The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-20
DEEP FLOWING ONE OF COUNTY'S NEEDS Howard c. Smith Reviews Farm Conditions Here HOW TO SAVE THE SOIL Government Surveyor Expects to See AIabama's Corn Yield Doubled as
 Result of More Careful
 Farming.
HOW TO SAVE THE SOIL

Howard c. Smith, a representative of the United States department of agricul- ture, who is in Birmingham, speaks very plainly concerning the need of deeper blowing.
 q have about finished the soil survey of Jefferson county" he said "and ex- pect to leave for another county very soon. During my six months work in Jefferson l have had abundant oppor- tunity to verify your editorial in the issue of January 19 in regard to the necessity for deep blowing. As one sent here to study and report on the soils l can give my unqualified indorsement to your ar ticle.
 There are parasitic plants living on others and plants living almost entirely on nutrient materials imbibed from the air, but the plants that the farmer raises with the exception of clovers and some other leguines-take all their sustenance from the soil. Evidently If the soil Is put into condition so that the plants get better root hold the yields will be greatly increased.
 Farmers should blow deeper than they do in order to loosen the soil and allow. the sun and atmosphere to act upon and release the locked stores of latent fertil- ity. This will follow. as the roots will get a better chance to feed on the subsoil and thus penetrate deeper. Not only will they get more nutrition but the plant L l.. f winds are present No plant can grow to its fullest extent unless it's roots have ample opportunity to branch and come in contact with great amount of soil Not only for the sake of obtaining plant food from the soil but in a drouthy season the crops are liable to suffer from in- sufficient moisture unless the roots can penetrate to the deep moist subsoil and bring the soil water to the top.
 This matter of resisting drouth is more important than generally recognized. The surface soil acts as a sponge to attract and hold moisture for the plant. If the farmer blows three inches deep-which is the average in Jefferson county-the soil can hold much less moisture than If he
 
 a season that has the proper amount of rain when it Is needed for the best interests of the crops, and deep blowing will aid greatly in conserving the mols- ture that has fallen.
 Another very important point too often lost sight of is that the steep hills of this county need this deep, spongy surface soil for another important reason-to pre- vent erasion. The destructive effects of washing in cultivated fields are of two kinds visible and invisible The visible effects are seen in the deep gullies that have ruined many valuable fields anu cut them into small parcels of a few acres each. A field divided by a gully not only has the available amount of land diminished but it necessitate the farming of two fields and vastly increases the work of cultivation. Even when no guliles are formed small streams of muddy water flow off and carry a thin layer of sediment from the surface. This constant and unperceptible loss is felt first on the knolls, and these high spots are always lowest in productivity in consequence. This loss can be seen on any rolling field where the cotton on the high spots will hardly produce one-tenth of a bale per acre, while portions not denuded may prdouce nearly bale.
 "A deep soil well stocked with plowed under decaying manure and vegetable matter will absorb and prevent much erasion.
 In making soil surveys in various parts of the United States I have found farmers who began farming with deep ditches and high ridges, plowed around the hills to stop the rapid flow of water. Later by deeper blowing and the prac- tice of the principle I have enumerated they have been able to dispense with these Utilised contours and no gullying resulted.
 Tn regard to The Age-Herald's words of praise of the black belt land I may say that the black lime stone lands are among the most inexhaustible in the world and can be compared with the soils of the famous Nile valley to good ad- vantage.
 There are two ways of increasing crop yields. A common way is to breed bet ter plants and grow longer ear. this practice has its limitations unles along with 1t the second practice Is observed namely, to blow deeper and cultivate more carefully. In the coming era of in- tensive scientific farming I confidently ex- ,oo+ +o ~aa Alb no n, a,S oor,, viald dauh1ad