The Iola register., 1902-01-31

chances are that this letter will be
chiefly, and possibly only, interesting
to farmers, although am sure it will
do no harm to any reader.
Some weeks ago | noticed in an
agricultural paper an article en-
titled "Drouth Can Be Conquered" ="
The heading attracted my attention
and l read the article through 1t
proved to be rep, rt ~ Prof. Cott-
rell, of our State Agricultural Col
lege at Manhattan on the results of an
experiment on soil culture conducted
by H. w. Campbell on a farm near
Hill City, Kansas, last summer. The
article was illustrated by a photo
graph showing corn grown 10y the
Campbell method more than twice as
high as corn on an adjoining farm by
the ordinary method. Prof. CUttrell
says that Mr.. Campbell raised from
10 to 20 bushels of corn to the acre
while adjoining fields yielded from
nothing to five bushels per acre. He
also says that in his judgment 10y this
method Kaflir corn can be successfully
grown to the extreme western limit CT
Kansas, and as reason for this faith
he reports that he found damp soil to
depth of four feet in the Campbell
fields, while in adjoining fields he
found dry earth at depth of II to Is
inches.
was so much Interested in this
article that wrote to Mr.. Campbell
at Holdredge, Neb., asking him for a
description of his method. He sent me
a printed pamphlet from which quote
us follows;
WHAT Is THE CAMPBELL METHOD?
1t consists in a complete rearrange-
ment and pulverizing of the top six or
seven inches of soil, and turning it as
nearly bottom upward as possible each
year. Deiore blowing, the top four
inches should De thoroughly pulver-
lied and made as tine as possible by
free use of the disc harrow. This part
of the work should always be done as
quickly as possible after a crop is re-
moved. IL is so very important that
no one can comprehend its value with
out thorough trial. The more COM
pletely each particle is separated, one
from the other, the better Then, this
finely flied surface soil must be turned
down into the bottom OF a furrow six
or seven inches deep. Immedi iately
after powing the lower four inches of
the furrow-slice must be packed as
firmly as possible with the Sub-sur-
face Packer, for four reasons, viz:
Thousands of bushels Of grain are
lost to the farmer from this trouble
annually.
1st. To completely obliterate all
cavities. Where the furrow lies loose,
the air circulates under the plants and
the ground dries out 1t must not be
permitted to do this.
End. To cause moisture to gather
from four to eight inches from the sur
face. Why? Because the stubble and
manure and other vegetable matter Is
there, and water is necessary to rot it
and fit it for the food of the crops.
Unless this is done, the plants are rob
bed of their mos valuable food.
Bird. 70 get the right conditions for
rapid root growth in the early part Of
the season For this a fine, firm,
moist soil must be had. The lower
part of the furrow-slice is the root
beed, and must be kept in just the
right condition, if we are to get
rapid, vigorous root-growth. Remem-
Der healthy roots make healthy plants.
4th. BY packing the root-bed we
hold more moisture. More than this.
The pores in the ground are made so
small thatthe water creeps through the
soil rapidly by the force called capill-
AIRY attraction. BY increased capillary
4
rapidly and from a greater distance
This gives the plants food and drink
during the hot, dry periods, keeping
them in growing, healthy condition,
while plants otherwise situated would
wither and die. Your crops never
suffer at such times if there is plenty
OF moisture At the roots, but a short
age of water at that point may ruin
the whole crop in day,
SURFACE CULTIVATION.
After The deep plowiug and the sub
surface packing thi n,xt important
step is to go over tho ground, either
with u steel drag or au Acme harrows
to pulverize all surface Jumps before
they get too dry, thus forming mulch
of loose dry soil. This mulch must
be kept loose aud dry tO IL depth of
two or three inches The higher the
altitude and drier the atmosphere the
deeper tits necessary 70 keep this mulch
However, no attempt should be made
TO cultivate deeper after the plant
reaches any size. But why this mulch
or dust banket? To cut off the moist
soil below from the effects of the air.
Water cannot pass up through loose
dry soil by capillary attraction.
Therefore The soil mulch protects the
moisture In the root bed from evapora-
tion and saves all the natural rain
fall for the use of the plants. Strong
capillary attraction is desired in the
root bed, therefore, the root bed is
packed. No capillary attraction is
desired in the surface soil, therefore,
the loose mulch is formed.