The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1907-07-11
CROPS AND MOISTURE.
whe. &C DO Crops Draw Their supsiy
Of Water7


We have from time to time called
the attention OF our readers TO the
fact that ordinarily We do not have
sufficient rainfall even In the humid
sections. during the crop growing sea
son. to produce a fun crop. Some ex-
periments conducted by the Ontario
Agricultural college throw consider
able light on the question as to what
proportion OF moisture crops draw
from the rain that falls throughout
the crop growing season OF what from
the store OF water below. In fact. Il
is a vital point on which hangs the
whole question of cultivation.
The station last year took a number
OF fourgallon crooks and set them
outside. where they would receive all
the rain that fell during the growing
season. They then sowed them TO
wheat, peas. barley, and oats, and
watered them whenever Il seemed
to be necessary. The one that con-
talned wheat used 226O inches OF va
ter. of which but 1851 inches fell dur
ing the growing season. The peas
used 273S inches. OF which 1880
inches fell during the season Of their
growth. The barley used 1852 inches
and the oats 2l15 inches, while dur
ing the season Of their growth but 7.9i
inches OF rain fell In other words,
wheat required 215 times as much
rain as foll during It's growing sea
son. peas 2l9 times. barley 2.25 times
and oats 2.57 times.
These crooks were at first set on
the roof. then onefourth OF them
were set on the ground. and another
one.fourth In the ground The result
was that there was no difference be-
tween the amount used by those set
on the ground and those set In IL. but
these required less water than those
that were set on the exposed roof.
During this season there was az no
time a rainfall OF as much as two
inches.
Il was discovered that the plants
began 10 wilt while the soil contained
by actual test 10 per cent OF water
that rain OF l.25 inches would satu-
rate the soil f5 inches but as part
of this was carried down. II would
moisten u 10 a depth OF or 10
inches, Il was found still further.
that saturated loan contained from
30 90 35 per cent OF water. This was
ga 1908 Tho year 1906 was wet. and
q Was discovered that in a wet sea.
son the crops used about 80 per cent.
H.HH a
hence drew one third Of their water
from below.
An this shows the importance ospe.
cially Ia a dry season of thorough
and early cultivation OF the soil says
Wallace's Farmer. thus forming
mulch Of loose dirt and saving tho va.
ter below for an emergency, which IL
quite certain 10 occur al some period
Of even a wet season.
We call the attention OF our read
ers 20 this matter because We have
become more convinced With In.
creased years and experience that the
physical condition of the soil and the
methods OF putting 10 In this condition
are Of "A great deal more importance
60 the average farmer than the quos.
tion Of the fertility itself Mainten.
ance Of fertility Is Of very great i'm
portance. but no matter how fertile
the soil unless q can be put IN such
physical condition a. will permit fun
development OF the roots OF the plant
and conserve moisture for use in
dry time. good crop cannot In the
gature OF things be expected.
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