The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1910-09-27
TO KEEP MOISTURE
Soil Should Be Narrowed Down
Smooth When PI0Wed.
Stirring Ground Breaks UP Capillary
Circulation and Keeps Water
From Surface, Retarding
Evaporation.

Last year we had an early droutn.
Many farmers were obliged to post
pone planting until too late for best
results. The corn ground lay In ridges
Just as the plow had left 1t, with not
a particle OF moisture above the 1ur-
row bottoms. Following my usual prac-
tise ! narrowed as fast as l plowed'
and at least every week thereafter
writes c. A. Umoselle, in country
Gentleman. When l got ready to plant
there was moisture in plenty. 1t was
not until about June that rain came
and made 1t possible for others to get
their ground in order. 1t was late'
but that was not all; the spring mols-
ture had been leaving the rough-fur-
rowed fields, and 1t Is pretty sure TO
be wanted before the summer Is over
The opening of spring usually finds
the soil saturated with moisture-seV-
eral hundred tons to every acre. In
winter and spring the rainfall is, as
rule, largely in excess of evaporation
while in summer 1t is the other way.
The warm winds and the heat or the
sun evaporate water from the surface
Of the earth rapidly. Besides evapora-
ton, vast quantities are exhaled, IN
the growing season, by vegetation and
trees. To replace this water lost at
the surface, more is continually drawn
up from below. The water level in the
ground becomes lower and capillary
action. which brings the water to the
surface, gets more and more feeble
A rain may come to replenish the sup
ply. on a drought may come and the
top layers of the soil be without mois
ture and the crops suffer. But some
thing can be done to hold in reserve
this spring supply of water. We can
keep 1t for our crops, largely, II we
will go to the trouble. In the San
Joaquin valley, Cal, where 1t does not
rain in summer, they consider thai
they are all right for grain crop
provided there is enough rain in win
ter thoroughly to wet the ground
The soil should be narrowed dowr
smooth as fast as it is plowed. Evap
Grafton is more rapid In proportion
as the surface Is more uneven. L
a rain comes and puddles the surface
be sure to harrow just as soon al
dry enough. A crust should not be al
lowed to form. Stirring the soil break
up the capillary circulation and keep
the water from the immediate surface
hence retarding evaporation. II a cul
tivated crop Is planted on the ground
the stirring of the soil can go on TO
the greater part Of the season. Do no
wait for a rain, but keep the groun
stirred.
The story Is told Of an Irish farme
in this section Of south Jersey VIII
wore out the patience of his hired hel
by keeping them behind the cultivs
tors in a corn field during a Ion
drought. They didn't see any good !
1t. But he had a fair crop Of corr
/ while his neighbors had none. B
working a dust mulch on the surface
the spring stores of water were mad
, to feed the crop, whereas In othe
cases 1t had escaped by evaporatio
before the corn had needed 1t.
get the best results, the ground shoul
be left as nearly level as possible
consequently a weeder or narro'
toothed cultivator is best.
Some will say that II p rain CONF
!. In time this extra tillage will be VOL
thrown away, but it is not. The sti
ring of the soil, no matter how lor
before planting 1t may be, how fine Il
surface is, or how clean the crop,
never wasted labor. Tillage has be-
called substitute for manure. 1t
undoubtedly true that most soils co
: tain enough plant-food for hundreds
good crops, but it is not in availab
form. Every time the soil is stirre
letting In the air and rearranging t
= particles, some chemical action
{ started and little plant-food is S
q free. l have made experiments to tt
. effect, and it has proved to be true,
: l ask every reader to try this pl
>. and see if it will not be benefit
him this summer