The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-09-20
NOISTI RE IN THE SoU
HOW 1t May Be Secured and Do,
(StatesvilIe Landmark.

(StatesVille Landmark,
Having estimated i'm p nr.,.-
per the amount Of water W. q, "a
sure to get upon each acre If H-,7
a year and for the growing sase@- j.
the corn crop. let US now ok
the condition of soil necessary
celVe and retain for the usa ~
crop, the water that falls u,., ,|-
land. "7
In order to receive water r.r:5,.
as during a downpour OF raj, +.'
soil must be open and para.s NO ,"o
a sponge and to hold a large ar.a,,~.
say a heavy shower Of 8 {. ~ 800 7
inches, this soil reservoir mrSr r- -
sufficient depth to hold the wa.a-
suspension until it passes into Tho
sCbsoil by capillary attraction
There is now one other matter F.,
consider. That is. how can v. CON-
serve this water in the soil SD ,4s.
the plants may have the benefit af =
in time Of deficient rainfall. W.. r-r.ls
that this water is drawn TO tin. e,r-
face in time of drought. just a.. of 10
drawn from a lamp to supply thu.
consumed by the flames. our great
est difficulty lies in the character -
some of u subsoiIs. In some .ac.
tions the clay is SO fine and conpaet
that it viii turn water almost like q
slate roof, and to render these r'av
subSolls more perneable is the proh-
lem before US. This may be accom-
plished by deeper blowing an. sub
soiling, If care is exercised While his
is being done to ComulDtelv H[ fna
soil, as it is dug up, with Vegetable
matter: or perhaps this may be- more
economically done by growing ON such
soils some deep-rOoted plants. such
as the ciovers. These roots Penetrate
the subsoil to greater depths. and
when they decay. they leave small
ducts through which the water utre0-
lates to lower strata.
Let us see how nature manages this
problem. and in order to do -o let
us visit a locality where She has done
her most perfect Work-a virgin for
est. Here We find layer upon layer
CT leaf mold buiiding UP soil, and this
soil filed with countless r@o0tlets. and
the SubSoil beneath contains larger
roots penetrating the earth i'm every
direction and opening The way for the
rain water to sink into the earth,
then upon this is Il layer Of leaves,
a mulch-Which is the most perfect
form of conservation Of soil moisture.
This soil drinks in ali the rain that
falls upon it and it is there until
needed. No one ever sees such
a forest suffer for wan Of rain, but
often on the ridges. whore the vino
constantly blows the leaves from the
surface and the soil is left bare, the
moisture evaporates and the timber
suffers for lack Of moisture i'm time
Of drought.
If this condition does not exist N
the soil. how NAV we bring it ahout2
The following will he recommended:
% deeper plowing: (2) addition Of
humus: go rotation of crops. 60 pre-
ventlon of soil-Washing; o. growing
legumes, such as cOWpeas. SOFA beans
vetches. the ~clovers and also the
grasses; (6) plant corr on sod ANA
only, and CD a business-Iike manage
ment that will build UP the SOIL in
stead of rob it.
1t may be argued that such II con.
dition Of soil as has been d"sFN~9tIl
herein is impossible to mainta'nr bIl
it is not. The farmer who wants S-lh
land may have it by following tae
directions outlined above, il "a iA4F-
oughly b~usiness-like way.
In discussing the moistur" goeS~
ton as has been attempted IN ih'70
papers it was not Intended 10 si""
how soil might be brought lh-o e"
high state Of productivity. bnJ. Lh|
deutally, that has been done, ana "3
n will doubt that SUCH sou a.
such management as we hAE@ ""
scribed will produce many tunes me-
than the average soil with aver 49,
management. Such soil not only M
care Of the crop during p"I'J4S y.
drought, but through eXceSSiF@ 80"
falls well.