The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-12
Thc cnItirnfinn of Soil.

Inc cultivation of SOIL.
E. T. Yokum, before the Upland Farm
ers' Club. says: Recognizing the axiom
that the hand that holds the pillow feeds
the world, the problem of cultivation of
the soil has engaged the attention and
study of sages and scientists for more
than 5000 years. From the days of the
Pharoahs. when Joseph planned and exc
cuted the first successful corner on wheat,
down to the present time, soil tillage has
occupied prominent place In the history
and progress of nations.
The subject Is a comprehensive one, and
this paper will deal mainly with that fea-
ture of 1t relating to the orchard. Three
objects are to be attained in the cultiva-
ton OF the orchard, namely, the destruc-
ton OF weeds, the areaton of the soil and
the conservation of moisture. Weeds be-
ing great consumers of soil moisture, the
Importance of preventing their growth
Is too apparent to admit of discussion.
In its natural state the soil has the ap-
pearance of being a compact. sold mass;
but, in fact, only 30 per cent. of its bulk
Is composed of soil grains. The remainder
of the space is occupied by air and water,
the presence of both being imperat1vely
necessary to the life and growth Of plants.
The oxygen breaks down and decomposes
the plant food available, and 1t Is claimed
by some scientific authorities that por-
ton of the free nitrogen of the air is taken
up by the roots and utilized in nourishng
the tree Therefore air is just as essen
tial among the soil particles as moisture.
And, If by irrigation the soil becomes sat
urated with water and the air is excluded
the soil becomes sodden and sour, the
roots decay and the tree or plant dies.
The vital necessity of an adequate sup
ply of soil moisture is apparent when we
consider that water constitutes 60 to 50
per cent. of the structure of growing
plants, and that the amount of water
consumed during the growing period is
several hundred times the weight of the
matured crop. Water also performs the
important function of dissolving and hold
ing in solution the mineral elements of
the soil, and being taken up by the roots,
carries them to the leaves-the digestive
organs-where. by the wonderful processes
of natures laboratory, those minerals are
transformed into the solid parts of the
tree,
Although the quantity of moisture de-
mauded by different plants varies, it is
found that vegetation thrives best when
10 10 20 per cent. of water is present in
the soil. The water-hoding capacity of
soils varies with their texture. In its nat
ural state the light or sandy soil con-
tains only TO 10 per cent. of water, while
the heavy clay soil contains Is to 20 per
cent. This difference is due to the size
of the soil grains and the intervening
spaces, and the consequent relative resist
ance offered to the flow of gravity water
through the soil.
Water may exist in the soil in three
forms, only two of which are vital to this
discussion. Free or gravity water fur
nished by rains and irrigation-though the
source of supply for plant life-fows down.
plant. Capillary water flows independent
ly of gravity, chiefly from below toward
the surface, and Ii is by this the plant
and tree are fed Careful experiments at
government stations show that under most
favorable conditlons--fine texture and uni
form structure-capillary action is strong
enough to raise the water from the depth
of five or six feet.
When the surface of the ground is left
undisturbed and becomes hard capillary
action is established directly with the at
mosphere and the soil moisture passes off
rapidly by evapora ton. Cultivation
breaks up this capillary connection by de-
stroying the minute pores or tubes through
which the water escapes. forms a non
conductor soil mulch and forces the mois-
ture to remain in the soil below where it
is accessible to the tree and plant roots
Mr.. King, author of the book entitled
tine Soil" determined in an experimental
test the comparative loss of moisture by
evaporation from plowed and mplowed
land And he found that in seven days.
from April 20 to May 6. the loss of mois-
ture from the hard land exceeded that
from the plowed land In the ratio of 10
inches of RAINFALL or 19S tons of water per
acre.
The first step in conserving moisture is
to prepare the soil to absorb water, either
by blowing or deep cultivation, leaving
the ground rough and porous. This course
cultivation should follow every heavy
rain thus keeping the surface mellow to
receive and store the winter rains, which
otherwise would run off and be wasted,
with liability of damage by wasting.
Whether an orchard should be plowed
after reaching the bearing age is a debat-
able question. The tendency to form an
artificial hardpan at the bottom of the
furrow slice, especially in heavy soils. is
generally conceded. Another objection
to blowing Is the cutting and wounding
the feeder roots of the tree, thus curtai-
ing its vitality and reducing it's produce
tive power. while rendering 1t more sus-
ceptible to injury from its enemies Plow-
ing also involves considerable extra labor
Of the orcharCiist, and at best leaves quite
a portion of the soil unstirred The writer
is of the opinion that thorough and fire.
quent deep cultivation-say six inches deep
with coarse teeth during the rainy seq
son is quite as effective for conserving
moisture, is less injurious to the tree roots
and keeps The surface more even and in
better condition to irrigate.
Upon the sation of the winter rains
the soil should be thoroughly pulverized
to the depth of six inches, creating a dust
mulch to prevent evaporation of the mois-
ture stored in the soil, holding 1t In re-
serve for the trees use during the dry,
hot season. Frequent civilizations, twice
a month, at least, should follow through
the summer with a fne-tooth implement
TO maintain this soil mulch. The ground
should be left as smooth as possible 10
reduce the evaporation surface to the min
imum. though 1t must not be packed. The
practice OF drawing a plank after the Gull
tiyator is not advisable.
Money in Pop Corn.