The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-04-22
DRY LAND FARMING
Fertility of Soil Depends Largely
Upon Physical Condition.
Upon Proper MingIing Of Water and
Air Depends Success Of Farmer
Heat Starts Mechanical
Process,

The fertility Of a soil depends large
ly upon its physical condition; that u.s..
upon it's tirmness and texture, It's SOL
uble minerals and humus and the pro-
portion of air and water it contains,
writes H. w. Campbell in CampbelPs
Scientific Farmer. No soil can be fer
tile that contains either too much or
too little air or water. The presence
OF either to the exclusion Of the other
stops plant growth. Upon the proper
or ideal mingling and mixture of both
depends the success of the farmer.
Not until the farmer realizes that he
must do all he can to regulate the air
content of the soil as we'll as it's wa
ter he will never reach the high limit
of yield.
When the soil is in proper physical
condition and has the necessary
amount of air and moisture the appli-
cation of heat starts the chemical
processes which are necessary to fer
tility
This necessary condition of the soil
can be secured and be maintained in
dry region or in humid region
during droughty periods by intelligent
cultivation with special reference to
keeping the plowed portion of the soil
fine and firm and in close connection
with the unplowed portion and in adj
dition a sufficient soil mulch at the
top to prevent unnecessary waste of
water as well or to admit the proper
quantity of air.
The loss of water is most harmful!
during the growing season, but water
saved and stored at other seasons is
just as useful. The preservation of
the rainfall from season to season and
keeping the soil in right condition for
moisture reservoir is therefore a vi
tai matter in the regions of limited
rainfall.
That which is most disastrous to
crops, whether in dry region or dur
ing drought period is the formation
of a crust at the surface or under the
mulch. This indicates rapid evapora-
ton of the water and what is more
important the deposit of dry salts
which fill the soil pores and shut out
the air from the plant roots. If a soil
mulch is maintained too long without
change the crust may form just be-
meath the mulch. which is just as bad
The formation of such crust must
be prevented
Sometimes it is found that even
with the greatest care there is not suf-
ficient moisture in the soil within
reach of the roots to make it safe to
try crop. A season of summer til
lage by which the rainfall of the year
is stored and the fertility of the soil
is increased all the time, will bring
about the desired physical condition.
The secret for the farmer in dry
lands is that he must understand
these vital conditions and pillow, cul-
tivate or otherwise till his soil to
that end. The blowing must be done
when the soil is in condition to be
plowed. The lower part of the plowed
portion must be packed down firm so
that moisture will be carried and be
retained. The sub-packer is invalu-
able in most soils. The disk is an ad-
mirable tool for keeping the surface
stirred before blowing and sometimes
after blowing, especially in handling
heavy soils after excessive rain. AL
ways put the seed into moist, firm SOIL
for then you know it will surely grow
when the weather is sufficiently warm
The important thing is that the
farmer should keep in mind the soil
conditions he desires and make use
OF tools that will get the results. Let
us repeat, the vital thing is to secure
an ideal physical condition-that is,
fine and firm soil with air and mois-
ture-and to maintain it just so long
as it is possible to do any work in the
fields.