The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-01-24

|3iayers OF The soil. Follow the packer
with the snoo thing harrow Ein order
TO provide the soil mulch which IL
highly effective in preventing evapor-
alton. S5 n q. u NE Il
The principles involved In the better
methods OF summer culture are as
follows: ~ Provide deep, we'll culti-
waited seed bed by an Intelligent use
reasons for this are obvious. we pre-
vent surface drainage and furnish q
soil mulch during the late fall and
winter months and allow early spring
rains to perco!ate readily 4 into the
soil. In the spring, harrow; or better
still, double disc the land, then pack
and harrow again. Continue the cul-
tivation by the use Of harrow or the
double disc after each rain through
out the season until the ground Is fro
zen, in order to maintain the soil
mulch and keep down weeds, and I
can assure you that you will be sur
prised at the amount Of crop you can
grow upon that land.
This brings us to another important
question, how are we to keep our
light, sandy soil from blowing If this
system Of cultivation Is practiced in
region where heavy winds prevail?
The answer is, pin it down. How?
BY introducing grass crops in our
rotations and using the grass roots
as pins. This method will not only
furnish us the means Of keeping the
soil in place but it also furnishes that
| most important element, humus, to the
| soil. Humus greatly improves the
mechanical condition Of the soil and
holds and absorbs large quantities Of
moisture for the use Of crops.
We may also largely overcome
drifting and blowing of the soil by
introducing cultivated crops in our
rotations. While 1t may take more
water in the aggregate to grow a
crop of corn than 1t does crop of
Wheat, the frequent thorough cultiva-
ton of the corn allows very little
evaporation to take place except
through the growing plant. BY ac-
tual practical experience, it has been
fully demonstrated that a we'll titled
corn field may be considered about or
/! equally as good as summer fallow
in which moisture conservati ton
methods have been practiced. Corn
stubble land has an additional adj
vantage over the summer fallow, it
is not inclined to blow like the latter.
The Importance and necessity of
moisture to the growing crop can
only be understood when full con-
Sheraton is taken of how large a part
of its structure is composed Of water,
and that even this percentage is only
a small part Of that used by the plant
during its growth and development.
The quantity of water entering into
the structure Of plants varies from
80 to 50 per cent depending upon the
class of plant. During the entire per-
iod of growth, the foliage of plants
is constantly giving off moisture and
this amount must be made good from
our storage reservoir in the soil. Plant
roots can absorb food only in a SOL
uble form, and the passage Of large
quantity through their tissues is nee
essary in order to supply the mineral
elements which are required by the
plant. Not only is large quantity
of moisture demanded for the direct
use Of the plant, but its presence in
the soil is necessary in order that
plant food may be dissolved and rem
|
as carrying agent throughout the
plant. to transport food solutions to
! the leaves where they are elaborated
and manufactured into organized
material which is then carried by the
movement of the sap to all parts of
the growing structure. Moisture is
vitality important to the millions OF
soil bacteria which are so active in
causing the decay Of vegetable mat
ter In the soil and converting it into
plant food. When sufficient supply
is not furnished, the cells of the plant
collapse and the plant cannot keen
up normal condition Of growth. No
termination Of the seed can even take
place in the absence Of moisture.
Tillage of the soil not only con-
serves moisture but it 1iberates plant
food, aerates and warns the soil. I
do not mean to infer that moisture
Is the all important factor necessary
Tor the successful production of a crop
for it Is just as necessary that there
shall be heat, light. air and soil fer
| tility In the fertile plains of the
| semi-arid west, there are few soils
but what would produce large crops
If moisture was supplied at needed
intervals or If we could but store the
natural precipitation that fell for the
use of the crop. It may even be nee
essary to store up an extra seasons
moisture in the soil to produce one
crop but let us remember that some
| means must be provided for keeping
up the fertility in the soil, for the
greater the crop we harvest the
greater amount Of fertility we remove
from It, Rotation Of crops will not
keep up this fertility unless some
method is employed for returning to
the soil every pound and every ounce
of plant food we remove from It.
Stock raising, and grain farming must
go hand in hand. Every pound Of
manure must be used upon the land
Moisture conservation methods must
be employed in order to furnish suff1-
cient moisture to decompose the coarse
manure, rot the heavy crop of stubble
turned under by the pillow and to bring
the crop to maturity. There is no oc-
casion, Or excuse for burning a heavy
crop Of stubble after heading the
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