El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-09-03

fast rules by which farming operations
should be carried out anywhere. either
in rainy districts or under semi-arid
conditions This is why the judgment
Of the farmer is so often needed 10
decide or choose between certain al
ternativs on the farm as the conditions
present themselves. Give the farmer as
you give the lawyer or the doctor,
certain principles underlying his avo-
cation, and his good Judgment must
then lead him TO avoid mistakes and
adopt the correct methods.
Flowing Land.
For example in the matter of plows.
1 do not believe il possible or even de-
sirable that we should undertake to
say to what depth land should be
plowed because the depth will GER
tainly vary with the character of the
soil, with the amount Of rainfall. and
with its distribution. A man might
contend, for example. that theoretic
ally in q given locality it would be
desirable TO ploW eight to ten inch
es deep, but practically, when he comes
to consider the difficulties in his way.
he might find it undesirable TO under
take to do this. However, 1 do think
that in a semi-arid condition it is well
to pillow deep enough to convert the
soil into a bed of sponge in order that
it may absorb as far as possible or
practicable every drop of rain that falls
on it. And yet, there is somewhat of
a conflict between the method of hand
ling the soil in order to conserve the
moisture that is already in it and
the method OfShanding the soil in order
that it may absorb the rain that falls.
We have all heard so much of the dust
mulch that We are becoming pretty
well acquainted with the method of
preDaring it. and the principle or pur-
pose it is intended to serve.
Example of Moisture Preservation.
Those of us who have lived in rainy
districts, but where there is usually
long summer drouth, have observed
that leaf mould IN the forest preserves
the moisture underneath for a long
time. We have also observed in Varl-
Gus localities that where an old sack
or rubbish OF any description has lain
upon the surface, that the moisture i'm
mediately beneath it has been pro-
tected, but il would be too expensive
and impracticable TO undertake to pre-
pare a mulch of straw or other debree
upon any considerable area of land, so
we prepare the dust mulch or blanket
This helps to conserve the moisture
that is already stored in the soil, but
when the beating rains come lhdt are
characteristic of semi-arid districts, II
this dust mulch is too fine, or too per
feet, it becomes an obstacle to the
complete absorption of the rain. That
is to say, the top dust coheres, runs
together, and soon forms a more or
loss impervious sheet of soil, from
which the water escapes easily.
To Catch the Rain.
Therefore, so far as the absorption
of the rain is concerned, 1t is better
TO have somewhat broker surface,
made up of small clods. and with the
presence Of some stubble or other me-
chanicGl matter. and yet this condition
of a surface soil he mentioned before,
is in more or less contradiction to
what should be the condition of the
soil after the rain has fallen. The
proper adjustment ard handling of this
condition. is something that the farmer
must determine for himself. on the
fald- AS You all know, sod land is
much more difficult to handle for I
successful crop than old land is and !
the relative difference is much greater
under semi-arid conditions than furth |