Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-10-15
DEsERET EVENING NEWS SATURDAY ocroRER ~ 1910 81

In all probability. from time imme-
mortal by those farmers who have made
a study of8tiieir soil and OF the meth
DDS best adapted to bring forth a
crop in dry. seasons. 8
This writer claims that the whole
system of dry-farming is based on the
principle that the water can be kept at
the roots OF the growing crop through
dry seasons by cultivating the soil
after each rain and preventing evapora-
ton by keeping mulch OF loose soil on
top all the time.
For example, r.; w. A. Cooper, in the
dry belt OF The Inland Empire" as
part OF the State of Washington and
southern British Columbia Is called. has
made such a success Of farming
through the dry spells there. usually
about nine weeks in length, that his
methods are beginning to attract much
attention. He uses only the ordinary
farm implements so his work Is OF
the greatest value to the ordinary
farmer In any part Of the continent.
The soil on this farm is of a loose,
sandy-loam nature. and during the long
drouths of last year It was kept so
moist by drawing UP the water from
beneath that 1t could be pressed into
a ball like clay. The top was kept
loose and was always dry; the moisture
was below; 1t was brought up by what
is called capillary attraction, and was
prevented from evaporating by the
loose soil on top.
This farmer estimates that during
hot weather. II the ground is left in
its natural condition water win eyap-5
crate from the soil at the rate of over
one quart to the square foot day; IN
fact often nearly three quarts. This
shows why it is Imperative for, the
farmer to cultivate his ground imme-
diately after a rain to check this enor-
nous evaporation; it also shows the abb
soiute necessity for the irrigator to cul-
tivate as soon after irrigating as the
soil will permit.
There must of course be SUFFICIENT
moisture in the. soil; and an annual
rainfall of from 0to II inches seems
necessary forsdry farming in the arid
belt. even for planting a crop every
other year, as: is the usual custom
Then, as long as there is moisture in the
soil. it will quickly evaporate. under
our hot sun and dry atmosphere, un-i
less the escape of the moisture is,
checked bys,a soil mulch at the sur
face: and the most perfect soil mulch
one that is fine. soft and uniform
can be formed by the harrow only when.
the narrowing Is done Immediately after
rain or irrigation before tho surface
has become dry and hard.
Mr.. CooperNnrgues that products from
ground treated in this way are superior
In quality and flavor to those where
such over-irrgatlon has been done
as is necessary where this cultivation Is
not carried out; while the productivity
OF the ground is not only increased but
conserved for the products OF value. not
wasted In weed growth. He says the,
following rules should always be borne
in mind:
1. That ground narrowed. disced or
cultivated directly after a rain, before
the surface has become dry, will hold
the moisture much longer than II culti-
waited at anYSother time.
2. II the ground has "a lot of weed
seds in it. narrowing about every ten
days will kill practically all the seeds
that germinate,s and there ought to be
no necessity to use the hoe.
g. If dust mulch Is formed and
the weatheris extremely hot and dry.
crust is apt to form under the dust
mulch, which needs to be broken up as
soon as found. Il
These rules, it seems, arc applicable
to all kinds of gardening. as well as to
arid farming more directly. The great
service which the semi-artd region has
rendered to the world Of agriculture.
has consisted In demonstrating Just
what to do In order to preserve for
growing plants the large amounts OF
moisture they require &