Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1909-04-09

best agriculturists make a prac-
tice of developing mulch OF
three or four inches depth of loose
soil on the surface. Since the rise
and escape of moisture is very
rapid in the early spring where
the surface is firm, it is necessary
to work up this mulch as soon as
the soil is fit to work. This leads
to the practice of discing in early
spring all lands that are to be
late spring or summer plowed.
In handling large tract of
summer fallow much is gained in
the end by discing the entire tract
to hold the moisture before touch
ing it with a pillow. Summer fall
low land that is disked in early
spring will pillow up moist and mel
low late in the summer. 1t takes
less horse flesh to do the blowing
and the soil may be gotten into
better condition with much less
work. In disking to develop a
mulch it must be borne in mind
that to form an effective mulch
the surface must be broken up
completely. A common disc har-
row set nearly straight cutting lit
tie grooves in the firm surface
leaving two-thirds of the surface
unbroken is of little benefit. Some
form of disc hung on wheels so
that the disc may be set to cut
shallow, and the discs at the same
time set at sufficient angle to cut
the surface over completely is de-
sirable If the soil disks up some
what chunky, a smoothing har-
row should follow the disc. In the
case of fall blowing land for late
spring crops the same principle
should be observed by working up
loose mulch in early spring with
smoothing harrow.
Another opportunity for great
improvement is in working the
furrow down close after the pillow
in all spring and summer blowing.
The furrow should be brought
firmly down upon the unbroken
soil beneath shutting out the large
air spaces, packing the soil firm
ly around the straw and stubble
establishing capillary connection
with the soil moisture reservoir
below and preventing the drying
out of the seed bed. This result
may best be brought about with
some form of subsurface packer.
This is particularly important in
the drier part of the wheat belt.
Where the soil is heavier and the
rainfall greater the use of some
form of harrow following close
after the pillow will give very sue
cessful results. Whatever tool
may be used the essential point is
to work down the furrow at once.
A further opportunity for vast
improvement is in the subsequent
care of the fallow. A heavy crop
of weeds will use up just as much
moisture and plant food as a
heavy crop of any other kind, and
if the moisture and fertility Of the
soil are to be conserved for our
valuable crops the soil must be
kept absolutely clean. Where
there is danger of making the soil
too fine causing it to run together
III winter and wash and bake
badly in the spring if a smooth
ing harrow is used enough to keep
the soil clean, the difficulty may
be quite largely overcome by the
use Of some form Of knife weeder.
With this type Of tool the weeds
may be destroyed completely with
the least amount of horse flesh
and the least amount of pulveri-
zation of the surface soil. The
knives will cut under the surface
allowing no weeds to escape. but
causing the soil to slide over the
top Of the knife with the minimum
e I