Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-07-27

- ~ biA' 1'5~
horse training or horse breaking to DO
he should plan far enough ahead TO
see that it does not interfere with
this one job. The Importance lies In
the fact that the sell must then re-
main undisturbed for SO long that h
utility development Of the crop is
during this period, and that what
ever is done in the way Of securing
the dust mulch for the retention or
moisture throughout the extremely
hot weather depends almost wholly
on the condition in which this final
cultivation leaves the soil. 1t should
be deferred as long as we feel sale
to chance the weather conditions
previous to any danger of breaking
down corr Of rank growth that we
may disturb terminating weed seeds
as late as possible, and until the
ground is we'll shaded with the crop
and also to shorten the period or
whatever narrowing or single horse
work Is to follow between the rows.
BY all means make the final cultiva-
ton of the field in the direction that
best permits surface drainage, other
wise sooner or later before husking
time fiat parts of the field will suffer
from an accumulation of water. The
object should be to permit the
ground to absorb all the water it will
contain when drainage is thoroughly
provided for and no more.
The condition / have just mention
ed takes care of the surplus water.
Now, as to tine opposite direction.
How can we best utilize the light
shower and the quick, dashing, small
rain? My plan is this. l prefer not
to make a water shed of each row.
Originally l was taught to ridge the
row decidedly after the fashion OF
sweet potato ridges. Careful exper-
imenting has changed my method
long since. With the ridging process
the small rain is carried rapidly to
the trench between rows and there a
sufficient quantity will accumulate to
form a little rivulet and thus leave
the field long before the surface soil
has become saturated. Then couple
this condition with improper drain
age and we have the doubly unfavor-
able conditions of "too dry on high
grounds" and ''too wet OF low
grounds" and both as a result of a
shower that should have made the
moisture conditions just right
throughout. 1 endeavor to get just
nearly level civilizations as possible
throughout the season except immedi-
ately in the row at this final cultiva-
tion. I can best describe the process
by telling how / set the shovels. l
use a six shovel cultivator. / set the
six shovels perfectly straight until
the last time, when 1 used a pair of
warped shovels slightly angled next
the row, which throws up a small
narrow ridge d few inches wide, but
leaves the remaining middles very
nearly level. This method 1 find
secures the full benefits of the light
shower or dashing rain and also leaves
The middles in a splendid shape to be
later agitated by means of the single
horse expansion harrow.
Now, as to the purpose Of that
little narrow ridge. Notice the
brace roots that are thrown out one,
two, and three joints above the
ground, depending on the fertility of
the soil and on whether the variety
Of corn is a gross feeder. Those
brace-roots preform no office until
t hey reach the ground, when they
Immediately throw out a perfect net
work OF feeding rootlets and begin
fertility from the soil. 1
enjoy meeting them part way and
setting them to work, heAce the pur-
pose Of the miniature ridge. / like
to feed my corn crop. / admire the
color of the field corn that is abund-
antly supplied with plant food and
furnished with sufficient moisture to
hold said plant food in soluble form,
thus making it continually available.
l enjoy seeing my plants develop
as ] enjoy seeing my animals thrive,
and this final cultivation is n of
the very important considerations.
/ make this cultivation shallow in
order to avoid excessive root pruning.