The Western news., 1904-04-06
ROTATION OF CROPS
PROVES BENEFICIAL
Continued from First Page.)

acre, ana the next year on spring
plowing 76 bushels of barley and II
bushels of wheat were grown.
Before the clover was sown on this
piece of land long continued system
of summer following had brought the
yield down to a little more than half
of the yield obtained after it had been
sown to clover. Further, the soil is
less liable to break and is much easier
to cultivate in every way.
These experiments thoroughly con-
vinced me and others who were trying
the same system of the great advan-
tage of the system; and now the SOW
ing OF clover is becoming universal
where an abundance of water can be
had for irrigating purposes, and here
| would like to add that we can make
the water do nearly double duty under
this new system of farming.
In preparing the soil for any crop
would endeavor to plow the nd while
it is in condition to be most thor
oughly pulverized afterwards, so that
the surface will meet with but few OBJ
stacles to impede their progress, and a
| soil in the best of condition to hold in
solution the nourishment necessary for
healthy growth. If the young plant
or termination seed could crush the
clods or otherwise pulverize them as
the COW, horse or other animals can
grind their food, then we would fail to
see the necessity for such careful pre-
paration of the soil. These two cases
are so nearly parallel in effect that we
cannot fail to note results; and yet
with all these provisions of nature in
favor of animals, experience has
taught us that in most cases it is pro-
fitable to pulverize the food for the
animal.
Not only do we find we'll pulverized
soil conducive to plant rowth, but we
also find it a greater conservator Of
moisture. Through such soils the
drying winds cannot so easily pene-
trate, and the absorption from fallin q
rain or irrigation will be more rapid
and thorough and capillary evapor-
alton will not be so rapid because by
recent cultivation the capillairty of
the soil has been measurably de-
stroyed.
For example take two plots of land
joining each other and of precisely
the same character; plow at same date,
one OF which thoroughly pulverizes
the plowed surface, and continue a
shallow cultivation, especially after
each succeeding rain; you will find the
cultivated area even after a long
drought TO contain sufficient moisture
to germinate grain and a continued
growth, while the uncultivated plat
will not germinate even a single
grain.
BY taking advantage of this con-
dition of soil culture many of our
semi-arid foothill farms, where water
Cannot be procured for irrigation, pro.
titable crops of grain, alfalfa and
clover have been grown. This semi
arid dry-land farming necessitates the
continuation of the summer fallow sys-
tenn, but where water can be procured
it will soon be thing of the past.
Experience has taught us that in our
locality early plowing has resulted in
the most crop production.
1t is contended that by early plow--
ing-that is, in summer fallow-the
soil can be more thoroughly pulver.
lied; that moisture can be conserved.
that the plowed soil will become more
compact with the subsoil, and that the.
| weathering Of the soil will become
more perfect.
For dry land farming, plow shallow.
not to exceed three or four inches
deep, and keep the top surface we'll
pulverized or cultivated after auy
rains which may fall until seeded.
We claim that the shallow pulverized
surface acts as mulch and makes the
necessary seed bed for termination
through which the rootlets pass into.
moist soil below from which the plant
draws ourisb,,,oo%