Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1896-03-21
GREAT VALUE IN sUBs0ILINd.

GREAT VALUE IN SUbSOlLINu.
Subsoiling is not turning of
the under soil to the surface-this
would be only deep plowing-but it
is simply a loosening of the subsoil
and allowing it to fall back without
bringing it to the surface at all.
This operation permits the under
soil to receive greater amount of
moisture and to retain it, because,
being loose and loamy from the
operation of subsoiling, II becomes
more like the sandy soil in many
respects-more retentive of moist
ure. The benefit, says the Plow.
man, of subsoiling in sandy soil
is that the water is more readily
removed from the top soil, while it
is at the same time retained for the
future use of the crop. The advan.
tage of subsoiling heavy soil, on
the other hand. is that the water,
instead of being removed by sur.
face drainage or evaporation, is
allowed to sink into the soil where
II is retained, and when the closer
top soil would otherwise become
hard and unfit for the growth of the
crop, especially if the rains be fol.
lowed by long drouth, there is
large amount of water stored away
in the subsoil to be drawn upon as
needed by the growing vegetation.
Subsoiling effectually does away
with the hard packing of the bot
tom of the furrow as left by the
ordinary plow, and IL fall plowing
were followed by subsoiling. the
erosion of the top soil on rolling
lands, which Prof. Shaler estimates
at $50 square miles each year, would
be reduced to minimum, if not
entirely stopped.
Two hundred and fifty square
miles. 100000 acres. OF good soil
rendered barren each year from
This one cause! AT so an acre-a
low estimate for good farm lands
in the more settled parts of the
couniry-this means a money loss
of $S0O0OO0 per annum to the farm.
crs of the United States.
But the expense Of suhsoiling!
Yes, il is an expense. and yet when
we consider in addition TO the saw
ing to future fertility of this cnor-
nous acreage now rendered barren
~ erosion. the vastly increased
crops and improved quality of the
Production these things are
matter of actual experience and not
! mere theory---the small additional
Expense of subsoiling need not
utter into our consideration.
Besides it is moi necessary to sub-
-oil every year, but Only once in
,wo or some soils. once in three
years. We believe, however, that
with the investigation and expert
nenls that are now being put upon
This subject the time is not far dis
ant when an implement will be
constructed that will both pillow and
subsoil at one and the SAME opera
ton
This matter has now been engag-
ing the attention oi our implement
men for some time aud the demand
seems to have been created, owing
% more enlightened knowledge
# the subject among aGriculturists
ior such a tool, aud when there
exists real and active demand for
anything in mechanical line in
these times il is not long until
inventive skill has Produced it.
We make the unqualified state
ment that subsoiling saves the sur
plus water aud keeps il from the
crops. II is beneficial in sandy
soil because il prevents the top soil
from becoming too saturated in wet
seasons while nj the same time saw
ing the water for future Use in dry
seasons. 1t il beneficial in clay
soils because 1t takes care of the
surplus water instead of allowing
II to drain off, prevents erosion of
the soil and stores the water for
future use of the crop. In subsoil-
ing, then. may be found in a large
degree. the solution of the great
problem and the attainment of the
end and object of all cultivation,
which is TO control the supply of
water in the Wisconsin Agri-
culturist, Jan. 10. 1853.
The election proclamation will be
found in another place in this issue.