The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1910-08-04
TO KEEP MOISTURE
Soil Should Be Narrowed Down
Smooth When Plowed.
Stirring Ground Breaks Up Capillary
Circulation and Keeps Water
From Surface, Retardlng
Evaporation.

Last year we had an early drouth.
Many farmers we're obliged to post
pone planting until too late for best
results. The corn ground lay in ridges
Just as the plow had left It, with not
particle Of moisture above the fur
row bottoms. Following my usual prac-
tise, ] narrowed as fast as ] plowed,
and at least every week thereafter.
writes G. A. Umoselle, in Country
Gentleman. When ! got ready to plant
there was moisture in plenty II 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 mois-
ture had been leaving the rough-fur-
rowed fields, and It Is pretty sure to
he 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 a
rule, largely In excess of evaporation,
while in summer It Is the other way.
The warm winds and the heat of the
of the earth rapidly. Besides evapora-
tlon, 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
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 It for our crops, largely. If we
will go to the trouble In the San
Joaquin valley, Cal. where 1t does not
rain in summer, they consider that
they are all right for a grain crop.
provided there is enough rain in win
ter thoroughly to wet the ground.
The soil should be narrowed down
smooth as fast as 1t is plowed Evap-
oratlon is more rapid in proportion
MS the surface is more uneven. If
a rain comes and puddles the surface,
be sttre to harrow just as soon as
dry enough. crust should not be al |
lowed to form. Stirring the soil breaks
up the capillary circulation and keeps |
the water from the immediate surface, |
hencc retarding evaporation. If cul |
tivated crop is planted on the ground,
the stirring of the soil can go on for
the greater part of the season. Do not |
wait for rain, but keep the ground |
stirred
The story is told of an Irish farmer |
In this section of south Jersey who |
wore out the patience of his hired help |
by keeping them behind the cultiva-
tors IN corn field during a long
drought. They didn't see any good in
1t. But he had fair crop of corn,
while his neighbors had none. BY
working a dust mulch on the surface.
the spring stores of water were made !
to feed the crop, whereas in other
cases 1t had escaped by evaporation
before the corn had needed it, To
get the best results, the ground should
be left as nearly level as possible;
weeder or narrow
toothed cultivator is best.
Some will say that If rain comes
In time this extra tillage will be work
thrown away, but 1t Is not. The stir
ring of the soil, no matter how long
before planting it may be, how fine the
surface is, or how clean the crop, is
never wasted labor. Tillage has been
called a substitute for manure 1t is
undoubtedly true that most soils con.
lain enough plantfood for hundreds of
good crops, but 1t is not in available
'orm Every time the soil is stirred,
ettlng,in the air and rearranging the
some chemical action is
started and little plantfood is set
rec. have made experiments to this
effect, and 1t has proved to be true, so
ask every reader to try this plan
md see If it will not be benefit to
lim this summer