The state herald., 1905-11-10

!
ground after the harvester prevents
loss of moisture on stubble ground
through too rapid evaporation. and pre-
pares the ground for the ready absorp.
ton of rain.
3.-Sub,Surface Packer.-This tool
consists of series of wedge faced
wheels attached to common axle.
These wedge-faced disks are eighteen
inches in diameter and placed vert
ically on the shaft six inches apart.
This machine is better than 4 smooth
roller for roller firms the surface soil
with little or no effect upon the under
or sub surface soil, The packer
firms the soil in the lower
portion of the furrow slice, restoring
the capillariety where plowing had ar
rested it. This firmed underestimate
soil is enabled to draw moisture from
below and give good normal root de-
velopment. In case sub-surface
packer is not obtainable, corrugated
roller can be used. 1t firms the ground
but not to the depth which the sub
surface packer does. These packers
should be followed by smoothing har-
row 10 produce an earth mulch which
shall arrest capillarity and thereby
check evaporation.
A spike toothed harrow with lever
attachments for regulating the angle
OF the teeth Is very satisfactory i'm
plement FOR this purpose.
4.-Summer Culture. Fallowing
Ground-leaving the land without .
crop for one or more seasons-was 4
common practice with the ancients.
DIR. Roberts in his work on Fertility
of the Land" says this was neces-
sity for them. The imperfect tools
then used made but small proportion
of the plant food in the soil available
and the demands of the crops grown
soon outran the obtainable plant food,
Then the only method for renewal was
TO let the soil weather ont enough
4 plant food, with the decayed vegetable
matter to sustain another crop. Some
centuries later the French found tina,
''manoeuvering" the land-causing
the particles of earth to change place
by tillage-made it more productive,
Experiments now show that sumer til.
lage in our semi-arid lands has an
added value-it conserves the moisture
while II renders more plant food avail
able. Good results have been obtained
in eastern Washington, eastern Oregon
Utah and many sections of Colorado
from summer culture of the land every
other season. 1t has been found tina.
in this way sufficient moisture can be
stored from the years rainfall to ma,
ture crop, in many localities.
After the SHOWS of winter have
melted In the spring, pillow the ground
at least seven to eight inches deep
Level this down with the harrow and
packer, following this process with u
smoothing harrow, forming an earth
mulch to check evaporation. This
mulch should not be too fine as the
winds OF the plains win tend to rift
the soil, or blow the earth mulch en-
urely away. II possible, stir the sur
fact soil from two to four inches every
ten to fifteen days throughout the sum
mer. Allow no crust to form after
summer showers, as This will increase
the evaporation of the soil moisture
Keep the ground cieun-frce from
weeds.
II fall grain is 10 he sown 1t is ad
visablc to drill in the grain. as this in
sures getting 1t below Che earth mulch
which is really dry earth blanket
used all summer 10 hold the moisture
In the soil below. Get the seed into
this moist under-soil where II can have
the moisture so essential for germina
tion. II is advisable 10 seed fall grain
not later than the last week In Sep
tember In the lower attitudes and no.
later than the FIRST week In September
In the higher attitudes better stIll. tha
thlrd or last week In August
Ground that has been well cultivated
for several years win produce two
crops in succession und can be given
summer culture the third yenr In thl,
way !, is possible 10 rruw twu cnpps In
three years.
" farmer expects la tcnlliyate
eighty acres he should divide Il into
TWO crop lNisiuns-'cropping forts
acres the frst year and giving summer
culture To the other lprty acres. This
gives him a crop on une half .nf his
land each year while he IL sfufiny ,u
moisture In the son reservoir tpf Tho
other half 10 make Che next years
crop. Farmers In the southern part of
iarimer county, Colnradu. have been
able to raise quite satisfactory wheat
barley and forage crols by dollop In.
ms method Of cropping.
Mr., Geo. ID. Porter, living al Al,,,,
Noiorado' near the center Of the plain
region, has used this inothut of ,crop
ping Tor small area. Tor several
years lie reported last flil. when ~
seeded his winter wheat. a soil ree.r
Noir In which there was hre feet q.
moisture. Last season sHre m nn nm,
usual amount of rainfall hut this sum
fmer culture has been Irnctiond In
some parts Of California tur mun. rhup
ltofiy years with satisiacsorF res,llts
d The writer knows cf one ructign u
FcAlliornin where II seldom rains IRON
Aprll TO September. yet her, some oi
mo incst fruit and grain IL grown
Ihls region In California has an annie
supply Of moisture In he rniny rrn
epn-thc winter months This fnut,
uitlun II simply given 10 show M,
value OF the earth mulch In holding IN +.
moisture which ia alrady In The sot
reservoir
] Mt y. retcrmnn ima n chrrr,
orchard near Fort Collins that I'M,
uerur been irrigated lie depend,
upon rainfall for hiH moisture in !
ncEirn that averages .cnfcoly fifteen
inches per annum. NJ soon In IN,
spring ns possible he culti,nios hi,
nfchhrs nnd continues 4. ,iir tha
ground until he fruit sr,s. Ills trrci
bear nhv fiavoisd chrrri.s IN Aatls
inctory unantitg while his nf,,inrd /.
lho clcHnvHi one In his nolglburhood
rms orchard IN .lght yoaTr ule, bul
mas mol SCI Nehibn-od one " our dry
years.
Summer culture koopa the Eronns II
Food illth. icsrps down weeds rnnd.rr