Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-07-09
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larger one because it has less bearing
up surface; it revolves faster, thus
pulverizing the soil better.
For hardness and ease of operation,
each gang Of the disk should be con-
trolled by an individual lever. All
bearings should be we'll protected from
dust and dirt and so constructed as to
be easily oiled Each disk should be
provided with a satisfactory foot lever
cleaner
Experiments have proved the fact
that the disk harrow is an excellent
tool for thickening a thin stand of
alfalfa. The disk is set almost
straight, IN which condition it is run
over the field about twice, just as the
alfalfa is beginning to grow in the
spring, the second disking being done
at right angles to the first. The disk
SUITS or splits the crown of the alfalfa
plant and thus causes 1t to throw out
more shoots, thus thickening the stand
How to Secure and Retain Moisture.
into the soil and keeping a sufficient
amount In store there for all demand OF
crops Is conceded by all farmers, and
yet there are wide differences of opin-
ion among them as TO the best methods
to reach that result Grass, red clover
and alfalfa roots are frequently men
toned as channels to conduct moisture
down into the SOIL 1t is true they may
have the force to push themselves down
into the subsoil to a greater distance
than most other vegetation but in order
to determine their utility in this respect
their conductive ability must be ascer.
tanned. 1t is evident that the roots
must be very small while forcing their
way into the hard soil, but nOtwith.
standing their threadlike size, they do
not easily penetrate it, and If they sue
coed il their search for moisture they
increase in size in spite of their com.
pressed surroundings.
1t is evident that in the course of
growth through very compact material
the roots will have made no channel
for water nor for anything but them.
selves, and when the surface soil is
plowed they die, and when decay has
reduced their size they leave channel
for water, but the holes they leave are
very small and are quickly closed by
a dashing rain and the sediment thus
created, and thus the channels produced
by the decayed roots are stopped and
sealed before much water has found its
way into the hard undersoll Still 1t
Is true a little water has thereby gone
deeper into the ground than before and
little is better than none; but 1t is
evident that the above method is not
effective and a better way must be
found.
Starting with the self-evident propo-
sitlon that water easily finds its way
down in loose soil, it follows that way
of making the soil loose further down
| than it is commonly plowed, so that
large supply Of water can be taken in
as fast as heavy downpour can fur
nish 1t is the proper method and can
be done with the right kind of sub
soil pillow. 1t has a great advantage
over grasses, alfalfa or clover, is
better rooter than all of them combined,
and furnishes immensely better chan
nels than they do for water storage.
1t has been shown by experience, how
ever, that 1t requires good judgment to
properly use the subsoi pillow, and an
other most important point is to get the
right kind of plow But when this is
done and the work accomplished you
may properly feel a degree Of indie
pendence never before enjoyed.