The state herald., 1905-11-10

| less tnan twenty ana more tndn eiSht
inches are usually considered as semi
arid. To successfully grow crops in
such regions requires careful study
of soil and climatic conditions, with
selection of crops as nearly adapted TO
these conditions as possible. Even
when all requirements are seemingly
met, failure is sometimes the only re-
suit. Experience, and experiments al
ready conducted In many parts OF our
Nations semiarid belt, demonstrate
that the preparation of soil reservoir
of good depth several months before
seeding, the thorough culture of this
ground before and after seeding. the
selection of suitable varieties of crops,
the seed of which is grown under dry
farming conditions, are essentials
which very largely determine success
in farming lands in Colorado where If
rigation can not be practiced.
The preparation of the soil reservoir
and seed beds calls for careful plowing,
narrowing and sub.surface packing.
/. Plowing.-Jethro Tull nearly two
centuries ago said "Tillage is manure
Roberts Fertility says that stirring
and mixing the soil is the one funda-
mental labor of agriculture. The object
of plowing should be to pulveri2e the
soil, making it possible to prepare
good seed bed for the reception of the
various farm seeds. The depth to plow
must depend upon the time of blowing,
the character of the soil and the crop
TO be grown.
Shallow plowing is preferred for
shallow soils underlaid by an inferior
th-gnt1 lnalyi,,r, In, n1n
plowing for early crops should not be
as deep as fall plowng for the same
crops. Experiments have shown that
deep plowing of stiff or clayey. adobe
land in the spring turns up unworked
or new soil in which most of the plant
food is not available on account of the
mechanical condition of the ground
Crops on lands thus plowed often make
an unfavorable growth. 1t is nearly al
ways desirable TO plow sandy and
sandy loan soils deep, since the plant
food contained in these soils is easily
available and the deep plowing brings
more plant food to the surface for the
tender young plant to feed upon, CIV
ing 1t sturdy growth at the start.
All deep plowing is best done in the
summer or fall. This permits the
weathering of the soil, through the fall
and winter. making its mechanical tex
ture more desirable and the plant food
available Deep plowing assists water
TO percolate or pass through TO lower
depths. Hence IL increases the water
holding capacity of the soil. n most
important element.in semi-arid farm
ing. The deeper the plowing the
greater the soil reservoir. Experiments
conducted at the Cornell Experiment
Station. New York. by DIR. Roberts,
show that an acre of average soil in
good tilth will hold twenty to twenty
five per cent. ,of moisture and not be
too moist for cultivation. 1t is esti-
mated that an acre of soil twelve
inches deep will weigh 1880 tons II
II contains twenty per cent. of mois-
ture, 1920 tons if'it contains eight per
cent. of moisture-the amount upon
which plants are able TO grow and
maintain themselves. DR.. Roberts says
that an inch of rainfall brings to each
acre ll3 7-l6 tons OF water. II this
could all he retained In average soil
II would mean almost 3,5 per cent.
moisture. nearly enough TO maintain
plant growth. Wei fined soil Is ca
pable Of 'taking up two inches OF rain
fall in the first foot OF soil and still
be In good condition to cultivate. Sup.
pose that This soil Is deeply plowcd
ind contains fifteen per cent. mois.
ture; an inch or a twoinch rain would
find the soil reservoir able 10 hold IL.
II This ground were shallow plowed.
say -four inches. an inch rain would sat
urtte the reservoir. while a two-inch
rain would overflow the soil reservoir.
causing loss OF water and severe
washing away OF the surface soil. Deep
plowing. therefore. increases the stor.
age capacity OF moisture In our soils
from which the plant draws as Il has
need.
Good 1iloNing gives a clenn-cut fur
row ON Side anu bottom. II turns the
Inverted furrow slice upon edge in a
moderately well pulveflzed condition
with but few air spaces at the bottom
I edge Of the furrow slice A good coul.
Ter lessons draft and aids In making
clean.cut furrow. Dlsking the
ground before plowmg Is advantageous
bm Increases the expense OF preparing
] the seed bed.
a seed bed from one to three inches
] IVY 'hsA w lAflNNN'h NAAuhNA HlnN y.
| The young plants may grow sturdily
nj hrs1, but II fthe soil Is not In physi.
cal condition to store the moisture nee
cssary 10 dissolve the plant food and
render h available for the growing
| plant. hack OF nourlshmont will bring
II 10 nm untimely end ami the crop will
prove failure. Very successful crops
are grown this WAY. when the moisture
is supplied hy ditch or sublrrigation
but II is always hazardous 10 attempt
cropping without thorough tlllage tm.
der scmi.af'id conditions.
A disc pluw VIII often lrayo tho suil
In good condition for tho harrow
when the ground is TOO haru for a mold
board plow 10 do satisfactory work.
The ditcr me GROUND the mute narrow
should be the mrrow. whether the
plow be mold OF n disc pillow.
s.-liauowinr the Ground,-iiar
rowing Ia the process uf stirring the
soil by fome form Of toohod or
circle knife implement, lls purpose IN
! the pulNrrixing Of the soil. reducing u
| Ia nncr tilh thn the pillow left n.
| Milling the intcrstirrH lift by the pillow
and thus lcycling thc soil / believe
thnt the Spiko toUhed harrow ~ q
Rporior implement for pulreri, ing
after the plow. Il should follow al
near after the plow NJ possible no 40
TO prevent loss of moisture by c,uf.o
ration from the newly plowed oarth
ana the formation ~ clnds, Each hnli
days plowing Hhonld be- narrowed
that same halt day In which II (.
/ plowcd.
Ground that Il narrowed hrsi