The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-06-12
The Roots of Farm Crops.

The Roots or Enrm Cfope.
 This subject may not seem at first an important one. Yet reflection should show that in the midst of the season of cultivation few topics souio pc more methods of cultivation should be Tn part based on what Is known Of the growth of the roots or plants, as also of course on our knowledge or tne msohs eoIi Nearly every thoughtful farmer has more or less positive views as to the relative advantages of deep and shallow cultivation and in forming our convic- tions on this subject possible damage to the roots is one of the most mpor- tant considerations.
 We recognize the injury that results from deep cultivation, especially if this occur after the plants have reached considerable size. Those who have never taken the pains to wash the soii from around the roots seldom realize how extensive and how near the sur face is the root system of young corn plant and hence these often ass sume that no considerable mutiliation of the roots will result from deep cui- tivation, provided 1t is given while the plant Is still small. Even at the frst working of corn deep blowing may cut off a considerable portion of the roots Tn some eases there may be compen. sating advantage in the mellowing or compact soil which has become com pacted by heavy rain falling after the land has been prepared,
 It is generally understood that deep cultivation is quite injurious late In the plants life. especially if 1t is foiiowed by dry weather. So great Is the dread see corn laid by too early. the owner, aware of the i'll effects of late deep cultivation, apparently assuming that all late cultivation must be injurious.
 There is little on record to indicate the depth at which plants feed An in- vestigation of this subject is beset with many difficulties. Therefore a contri- button to our Knowledge on this sup the Kansas Station is especially wei"
 A corn plant sixty days after plant at a depth of only three inches, and from these main roots sprang numerous slender roots which occupied the sur face soil to within half an inch or the surface Corn planted below the gen eral level of the field had roots near the plants overlaid by greater thickness or soil thus permitting corn so planted 10 be cultivated later and deeper without Injury than in the case of corn planted
 sorghum plants showed less fibrous root growth in the surface soil than ghum grown in the West chiefly for | It's seed. Some of the roots of sorghum reached depth of three and half feet
  fir in exhausting the soil were noted. /. | Tn these experiments and with the reia- lively scant rainfall of Kansas the cause was found to be the exhaustion of the moisture by the sorghum plants. which continue to grow and to trans pire Ihroughl their leaves late Into the | fall. In Alabama this would be sat isfactory explanation of the failure ot fall-sown grain to grow of thriftily but it would scarcely explain In this region of abundant rainfall the un- | thriftiness of corn and cotton following | sorghum. Doubtless the crop followins | sorghum should be planted relatively | late to give time for the accumulation ! in the soil of moisture and nitrates moved by a crop growing so late in the | fall as does sorghum. Prof. Ten EycH classes sorghum as less of surface feeder than either corn or Kafhr.
 The roots of oats penetrated deeper | than those of wheat, which may in par ! explain the ability of oats to grow or somewhat poorer land than does wheat
 Orchard grass had a root, system sim, filling the surfGce much more complete ly with a network of fine hbrous roots | It is this habit of the grasses of bind. ing together the particles of the soil that renders them such effective agents in preventing washing and that makes 1t important that a larger proportion
 SboSid Sb SE'Serd he devoted to % grasses or otSeI forage plants and to live stock.
 The root system of alfalfa Is notable
 on account of the extreme depth of pen etration and the general absence o root branches and flbrous roots. Usu Ially the larger proportion of fibroui lroot growth in the alfalfa plant la!
 below the depth of four feet, condi
 tion which can scarcely exist in thu Gulf States, especially in prairie soil
 where alfalfa best thrives. At depth Il of three feet and below 1t was notet
 in Kansas that there were numerou | email hnlac in the soil. annarnnfIl
 made by decaylng alfalfa roots. Thi
 was true even in a field sown, onl.
 three years before. In this instance alfalfa roots were traced to a depth o
 eight and one-half feet. The character istics just noted, together with tn
 power of converting atmospheric nitro gen into soil nitrogen. make alfalfa on of the most effective plants for light
 ening, enriehing, and renovating tn soil.
 The soy bean was found to be shal