Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1904-01-30
UP-T0-DATE FARMING.
How to Save Water and Increase
Productions.

1t makes no difference how rich the
soil may be in plant food or fertility, it is
impossible forany kind OF plants to grow
without water We all neglect the point
of retaining moisture in the soil for flu
ture use. This is very essential in hu
mid regions during dry seasons. The
plant needs water for two principal
purposes. First of all the plant food
must be dissolved and in the liquid
form before 1t is available. This is
why liquid manure is so valuable, and
then the plant needs water in it's con.
struction. A large percentage Of all
plants is water. The lack of moisture
causes more crop failures than lack of
fertility.
1t may be surprising to note how
much water is required in the growth of
an acre of corn. Clinton, believe it is
estimates that an acre of corn produc.
ing so bushels requires i, 800, 600 poun-
DIS of water during the. season,
And il this subject is so important.
we should give it more attention. A
little careful work in this way often
helps our crops wonderfully. Frequ-
ent, shallow cultivation throughout the
season will conserve the moisture to
great extent, as it destroys the capil
larry connection with the air, the water
remaining below where the roots are
feeding. This cultivating must be sha-
How, know one field of corn which
surely was hurt at least 10 bushels to
the acre by running the cultivator too
well before but after the work was
done il has looked rather sick ever sin,
ce. have argued all summer with the
owner of this corn trying to show him
the effect of the shallow cultivation,
but he still goes deep.
The water-holding capacity of the
soil may be increased 10y the adding of
humns, in the form or barnyard manu-
re, or in ploughng under stubble or
green crops The soil is then more OPP
en- and will absorb more of the falling
rain, and will retain 1t as what is call
ed capillary water. There may be
possibility of applying too much humus
to the land but there is not much dan.
ger OF the American farmer doing it.
Also the water holding capacity may
be increased by fan blowing. This
gives the frost "A chance to break up the
soil in fine particles, leaving it in bet
ter condition to absorb and retain the
winter rains until needed later IN the
season 10y the growing crops. Plough.
ing, whether spring or fall, should be
deep, as this increases the depth of the
soil mulch and gives more space for
conserving moisture. Proper tillage is
what counts in modern agriculture
Some of our experiment stations haye
been experimenting with sub soiling
for the above purpose and have found it
to be satisfactory, But mulching and
proper cultivation are the most practi-
cal ways for the average farmer. The
careful saving and applying of all the
manure produced on the farm would
help us out many times.
| repeat that this work needs more
attention and we can work it at all
times of the year, We can cultivate in
summer, pillow in autumn, haul manure
in winter and drain in spring We
: need TO do more of this work The ur
TO date farmer has his farm in IA high
, - 10 pf nnifiuaf I half l.,
tensive cultivation when done in the
right way, and my sentiments in farm
ing are fewer acres and better tillage.
Then we can retain more Of the mois.