The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1907-04-24

soil. This can be accomplished in
many ways. The means most com
monty used are: I. Tillage and cul-
tivation. 2. Subsoiling. 3. Rotating
the crops to get more humus in the
soil. A. Mulching. S. Manuring.
I. Tillage and Cultivation These
are the methods universally employed
for the conservation of moisture. Til
lage loosens the soil to a depth Of
several inches, allowing the rains to
penetrate deeply into the soil. Cul
tivation forms dust mulch, and this
prevents the loss Of water by evapora
ton. Experiments have shown thai
fall-plowed land gathers more mois-
ture through the winter than that left
unplowed; so it is in better condi-
ton to meet the demands of the crop
If spring blowing is practiced, il
should be done as early in the spring
as is safe, because in the spring the
loss Of water from unplowed is very
large The blowing breaks up the
capillary connection and also forms
a sort of dirt mulch.
Much work has been done by ex-
pertinent stations over the country as
to the relative effects of deep anc
shallow cultivation on the conserva-
ton Of moisture. The results do not
all agree, but it is generally fount
that three inches deep gives the best
results. If shallower than this il
should be practiced very frequently
Another way cultivation conserves
moisture is by destroying weeds
which are constant drain upon the
soil In speaking of the value OIL
tillage and cultivation, L. A. Clinton
Of the Cornell station says: "The
Importance Of thorough ti1lage to con
serve moisture can not be made toe
emphatic. Deficiency in rainfall with
intensified agriculture is preferable
to abundant rains and neglect by the
cultivator.
2. Subsoiling. This is an opera
ton that should be we'll studied be-
fore being practiced. In some cases
it is advisable, or is almost absolutely
necessary in order to obtain GOOD
crops Subsoiling is for the purpose
of lettering the physical condition o.
the soil, thereby making it more alb
sorptlve and more retentive of mols-
ture. T. L. Lyons, of the Nebraska
station, has done considerable work
along this line, and some Of his sug-
gestions and conclusions seem to me
to be especially valuable He says:
"Where there is a hard, dry sub
soil, subsoil blowing is to be recon-
mended."
"Where the subsoil is loose, gra
velly, or sandy, subsoiling is unnec
essary and may be injurious.'
"Subsoiling when the ground is we
may cause pudding"
eff the ground be subsoiled in the
fall, the winter and spring rains have
ample opportunity to soak in, tina
being the season Of greatest rainfall
and least evaporation"
"Subs oiling should be done in the
spring only in case of a wet spring.
g. Rotating the Crops to Get More
Humus in the Soil Humus in the
soil increases the capacity of the sol
for absorbing and retaining moisture
By rotating crops, and allowing ou1
fields to lie in meadow or pasture
legume or otherwise, at regular pc
RODS, and then blowing the sod I'm
der, we greatly increase the humus
content of the soil; by so doing we
increase the capacity of the soils fol
absorbing and retaining moisture.
4. Mulching Any covering of inert
material, as dead plants, straw. stable
manure, gravel, wood, ETC., increases
the moisture of the soil, during warm
seasons, because such a covering af
fords protection from evaporation, anC
brings water up from below by ca
pillarity. Experiments show that the
loss Of moisture from the soil de-
creases as the thickness of the mulch
increases This is tr11e on all kinds
of soils. Natures way. of conserving