on plowed soil. If W rk
is done in the fall, leave it rough ard
loose to catch the snow. Ii this is dona
ia spring, harrow each half day, or at
least daily, TO fine the surface. prevent
clcds and hold moisture. In the Guilt
vation of orchards, small fruits and
nursery stock on lands properly pre-
nared and then cultivated weekly /
have never known a complete failure,
and after trees and plants are once root
ed moisture enough has always been
held to secure fair growth of trees and
plants.
II heavy rains Go not fall to make
the soil sufficiently firm to enable the
moisture TO rise to the surface, then
harrow or pulverize in 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
clear TO the surface and being evaporat-
ed. Any tool which will keep two
inches of tie surface loose will answer
the purpose. Be careful not to cultivate
so deeply as to break roots. In localities
subject TO drought do not crowd the
trees or plants. Too many trees exhaust
the moisture, just as certainly as six
cornstalks in a hill are too many. In
1894 our orchard, % by 2S, worked each
way with a disk pulyerizer and har-
rowed frequently, held a good supply of
moisture until September, while the or
chard with ows 1875 by 20 that could
only be worked one way suffered.
Nursery seedlings always receive fire.
quent cultivation with the invariable
result that when followed by corn or
grain a large increase of yield is noted.
In 1891 corn following seedlings yielded
los bushels and 40 pounds per acre of
shelled corn. This. IN high prairie and
ON a class of land that, with ordinary cul-
ture in the same year, gave no more than
SO bushels per acre. With such prepa-
ration and culture nursery fields hold
sufficient moisture for fair growth in
dryest years. The same methods applied
to farm crops should give improved re,
suits.