The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1895-05-09
SubsOiling.

A few years ago a discussion of the
merits of deep blowing and occasional
subsoil blowing was conducted in the
columns of a leading agricultural paper,
and a noted writer took the position
that subsoiling was useless, but he was
so ''worsted' in the investigation of the
subject that he has never written on
agricultural topics in that paper since,
No one who is informed can doubt
for a moment that subsoiling is the
thing to be practiced in connection
with deep blowing each season. Moist.
ure is the great want of all growing
plants. and to store all moisture deep
down in the earth where it will be kept
until needed at the surface is the
greatest problem to be solved; and
nothing will so fully accomplish this
indispensable requirement as deep
blowing and subsoiling.
Plant food is used by all plants
| through the medium of moisture. an
without an abundant supply of moisture
the fertility in the earth cannot be
| made available for plant growth. How
important then does it become to econ
omiZe all moisture hat comes down IN
the rain and melting SHOWS that grow
ing plants may obtain all h fertility
needed. Experiments have been made
during the past season, and reported 10
the press and published, giving the
most encouraging results. In fact. the
economy of subsoil blowing is support.
ed by every reason in nature, and found
true in practice.
When will farmers get ready to be-
gin this important work? Will this
broad guage' system of attempting 10
farm more than can be properly done
keep them from adopting a more I'M
proved system? AS long as so much Is
attempted there will be little or no time
to adopt improved methods that require
extra time to carry out. How much
better 1t would be to attempt only wha'
can be well done, and then give the
best care and attention. The very best
results may be confidently looked for
VIII the farmer be admonished 70
adopt what reason teaches are the only
successful methods? Will the time ever
come when farmers will abandon the
old methods and adopt new ones, that
will secure them the success that every
one desires.
The cost of blowing sufficiently deep
and subsoiling to loosen the ground
merely TO a greater depth, is, when
considered in comparison with the great
results, inconsiderable. If it is true
Us claimed-and it cannot be well dis
| n1tp1-fhnt rpniStnra SfnraI in the
earth is brought up by capillary action
when it is demanded at the surface,
then it is certainly true that those
means by which the moisture is stored
should be employed by all farmers
they wish to keep up with the advance.
ment and progress hat is being maze
abundant supply of moisture at al
times, you will have the most abundant
| yields of all farm crops, and will never
want for fertility, as moisture is the
| great distributor of plant food, as al
forms of plant growth are supported
by the moisture that absorbs the Ter.
til;ty in the earth and in the air. Lev
us, therefore, conform to the rules ana
regulations laid down by the laws Oh
old nature, in order that we may have
the most satisfactory results in all de'
partments of farm work.
Subsoiling may not be required often
er than once in five or ten years. a
practical test alone will determine now
frequently it will be necessary 10 Go
this work. 1t is even more than prog
able that once IN ten years will be SUI
f~icient, but if required ~oftener, 1t can
not be more than once in five years,
and this will entail so little extra laoo.
and require so little extra expense tnas
no farmer should hesitate to empitoJ
this advanced method to increase lh0
yields of crops.
f. s. TEAGARDEN'
Boone, Iowa