Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-12-29
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~ notes @
Use OF Water by Plants,

IL is not at all strange that the an
Gent Egyptian and Greek philosophers
with their lack OF exact knowledge
and under the arid climatic conditions
should have come to believe that water
is the sole food of plants, aud that this
opinion should have been held until
nearly the beginning Of the eighteenth
century, AS a matter Of fact, water
does contribute more than half az the
material which makes up the dry mat
ter OF the plants, and, rs water, Il con
stitutes from three -fourths to more
than niue-tenths OF their green weight.
While 1t is true that abundant and
timely rains do make comparatively
poor soils produce large crops, It must
not be inferred that, with proper sup
plies of water applied to the soil, all
else may be neglected and the hope
entertained that any agricultural soils
viii thus be held up to high state OF
produetiveness for an indetlnite term
OF years.
Plant growth depends largely on the
four factors, heat, light, food and
water, Recent experiments show that
ot water than from lack Of food In the
soil. All crops do not require the same
amount of water; ON the contrary, diff
ferent classes of crops require very
different conditions. Fortunately
there is great variety of soil condi-
tons, Soils differ very markedly In
their texture and physical properties
There are thus In the different kinds
of soil conditions suited to different
classes of plants, and by taking advan-
tnge of them and adapting our crops
and methods to these natural condt.
tions, we have opportunity for great
diversity of production,
Ii Ia necessary, therefore. for the
most perfect development of the ugri-
cultural possibilities OF any soil, that
we plant IN Il crops best suited TO II
and study the wants of the plant, ~
that we may be able to control these
conditions to certain extent through
methods of cultivation, fertilization, ir-
rigation and drainage, Plants consume
large quantities Of water In their
growth; they eXhale many times their
weight each season, and insufficient
water supply Is not due to the lack oi
rainfall in this state, The ayerag,
rainfall for the last II years was 34,Sl
inches, representing approximately
l2t5l2 cubic feet OF water per acre, OF
93l ,472 gallons. The least rainfall
| recorded since 1885, from April to Sep
TENDER, inclusive, In New York, wns
| l2,5 inches, IN lSi9, which represents
1876 cubic feet of water per acre
| Therefore the average rainfall In this
state Is sufficient for the requirements
OF crops, II II could be distributed OF
conserved during the growing season
| But nearly one-half of this water pass
es off by surface drainage and IL MOI
only lost To growing plants, but carries
with II much available plant food
There should be nm ample reservoir II
the soil for the storage of moisture (,
| tide over plants nj critical periods
moi free water, or that which IL capabl,
Of being pushed along by It's owt
weight, but water that Ia held In til,
soil by capillarity, Well prepared
| friable soils are capable of boldinI
| about 80 per cent of their weight o
moisture, and yet not contain any fire.,
or running water. Water will rise full
/ ly three feet by capillary force alone
| This IL natures great reservoir, from
which plants draw their moisture
Therefore. with ample reservoirs, Sc
cured by means of under drainage
culture and top-rooted plants may BIZ,
defiance to any reasonable drought
Fashioned Flowers.
No class OF our people have more de
plored the neglect of the old -fashione,
flowers than those whose memories o
childhood carry them back to the beau
ties Of grandmother's garden from
every nook and corner OF whicl
peeped some graceful plant. with IL
dainty blossoms nodding in the mil,
breezes Of summer, or boldly blddinI
defiance to the chill winds of autumn
The stately columbine and holly-hocl
the bright-hued sweet William, tn
dainty blush OF bouncing Bet, the gor
geous dress Of the tiger lily, and th,
purity OF Its white sister, all these ant
more are pioneer Americans; for III
early AZ 1900 the writer's OF the da,
were wont To wax enthusiastic owe
them and the wonderplays OF gill
flower, marygold, thyme and sage, TO
gether with the beautiful sweet brieI
Of Byzantine rose. To this day in part
OF the country we find on the grounds
OF oil homesteads, alas! fast going Il
decay. tufts Of these old-fashionet
flowers planted years and years ago
now lifting their delicate heads ir
mute appeal, faithful to the memories
OF departed days.--Ohio Farmer.
Growing Catalpa.
There are great many who do moi
know that the hardy catalpa. which II
so much admired az a lawn ornament
can be very easily grown from the
seed. The long spike-likc pods which
decorate the catalpa In autumn, II
gathered and opened, will be found "a
contain q number OF small beans In
pairs, which are supplied with wings.