The Estancia news. [volume] (Estancia, Torrance County, N.M.) 1904-1912, 1909-09-24
SUMMER CULTURE
FOR FILL WHEHT
Preparing The Soil and Seeding
Discussed by W. H.
Campbell

In the August number we put
considerable stress in our article
on Soil Culture No. 5 upor
the reorganization of the fact that
I much attention must be given tc
the necessary condition of the
soil. We wish to repeat that
while it is important to under
stand the necessary mechanical
work, you must have clearly fixed
in your mind the fact that the
plants grow prolifically under
certain soil conditions. When
these ideal conditions do not at
tain, then the plant is. sure to
suffer during any short dry per-
iod.
We have in numerous previous
articles frequently referred to
the fact that to attain the most
rapid growth Of the plant the
soil must be sufficiently fine and
firm where the roots are to grow
to reduce the air to it's minimum,
and to increase the water hold
ing capacity of the soil to its
maximum. For the benefit of
those who have notread our pre-
vious article let us call your at
tention to the fence post which
stands in the field in a section
of country where the rainfall is
ample. The portion of the post
above the ground where air is
abundant, with but little mois-
ture, there is rarely any decom-
posit on, whatever. The lower
portion of the post where mois-
Ttufe is abundant, With practically
no'air, there is no decomposition,
but just below the surface of the
soil where moisture and air mill
giles in just the proper quantity,
the post soon rots. This same
rotting, or nitrification is one of
the chemical actions absolutely
necessary in developing nitrates
and other plant elements in the
soil, If there are open spaces in
the soil where a volume of air is
carried, nitrification rarely takes
place.
One of the reasons that a crop
is much better during a season
of abundant rain is that the
heavy rain dissolves and settles
the soil quite firm, thus obtain
ing that ideal condition, which
brings about the mingling of the
properties of air and water much
nearer ideal proportions. An
other advantage of the frequent
rains is to prevent the forming
of a crust. The crust is formed
during the hot dry period, be-
cause of the upward movement
of the moisture by capillary at
traction, the moisture carrying
to the surface the chemicals of
the soil, alkalies, magnesia, and
salts, in soluble or dissolved con-
dition. AS the vapor or steam
leaves the surface these chemi-
Gals then in solution become dry
and solid, filling the pores in the
soil, and thereby shutting out
the air. When heavy rain comes
these chemicals are again dis
solved and carried down into the
soil by percolation or the down
ward movement of the water,
again permitting the circulation
of the air into the soil in proper
proportions. So it is not alone
the question of water, but a
question of air and water both,
in just ideal form,
While these suggestions may seem
to some like repetition, they
point to that all important basic
principle.
The time of seeding as we'll as
the quantity of seed is question
that can be very freely discussed.
many serious mistakes are made
in both. Fields that have been
thoroughly and carefully sum-
Ill. 4. i