Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1897-04-30
Drying Out of Soil.

In October the shortage was not less
than twenty inches, writes corre-
spondent Of Forest Leaves. or course
to restore the ground to Its normal
condition of moisture. considerable
time and q large rainfall would be re-
quired. Indeed, 1t Is by no means GER
tain that this desirable condition has
been attained yet. This may be re-
garded as a partial answer to the ques-
ton which heads this brief communi-
cation. 1t is not, however, the whole
answer Observing farmers have noted
that years ago their mature grass and
grain could stand much longer than
now without becoming dead ripe.
Harvesting could be postponed If re-
CURED longer than now without injury
to the crop. This they tell us has
changed. The crop now must be cut
at once when ripe, or serious loss
follows. We can only account for this
on the supposition that evaporation Is
more rapid. II the average tempera-
ture is unchanged there remains but
one explanation. /. e., that there is less
moisture in the air over the country
at large. Meteorological statistics, II
they reach over a sufficiently long Pc
Rod, might give positive answer as
to whether or not this Is the case. In
the absence of such data 1t may be al
lowed to seek the explanation from
another direction. Accordingly we
NAV call to mind the observations of
DR.. Evermayer for the Bavarian gov
eminent, where 1t is declared that over
areas of similar size the evaporation
of moisture from forest area, includ-
ing Transportation, exceeds by 81 per
cent the evaporation from water sur
face in the Open" There is a peculiar
significance in this statement when it
is remembered that from water sur
faces, including the ocean, we have
thought the water supply, by evapora-
ton, Of the earth was mainly derived.
In the light of this revelation as to
the activity Of forests in giving OF
moisture to the atmosphere. when we
consider also the vast area once tim
bered, but now denuded of trees, the
conclusion forces itself upon US that
this must inevitably have surrounded
us by less humid atmosphere. II
this conclusion be correct, an explana-
ton of the great greater rapidity with
which our cleared sufaces dry out must
appear. Evaporation is of necessity
more rapid. This manifests itself at
once by the greater rapidly with
which the moisture disappears from
the soil. and 1t also explains partly
why, in spite Of rains which are APP
parently copious, the volume of water
carried by our streams so soon dimin-
ishes.
Methods Of Plowing.-Very deep
blowing Is not necessary or even adj
visable to rot sod. Three or four-inch
furrow, turned while moist in early
spring, will rot more quickly and per-
tectly than the same furrow turned
deeper. But an Iowa farmer thinks he
has found still better way. That is
10 pillow two burrows, first throwing the
sod to q depth of four inches, and fol-
lowing the same furrow with a stirring
plow. which thoroughly breaks up the
soil below the sod, and then throws
dive or six inches Of this soil over it.
On land thus prepared he got a large
crop Of corn without q weed, and the
next Year the furrow to the entire
depth of the soil stirred was as mel
low as an ash heap, and without a
trace Of sod. In this case probably the
under soil was vegetable mould and
rich, and the season was also q moist
one. We have seen many heavy sods
made unproductive by turning up too
much clay subsoil with the sod. Some
times in a dry season a spring-turned
sod will be found unrotted at the bot
tom OF deep furrow. when clayey SUBJ
soil has been thrown over 1t. In such
cases no crop could be grown until
the old sod. entirely killed, though
not rotted. was turned to the surface
and exposed to air. 1t then decompos-
es very rapidly. but the deep blowing
means years loss of time.-Ex.
Fattening Cattle.-For fattening cat.
tie find the best results to be obtained
are by feeding a mixture of:
Wheat bran. two bushels; middlings.
one bushel; corn meal. two bushels,
and oil meal one-half bushel. This mix
ture will give nearly as good results
without the middlings as with them.
Always give rough feed in connection
with rations like the above, The
amount to be fed must be governed en-
ttrely by good judgment: Always feed
lightly at first and increase gradually
until the animals are getting all they
can eat but never give them more than
they will eat up clean. Halt of the
secret In feeding IL to have your ami
mails come into the stables hungry at
feeding time. I mean with good
healthy appetites. not starved.-Ex.
Hog Cholera in lowa.-The Iowa
weather bureau has issued a statement
showing that during the current wear
80 per cent Of the hogs in the state have
died of cholera. In the northeast dis.
trict the loss is II per cent: north CEN
trail, 40 per cent: northwest. % ner
cent: central. 50 per cent: south CEN
trail. 30h per cent: west central q