Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-11-10
RETENTION or MOISTURE.

The proper time to plow for fall
wheat, as We have been steadily urg-
ing throughout the season, is as soon
as possible after the previous crop
has been removed, Among the numer-
Gus advantages attending this prac-
tice, the fact that it makes the soil
more retentiye Of moisture during
the remaining period OF hot weather
is not the least. That 1t does this
is generally known, the plowed soil
acting in the same way as mulch,
but the extent to which 1t does 1t Is
not so exactly understood. Expert
ments at the Kansas Experiment sta
ton, the results OF which have just
been published in newspaper bull
letin, show that one OF the fields on
the experiment farm, which on July
9TH contained In the first foot OF soil
26 per cent. Of water, retained at the
end of the four weeks following 10
per cent. in that part which was
left untouched, Is per cent. In that
which was plowed, The plowed ground
was In excellent condition for seed
ing when the time came, while that
which had been left unplowed was
not in a condition to plow satisfact-
orily at all, as 1t plowed up lumpy
The loss which the untreated portion
of the field sustained during the time
stated was equivalent to over one
and half inches of rainfall, which Is
a good deal In midsummer In the
west, and Is about one-half what the
rain. The experiment proves that
stubble ground ought to be plowed as
soon as possible, and that plowpg Is
as satisfactory a method OF consery-
ing the moisture as any kind OF tillage
yet tested. If rain falls shortly after
should, of course, be put on, both
TO Kill them and TO break up the crust
that forms after a rain and interferes
with the efficiency OF the soil-mulch.
Corn Fodder.
1t is a common thing to see large
fields OF corn that the owners have no
intention OF saving anything but the
ears. Now this looks to me very
wasteful and no doubt In a few years
we will see a great change In this
practice In some cases the fields
are pastured during the winter, which
Is damaging to the land. How much
better 1t Is TO cut the corn while the
fodder Is green, making fine feed
accepted by all stock. A good way,
when one wants to plow In the fall
and hasn't a very good place In the
barn TO save fodder and Is obliged 10
leave II In the field until used, Is to
have two men with corn knives cut
and lay aside two rows where shock
row Is to be made. Then with your
plow throw these two stubble rows to-
gether 70 begin your shock row on. AS
you cut and shock your corn you can
pow right along and when You are
done with your corn you are done
blowing. II the weather Is dry at
husklng time and fodder Ii too dry 70
husk you can overcome this by simply
moistening as many shocks In the
evening as you intend TO husk the
next day. A pail OF water poured on
top Of shock will be plenty Now don't
leave fodder in the field and have TO
haul out through mud. but have one
wagon with box for corn and one
wagon with hay rack. Bind fodder In
large bundles, load on rack as
husked and haul TO stack yard and
Yet In rows five feet wide and any
length that Is desired. When rick
Is flnihed run wire on either side
and bind through and through with
short pieces OF wire and you have
ii secure until you are ready to feed
IL. 1t will keep much better set up
on the ends In this way than II