The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1903-10-24
Dean Hawiey Writes.


Dean W. A. Henry OF the Wisconsin
J Agricultural college concerning the
proper treatment of Douglas County
soil. Dean Henry Is an expert au-
tbority and has studied the peculiar
agricultural conditions IN this vicinity
especially. The letter Is of special
value to Douglas county agricultur-
I lists and is as follows:
Dear Sir:
I have your letter yesterday
asking for information relative to the
proper preparation of tle heavy red
clay soil in the vicinity of Superior for
garden purposes. In reply let me say
that first of all such land should be
carefully tiled. Thing will rid the
soil quickly of superflous water when
there is an excess, and aid it in retain
ing moisture when there is a drought
This last seemingly unreasonable
statement is borne out by actual ex
perience Tiled soil is warmer than
the same soil before tiling Tiled soil
has tendency to be free from light
frosIs bes Suse it warns up more and
deeper dufpg the day and thus has
some heat to- give Off at night when
frosts threaten. In the case of
carefully arranged gardens | think it
would best to put the tiles 3.5 or 4
feet deep giving not less than one
inch fall to the rod Use inch tile
for the laterals and larger ones for the
drain. Even though the ground
/ freezes deeper than the tiles in the
winter, they will suffer no injury
thereby provided the outlets are so
arranged that no water will back up
in them. For an ideal garden spot ar
range the lines of tile about two rods
apart; for farming purposes they can
be from fifty to one hundred feet
apart. | believe that the laying of
tire for the purpose of securing good
and quick drainage Is one Of the most
important improvements that can be
undertaken by those working the red
clay soils of your region, At least
this theory should be held until ex-
perienoe shows different.
Next comes subsoiling This does
not mean throwing deep soil to the
surface, but rather running pillow
down each furrow, Keep all vege-
table matter reasonably near the top
and do not turn over much fresh un-
der-surface soil in any one plowingS
Subsoiling or loosening the soil at the
bottom of each furrow will have a
tendency 10 let the water down quick
ly, and let the air in to sweeten the
soil and help it generally, Both the
/ above recommendation will tend to
make the soil rriable, and more easily
} worked, warmer and more useful gen
orally. The next important point Is to
increase the amount OF humus OF
} partially decayed vegetable matter.
This can be done best by blowing
under first or second crops of red
clover, which we know grows well on
this soil Humus tends to render the
soil friable, helps it retain moisture
and is useful in other ways.
Great care should be taken to work
this red clay soil when in the proper
/ condition neither too dry nor too
wet, and one operating on such lands
should be olose student in all these
matters. OF course where near the
city, stables manure can be secured
/ in large quantities, and the gardeners
will make use of these immediate
sources of fertility. For those farther
away Il rotation of crops the growing
of clover, and especially the keeping
of live stock, are all important factors
in securing or conserving fertility.
1t seems to me there are great OPP
portunities in the vis.nity Of your city
for progressive farmers and gardeners
The gardener and the milk producer
have good markets for their praducts,
and soil and climate conditions are
favorable factors for a number of
crops The produstion Of late straw
berries, raspberries, blackberries, etc.
offer special inducements. With the
first out put of berries for the season
beginning way down in Texas, Florida
and Louisian in February and March
the season should close with the fruits
from your region going to market In
July and August The milk producer
should be able to use by-products |
from the mills aud low grade products
from the elevators of your city with
great advantage,
Yours very truly,
w. A. Hawny