The Langston City herald. [volume] (Langston City, O.T. [Okla.]) 1891-1902, 1897-02-06

from 20 to 75 per cent because OF lack
Of sufficient moisture to bring 1t to ma
turity. The soil may have been pat
In proper condition, plant food may
have been supplied in the form OF fer-
tilizers. and all other conditions may
have been favorable for the develop
ment Of full crop, yet with the supply
Of moisture deficient all this labor ana
expense count for little or nothing. Inc
questions therefore. arise: ITO what
extent can the amount Of soil moisture
be controlled?" ''Is 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
fall, but to its unequal distribution. The
average annual rainfall in New YORK
Tor the last seventeen years Is 34.3l
inches. The lowest rainfall ever re-
corded in the State was in 1879 when
oAly 1874 inches fell. In 1895 there
was also deficiency, only 2S.66 inches
being recorded. In the arid portions
Of Kansas, a rainfall Of 20 inches which
IS we'll distributed, is reasonably sure
H making a good crop. The loss there
oy 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
Gew York, with rainfall Of from "a
20 40 inches, nearly one-half passes on
by surface drainage and is lost so far
rs immediate plant growth is con-
serned. Not only is the water lost to
he crops, but It carries with 1t much
of the soluble plant food of the sur
lace soil. This, then. would suggest
Dne important step in the attempt to
store up moisture. This surface flow
:! water must he prevented and caused
70 sink into the soil to supply reser-
voir from which plants can secure
moisture during the period Of growth.
That a proper understanding of the
question may be reached, 1t is neces-
'ary to have knowledge Of the con-
aitions under which. water exists in the
soil, and Of the part 1t plays in the
mysterious operations Of plant growth.
Water may be in one Of three forms
Is free, capillary. or microscopic water.
The free water Of the soil Is that which
lows under the influence Of gravity.
Il Is the source Of supply for wells and
springs. 1t is not directly used by
plants and It's presence in the soil with
IN IS inches OF the surface is detri-
mental to the growth Of most cultivat-
I'd crops. 1t Is valuable. however, be-
cause 1t is the supply from which ca
pillary water Is drawn. The capillary
water does not flow by gravity. 1t Is
he direct source Of moisture for plants.
It may be either drawn upwards or 1t
may pass downwards, depending upon
whether the soil is drier at the sur
lace or below. In time Of drouths the
capillary action of the soil may be suf-
dcient to raise the water through a
distance Of five or six feet. Its power In
this respect depending directly upon its
physical condition. II the soil Is coarse
and cloddy and the particles are not
.ompact, then the water cannot rise
10 take the place Of that which Is car
lied off by evaporation or used up by
plants in their growth. II, however, the
,oil is fine, In good condition and homo
genous, the water passes freely and
continuously to the surface.