Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-02-04

Aion 20 TO 10 per cent because or lack
OF sufficient moisture to bring it to ma
turlty. The soil may have been put
IN proper condition, plant food may
nave e supplied in the form of fer
tiilzers, and all other conditions may
ave been favorable for the develop
ment OF a full crop, yet with the supply
OF moisture deficient all this labor ard
expense count for little or nothing. The
questions therefore, arise: ITO what
extent can the amount of soil moisture
pe CONTROLLED" rs it possible TO do
anything TO save crops from the oft-re-
curing droughts?" The insufficient
water supply is not due to lack OF rain
laii, but to its unequal distribution. The
average annual rainfall in New York
Tor the last seventeen years is 34.31
inches The lowest rainfall ever re-
corded in the State was in 1879 when
only 1874 inches fell. In 1895 there
was also a deficiency, emily 28.66 inches
being recorded. In the arid portions
OF Kansas, a rainfall of 20 inches which
Is well distributed, is reasonably sure
OF making n good crop. The loss there
by surface drainage is, however, very
slight, it being estimated at not more
than ten per cent or about two inches,
leaving is inches for crop growth. In
New York, with a, rainfall of from "a
to 40 inches, nearly one-haif passes of
by surface drainage and is lost so far
as immediate plant growth is con-
cerned. Not only is the water lost to
the crops, but it carries with it much
of the soluble plant food of the sur
face soil. This, then, would suggest
one important step In the attempt to
store up moisture. This surface flow
of water must be prevented and caused
to sink into the soil to supply a reser-
voir from which plants can secure
moisture during the period of growth.
That a proper understanding of the
question may be reached, it is Deces-
cary to have a knowledge Of the con-
ditions -nder which water exists in the
soil, and of the part it plays in the
mysterious operations of plant growth
Water may be in one Of three forms
as free, capillary, or microscopic water.
The free water of the soil is that which
flows under the influence Of gravity.
1t is the source of supply for wells and
springs. 1t is not directly used by
plants and its presence in the soil with
in is inches of the surface is detri-
mental to the growth of most cultivat-
ed crops. 1t is valuable, however. be-
cause II is the supply from which Ca
pillary water is drawn. The capillary
water does not flow by gravity. II is
the direct source of moisture for plants.
II may be either drawn upwards or it
may pass downwards, depending upon
whether the soil is drier at the sur
face or below. In time of drouths the
capillary action Of the soil may be suf-
ficient TO raise the water through a
distance of five or six feet, it's power in
this respect depending directly upon its
physical condition. II the soil is coarse
and cloddy and the particles are not
compact, then the water cannot rise
to take the place Of that which is car
ried off by evaporation or used up by
plants In their growth. II, however, the
soil is fine, In good condition and homo
genous, the water passes freely and
continuously to the surface.