The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-07-16

uuSt ana Qlrt anu 50 cOuSlFuCieu as ~
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 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 ii to throw out
more shoots, thus thickeling the stand
How to Secure and Retain Moisture.
The Importance of getting 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 orin-
ion among them as TO the best methods
to reach that result. Grass, red clover
and alfalfa roots are frequently mep-
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 ascef-
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
ploweL 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 undersoil. Still it
Is true a little water has thereby gone
deeper into the ground than before and
a little is better than none; but Ii is
evident that the above method is not
effective and better way must be
| found.
Starting w1h the self-evident propo-
sition that water easily finds its way
down in loose soil. 1t 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 a heavy downpour can fur
nish 1t is the proper method and can
be done with the right kind of sub
soil pillow. 1t has 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 ii requires good judgment to
properly use the subsoil plow, and an
other most important point is TO get the
right kind of pillow. But when this is
done and the work accomplished you
may properly feel a degree of inde-
pendence never before enjoyed.
| The Foreign Market for Grain.
The influence of European agriculture
on the welface of American farmers is
strikilgly illustrated in q bulletin re-
Gently issued by the Department of Ag-
riculture on the cereal production Of
Europe, by special European agent Of
the bureau of statistics, giving complete
official statistics, as far as they have
been published, of the acreage, produc-
ton and average yield of the various
grains in each country Of Europe for
the last twenty-five years.
1t appears that wheat and corn are
the two grains that Europe imports
largely from abroad. European produc-
ton of rye. barley and oats is practic-
ally sufficient for national require
ments. The growing dependence Of for
eign countries for much Of its grain
supply is illustrated by the fact that
during the last twenty years Europe
has increased its average purchase Of
wheat more than 100,000,0O0 bushels,
or about so per cent, and has doubled
its annual purchases of corn. 1t is
only in Northwestern Europe that the
dependence on foreign agriculture is
increasing. The wheat production of
those countries has remained practical
| ly unchanged during the last twenty
been steadily increasing, so that they
now require from foreign sources 1907
100000 bushels a year more than they
did twenty years ago. 1t appears that
the average yield per acre Is the high
est in those countries where wheat cul-
ture is least generally practiced, and
where the acreage under that grain
shows the smallest increase. The ex-
tension Of the wheat area, on the con-
trary, is the most marked where the
yield is lowest.
A high average yield, such as Is oh.
tanned in Northwestern Europe-about
twice as high as the best average yield
recorded in this country presupposea
the use of valuable land, juStifying
large outlay in labor and fertilizers, rs
well as abundant supply of good
but cheap, labor. These conditions OF
intensive culture, however, are much
more favorable TO the growth of corOs
other than grain. which give the great
est profit when raised on large scale
on new and comparatively cheap land
1t appears that the average crop T.
Germany is worth about $40, and from
an acre OF sugar beets 500, while wheat
yields only $50 and rye S21 per acre.
In France the value of hops reaches
$153, tobacco 500 and sugar beets S47.
/ aroinSt only sol npr acre for Wbpat