The Elbert County tribune., 1899-03-02
OF
DRY-RAAcH|hG

Inc primary OBJECT OF dry
rsnching methods is the absorption
and conscrvp ton Of moisture. The
precipitation Of the early part Of
The season ID usually sufficient to
gaturats plowsd ground 70 the
depth of two feet. Precluding
the evaporation caused by strong
winds this amount Of moisture
would almost suf6ce 70 raise s|
crop without additional rainfall.
Tae intensity and temperature of
the winds being exceedingly vari-
able quantities render it a difficult
matter to give formula for the
rate Of evaporation, bot in ordina-
~ weather six weeks Of drought
will dry out tho upper four inches
Of average soil in good tilth. Thus
u will be seen that tho plant with
its roots established at . depth Of
I've inches or more 10 almost
secure from drought. Corn that
has been planted six to eight incnes
In land plowed nine or twelve
inches will mature . good crop
with two inches Of rain, or at the
rate Of half an inch . month for
the growing season, but a. the
rainfall usually exceeds this
amount nine-inch depth Of plow-
ing with six for planting generally
gives good results.
Small grain for the same reason
should be cultivated or drilled 10
at least four inches, alfalfa and
millet not over one and one-half.
One-thir less seed should be used
on the dry ranch than on irrigated
land and will produce infinitely
better results than close planting
for shade, which is particularly
condemned. Land plowed nine
inches with one cultivation will
hold moisture about as we'll as land
plowed six inches deep with four
Civilizations, therefore deep plow-
ing in the Arst place saves an
enormous amount Of labor in the
end. II the fold is given a thor
ough plowing or subsoiling a foot
or more in depth every three years,
ordinary plowing will suffice for
the intervening years. In order
to economize the moisture and
provide for fine tilth which is SO
r-caesary for mplnhipq tho sYytaca.
the pillow should bo followed
almost Immediately by the harrow
in spring or summer weather, but
in winter it is rather an advantage
to leave ground open to collect
snow and be fned down by the
weather. Weeds in the held are
equally to be deprecated with
close planting and can be almost
completely eradicatsd by harrow
ling in the seed Of the previous
year in the early spring before
plowing commences. A week or
two later the whole weed crop can
be plowed under and the land 10
clean and ready for sowing.
To prevent evaporation, perfect
lily level cultivation with q fine
dust mulch Of one or two inches is
beautiful thing in theory, but We
find in practice that the dust ID
converted into mud by the first
/ rainstorm and the baking and
cracking that cnsues is encouraged
by tho levelness Of tho land and
|the smoothness Of the surface.
Rough and deep cultivation, wher'
practicable without injury TO root
with the common cultivator tooth
not only leaves depressions to col
Ilect and absorb the rains, but tn
soil on the ridges is continually
working back into the hollows b.
1.-The the action Of the elements
automatically closing up the crack
and pores through which th
moisture would otherwise escape
There is probably some advantage
as has been said, in haying th
rows run so as to be shaded by th
sun as much as possible. e. K
Parsons Of Parker, in Field an