The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1910-04-21
DRY LAND FARMING
Fertility of Soil Depends Largely
Upon Physical Condition.
Upon Proper mlnoIlns Of Water ana
Air Depends Success Of Farmer
Heat Starts Mechanical
Process.

The fertility of soil depends large
" upon its physical condition; that H.
upon its firmness and texture It's SOL
uble minerals and humus and the pro
norton of air and water 1t contains
writes H. w. Campbell In Cnmpbelis
Scientific Farmer. No soil can be ter-
tile that contains either too much or
too little air or water, The presence
of either to the exclusion of the other
stops plant growth Upon the proper
or ideal mingling and mixture OF both
depends the success of the farmer
Not until the farmer realizes that he
must do all he can to regulate the air
content of the soil as well as its wa
ter he will never reach the high limit
of yield
When the soil is in proper physical
condition and has the necessary
amount of air and moisture the appli-
cation of heat starts the chemical
processes which are necessary to fer
tility
This necessary condition of the soil
can be secured and be maintained in
a dry region or in a humid region
during droughty periods by intelligent
cultivation with special reference to
keeping the plowed portion of the soil
fine and firm and in close connection
with the unplowed portion and in ad-
dition a sufficient soil mulch at the
top to prevent unnecessary waste or
Iii 70 hn
quantity of air
The loss of water is most harmful
during the growing season, but water
saved and stored at other seasons is
just as useful The preservation of
the rainfall from season to season and
keeping the soil in right condition for
a moisture reservoir is therefore a vi
tai matter in the regions of limited
rainfall.
That which is most disastrous to
crops, whether in dry region or dur
| ing a drought period is the formation
of crust at the surface or under the
mulch. This indicates rapid evapora
ton of the water and what is more
! important the deposit of dry salts
which fill the soil pores and shut out
the air from the plant roots. If a sol
mulch is maintained too long without
change the crust may form just be
meath the mulch, which is just as bad
| The formation of such a crust mus
be prevented.
Sometimes 1t is found that ever
with the greatest care there is not suf
ficient moisture in the soil within
reach of the roots to make it safe t.
try a crop. A season of summer I'll
lage by which the rainfall of the yea
is stored and the fertility Of the sol
is increased all the time, will brin
about the desired physical condition
The secret for the farmer in dr.
lands is that he must understan
these vital conditions and plow, GU
tivate or otherwise till his soil t
that end. The blowing must be don
when the soil is in condition to b
plowed The lower part of the plowe
portion must be packed down firm s
that moisture will be carried and b
retained. The sub-packer is invall
able in most soils. The disk is an az
mirable tool for keeping the surfac
stirred before blowing and sometime
after blowing, especially in handlin
heavy soils after excessive rain A
ways put the seed into moist, firm sol
for then you know It will surely gro
when the weather Is sufficiently warn
The important thing is that tn
farmer should keep in mind the so
conditions he desires and make us
of tools that will get the results. Ii
us repeat. the vital thing is to secul
an ideal physical condition-that is,
fine and firm soil with air and moi
ture-and to maintain it just so Ion
as 1t is possible to do any work in tn
fields.