The Greeley tribune., 1905-07-20
WHAT SHALLOW CULTIVA.
TON REALLY IS
b. W. Campbell Gives Light on
Dry System of Farming
Some Valuable Infor-
nation

been advocated as part of the Camp.
bell method much discussion has
been aroused. Some think that
shallow cultivation means the stir
ring of the soil one inch deep, others
say two inches, Others three or four.
Frequently discussion brings out the
fact that the thoughtful disputant is
talking about plowing. This mis-.
take is SO common that l wish to
make 1t plain that shallow cultiva-
tion is just that and not shallow
plowing, which is a radically differ.
ent thing The object of shallow
cultivation brings out great diversity
Of opinion. Some say it is to pro-
tect the roots only, others that it is
to produce dust blanket to prevent
the loss of moisture by evaporation.
In my experiments and observa-
tion l have found it very important
in both, but have discovered third
use and by no means the least, for
shallow or surface cultivation and
this Is to get the rainfall into the
ground where it can be stored for
future demands. This idea is of
more and more Importance in the
arid sections. In establishing the
line Of moisture Of the depth of cul.
tivation several important things
must be taken into consideration.
After years of careful experimenting
l am OF the opinion that two inches
is about the proper depth, all things
considered. Now to discuss these
points intelligently, let us use the
term moisture line. BY this l refer
to the top of the firned soil or root
bed upon which our soil mulch or
blanket rests.
In going less than two inches deep
we find the soil that we have loos-
ened for our mulch heats through
too quickly from the effects of the
SUMS rays. II the soil directly
above tho moisture line becomes too
warm the moisture will begin to rise
in the form of vapor up through the
mulch and slowly but surely moisten
it to such extent that capillary at
traction will begin to lift the stored
moisture to the surface. Bear In
mind that the mulch best preserves
moisture when it is dryesu. There
fore the importance of holding the
moisture line far enough below the
surface so that it may not feel the
effect of the SUMS rays too quickly.
But in working along this line we
come against another important
question that must not be overlooked
and that is getting the rain down
into the soil. The deeper the dry
mulch the longer it takes for the
water to soak through and in case Of
heavy showers a much larger per
cent of the water runs off into low
places. On the other hand the thin
ner the dry mulch the quicker the
water finds its way through to the
moist soil.
l wish everybody could understand
that the Campbell method consists |
simply in complete Encouragement
and pulverization Of the top seven
OF eight inches of soil and turning it
as nearly bottom upward as possible.
The plant food in the soil is found
at the end of each season very largely |
concentrated in the top four inches.
This must be turned over into fur
row seven or eight inches deep.
From this depth it will be placed,
by the action Of moisture, just where
the little feeders of the plant roots
require 1t. Immediately after plow-
ing, the lower four inches Of the fur
row slice must be packed as firmly |
as possible, for four important rea-
SONS: First, to completely obliter-
ate all cavities. When the furrow
lies loose, the air circulates under
the plants and the ground dries out.
1t must not be permitted to do this
for it is ruinous of the crop.
Stlpilus W CduoS lioioSuiS w
gather from six to eight inches from
the surface because the stubble and
manure as we'll as other vegetable
matter Is there and water is neces-
sary to rot 1t and fit it for the food
of the crops. Unless this is done
the plants are robbed OF their most
valuable food. Third, to get the
right cond tions for rapid root
growth in the early part OF the sea-
son. Fourth, by tirming the root
bed it holds more moisture. More
than this: The pores in the ground
are made so small that the water
creeps through the soil readily by
the force called capillary attraction.
In this Way moisture is drawn from