The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-08-20
IN HUMID ! N II ] EE 6 n

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roper Conservation Of Soil Mois-
[, turesN Needed Tor Crops.
In Corn Culture Cultivation Should
Follow Every Heavy Rain. to +
81 Break the Crust and Form
a Soil Mulch. e
81 To mention the application OF. the
principles of dry farming" in the hu-
mid regions In season when the
gfainp Wfre SO heavy and frequent for
Several weeks in May and June that
Corn cultivation could not go on for
two days in succession would almost
seem 4 positive offense. But let us
ssconaderathe subject little, says
Farm and Fireside. In hot weather
following rains the ground quickly
bakes. or a surface crust Is formed,
particularly on clay soils. Now here
10 just where the application of the
Campbell system Of soil culture comes
1n with remarkably favorable results.
IN corn culture, for example, cultiva-
ion Should follow every heavy rain
fhs soon as the ground is in proper
Condition, to break the crust and to
form soil mulch. For II the crust Is
mot broken and the mulch Of loose
;earth formed, the soil moisture is
quickly evaporated; and II a rainless
period Of only ten days follows, the
corn begins to suffer for water. Then
we complain Of drought, and say the
corn needs rain. What 1t really needs
- the conservation OF soil moisture
by proper and timely cultivation.
Thtb point becomes more forcible
Hheh we consider that the average
rainfall In the humid regions during
the corn-growing season does not fur
nish sufficient available, water, after
allowing for surfsces drainage and
Evaporation, for the crop to make q
All yield. The corn crop depends
largely on water conserved In the soil
I from, thu early rains Of, the season, ~.
The I'll len9ntsf Of plant food are
4AkeX I'd 4 dilute solution, Of water
~ the roots Tie water rises through
NE stems to the leaves, where 1t Is
( INHALED, leaving the minerals to. be
! Elaborated Into food for the plant.
! Tor every pound of dry matter In
4lants, from three hundred to over
I'VE hundred pounds Of water must be
lfted froH ths son and Sexhaled
Through TN leaves, With this in
mind we begin to realize the enor-
nous amount Of water used by plants.
4 The amount required by different
plantS u eslsiil e. ponsid erably but take
corn for example. It Is estimated
that tho amount 81 water required by
d single acre OF corn OF average pro
.dustioa fuii!yj 80 tons. The reason
"a flrst importance. therefore, Of cult
4 1Atio ~ TIL dhack The evaporation of
s patsf febmE thu son u dry weather
md ~ it or he Jses the growing
There b $ho Exed best number OF
times for the cultivation OF corn. I'm
Il der very favorable conditions Of soil
md moisture three. civilizations have
eade q fnaxiikum Yield Under other
onditions fivs CIVILIZATIONS were not
nough. Don VI nay sby" the corn with
crust on the soil Break II, and
reak III again 81 neCessafy, even ~
nras Nna.tndthed cultiyatnr running
NJ twol II chas; deem, -. &
S Isana a,s1 aa,d n sforls .,thor
iIss - NJ sbS 81 SSho,iid aeS nlowa1 n. !, !.
& ,nn y nosaihla after harvest A Then
i ~ saad .bad should Ia nranarad and
4 m mulch IL Il I, ntainad nv tho tho
,,,t,a ;;i ,xg tsrn.# ma
B rstivaiy faw nsids that vera -. s me-
rs M yssS 4, M t, .S
B Sve marnif,nant thrns q ante ~