Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-02-03

Tho disk was set to cut as deeply as
possible, and Tapped one-half its
width. This left the ground level and
thoroughly fined to a depth of fully
inches, giving US over inches OF
loose soil mulch. This prevented the
further loss of moisture by eNapora-
ton of what was then in the SOL,
which was found to be wet to depth
of about IL inches.
After the first disking was done III
early March, the ground was left until
another rain came. then as soon aftet
the rain as the very surface SOIL was
dry enough to work without sticking
to the tools. the ground was narrowed
to again loosen the top. Later in early
May, we had very heavy rain, which
resulted in settling the loose surface
very firm. We then double disked IT
again, to open and fine the surface
No weeds were allowed TO grow to rob
the soil of its moisture and the surface
was always kept loose to prevent loss
by evaporation.
I'm June the ground was plowed
inches deep. Here we come to some
important points that must be closely
observed with reference to securing
proper physical condition of the SOIL
Having kept the surface loose to pre-
vent evaporation. altho there has been
no rain for some time, and all soil not
thus treated was dry and hard, this soil
was moist and turned over in very nice
lcondition. AT noon the soil plowed
during the forenoon was gone over
with the surface packer before the
teams went to dinner The soil being
simply moist, broke into small Jumps
as it was turned over and as the pack
er rolled over the ground the lower
portion of the furrow was made still
more fine and compact. The after
noon blowing was also gone over be-
fore leaving the field at night; then
the entire days work was narrowed In
order that all surface clods might be
made finer before they became dry and
hard. From this time on to seeding
time the surface was gone over after
each rain with the Acme harrow, a
i tool that will cut about inches into
the firm, plowed soil and leave this
portion light, loose and fine. all of
which is necessary to form the most
perfect mulch for protection.
October, 1, 1900. this was seeded to
wheat with a shoe drill, using 40
pounds of seed an acre, putting the
seed thru the mulct and about incn
into the fine, firm, moist soil below.
No further rains came last fall. conse-
quently no further work was done.
A remarkable fact was noted In the
uniformity and quickness of germina-
ton. On the fourth day as regular as
the days came after the seed was put
into the soil. the green spears could be
seen the whole length of the rows. On
the seventh day these first blades
measured from 8 to inches in height
The wheat stooded very prolifically,
and when spring opened up the growth
was early and rapid. 1t was gone over
twice about ten days apart with the
long toothed weeder. each time after a
rain, to loosen the surface and destroy
any small weeds that might have
started. BY this time the soil was en-
tirely hidden from sight and thus pro-
tected the foliage.
1T very sooll became apparent that
the wheat was too thick, and when the
crop reached the prolonged dry period,
which lasted nearly thru the entire
month of May. 1t seemed as tho 1t
must suffer badly. Other fields not
supplied with stored water and not
half as thick began to to lose their
color and thin out, but this field kept
on, matured its grain plump and of
fine quality and was ready for the har-
vester June Is and yielded over forty
bushels to the acre, more than double
the average yield under the 'catch-as-
catch-can' plan SO common in the
west l belivee if had sown only 80
pounds of seed the crop would have
been fully fifty bushels"