The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-10-03

CT ne lne ureau OF farmers. Nature,
however, never does anything but for
the best. and If droughts are consid-
cred from all standpoints it will be
found that there are some compensa-
tons for the damage inflicted. An ex-
cess of moisture carries away from the
soil large proportion of the soluable
matter. The sea receives daily an
immense amount of wealth from the
soil that does not return, as the fish
cries do not reclaim but n small frac-
tion of that which Is lost. The con-
stant draining away of plant food
would soon impoverish the earth, but
for the manures and fertilizers ap-
piled, and although the loss of fertili-
ty from each farm may be small, yet
it is large when the entire surface of
the earth is considered. The rains.
however, also dissolve and carry down
into the subsoil some of the plant
foods, and as the soil is largely COM
posed of mineral matter, which is be-
ing dissolved to certain extent at
all times, wherever the solvent (water)
goes, the dissolved mineral matter
goes also. The subsoil itself is also
rich in the mineral elements, such as
potash, soda, lime, magnesia, phos-
pilates, silicates, sulphates, chlorides.
etc. If the rain does not dissolve the
mineral matter Immediately it does
later, as it becomes charged in the
soil with carbonic acid from decom-
posing vegetable matter, and it then
has the power of dissolving some of
the materials that are not soluble in
pure water. The deeper the cultiva-
ton of the soil, and the better ii is
drained down in the subsoil, the low
er the soil moisture descends and the
more mineral matter is dissolved.
When the soil moisture is sufficient
the plants thrive, but as the water Is
cYaporated from above the moisture
from below rises, through capillary
attraction, and when the surface is
very dry the dryness extending deep
into the soil, the lower moisture-that
Is the subsoll-endeavor to find its
way to the surface. This soil moisture
IS saturated with the dissolved miner
al matter, and brings it up on its pass
age to the atmosphere, deposlting it in
the soil in proportion as evaporation
occurs. Nature thus provides a way
Tor restoring to the soil the mineral
elements taken from the surface and
carried down into the earth. But for
this reclamation of the soluble plant
foods the most fertile soils would soon
be exhausted and it is fact that the
soil Is richer after n drought than be-
Tore. This mode of saving the farmer
from total loss may not be to his
satisfaction, as he sees only his pres
ont loss, but he would be much poorer
If the plant foods carried beyond his
reach were never returned. 1t is not
Intended here to advocate the advan-
tages of droughts, but until man dis
covers some mode for escaping them
without losing that which is indispen-
sable to his existence the drouth is in
his favor. Even the most approved
methods of irrigation viii not better
his condition until the loss of plant
foods is arrested. Irrigation, how
ever, is practlced only where rain does
not TALL In excess, and where the
farmer can also control his dry periods
as well as his moisture.
Droughts are teaching farmers that
they can control the supply of mols-
ture. BY deep plowing and careful
| preparation of the land an abundant
| supply of moisture can be stored in
the lower soil. This moisture will
come to the surface as soon as the
upper soil becomes dry. The farmer
can permit it to come within an inch
or two Of the surface, and then shut
off the supply, by sealing the tops of
the capillary tubes, which is done by
covering them with dry dirt. These
tubes are not made with dry, loose
earth, but if the dry earth becomes
wet from rain, so as to compact IT,
the water from below can then pass
through capillary tubes and come
through. 1t is necessary, therefore
to cover the tops of these tubes after
every rain. This is done by simply
cultivating the soil to the depth OF
one or two inches, just enough tC
loosen the top soil, and bring the mois
ture as close to the surface as posi-
bic, In a manner so as not to break
the roots of the plants. This sol
moisture from below will contaiI
large amounts of plant food which tn,
rains dissolved and carried down, ant
as long as 1t is not allowed to escap,
1t provides both food and water. Th,
farmer who only gives his corn Ger
tain number of workings" withou
regard to conditions, must abandon
his rule and work after each rain
The weeds viii then be kept down be
cause the moisture they require Is be
low the dry soil. II the ground Il
well prepared before the seed is plant
ed, 80 as to form a storehouse, or res
eryoir for moisture, and the topsoi
kept loose, so as to form an eartl
blanket for preventing evaporation
droughts Will be OF benefit In bringln,
from below the various plant food
existing below the surface soil. l.-Phila
delphia Record .---...---...... = y