El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-09-17

! lEuLAOu-
Results in All Regions
In seasons of drOUth when others by
! the more common methods of farming
] have grown from nothing to eight or
/ ten bushels of wheat there has been
/ grown, under our method Of tillage, from
/ so TO 40 bushels per acre
In the more favorable seasons. when
] others have produced by the common
methods from Is TO 20 bushels per acre,
there have been grown. under methods
Of tillage we have outlined from 42 Il to
81 bushels of wheat per acre.
1t has also been proved by expert
ence that by the application of the
same fundamental principles the yield
Of all crops can be proportionately in
creased.
The fundamental principles of the
/ Campbell system of scientific soil cul-
ture apply to crops grown in all sec
tions. and we are fully justified in say
ing that the present average yield can
be materially increased, but when we
turn to the semi-arfd sections these
principles become vital. In evidence of
this we will present in our next issue
large number of statements from many
farmers in many sections, showing
marked results.
Looking to the Soil.
Our present system Of tillage is not
combination of rigid rules outlining
certain mechanical work that must be
done under any and all conditions, the
result of continued experiments in deep
and shallow blowing, deep and shallow
cultivation, and so forth. The expert
mentS and study are more with refer
ence to that certain ideal condition of
the. soil as maintained from year TO
year. and each years tiaage effect upon
the crop of the following one. two or
three years.
In 1896 we conducted experiments In
Il different places along the line of the
Burlington railroad, Tie Northern Pa
cific and the 500 Line, receiving modest
financial aid from all Of these COM
panies; the fields. being located in North
Dakota Nebraska, Kansas and Colo
RADIO. In 1897 the Fremont and Elk
horn railway came in for share of
the work and more stations were added
on the other roads, making a total of
over 80. Up to this time our efforts
were along the line Of drilling all small
grain in rows and cultivating same as
we did corn.
Through a chain Of circumstances
connected with these farms we reached
the conclusion that the crop growth and
grain yield was governed largely by the
physical condition Of the soil, and care
full experiments the past u years show
this to have been an important step, by
leading up to Investigations along this
special line. The system of summer till
ing was brought out.
Moisture Conservation.
While the conservation of the mois-
ture is an important factor it has been
found to be by no means all. It is
only one of the many vital things to be
carefully considered if we are to reach
the high limit of yield in all fields that
now seems possible
While we do not wish to convey the
idea that our system is so elaborate
and full of details that the average
farmer cannot grasp it in its entirety,
for it is not, yet there are so many de-
tails, every one Of which must be fully
understood, that it is entirely out of
the question to cover the field as we
now understand in so short space. We
can only deal with the main or funda-
mental principles
Soil Condition.
The physical or mechanical condi-
ton of the soil is the all important fac
tor, as it has more to do with the guam
tity and quality of the crop yield than
any other one thing. 1t is through this
that we are able to control and utilize
the air, water, heat and light If the
seed and root bed is not properly pre-
pared all the after cultivation cannot
bring the high yield No matter how
much moisture you have conserved in
the soil below or how completely you
may keep the weeds out, you cannot
reach the high limit Of yield without
close and careful attention to the prep
aration Of the soil.
Air and Water.
Air is just as necessary an element in
the soil as the water. but both must be
there in proper quantities. If there is
too much air and too little moisture,
notification ceases. If there is too
much moisture and too little air, the
effect is the same From u years Of
experience and observation we have
concluded that a certain chemical action
must be practically continuous in the
soil during the growing season, if we
are to grow the largest crop. This
chemical action is unquestionably de- |
pendent upon just certain ideal or per- |
feet condition of the sofia physical |
condition that will carry in the soil just |
the ideal quantity Of both air and /
Water-and then as soon as the soil be- |
comes sufficiently warm natures work |
begins. Bear this paragraph in mind |
fully and clearly, if you would break |
the record in crop yield, have your seed |
and root bed always fine, firm and |
moist.
The Soil Mulch.
The soil mulch is for three purposes |