The Raymer enterprise., 1911-09-14
NEED OF DUST MULCH
Many Crops in Time Of Drought
Saved by Method.
Blanket Of Finely PuIverized Soil On
the Surface VIII Conserve Mojs.
turs Almost Entirely for
Crop Use.

Ordinarily when one thinks of the
conditions that are imperative tc
insure the production OF farm croI
Of any kind tnat may be grown. he
thinks Of the fertile soil as the mos,
important Of all. And 1t is, of course
absolutely necessary that a soil with
abundant plant food be planted on
to get a crop.
But the soil. or rather tho plant
food. although absolutely necessary.
It is not bit more SO than the need.
ed amount OF moisture.
Fortunately water Is in suffcient
supply as rule to make the ordi.
nary crops on most OF the arabic
land. or course, In the arid regions
the water supply is obtained from
streams, created mainly by melting
SHOWS. and, as rule. the irrigation
companies know just about what
water can be supplied. and the man
who has a farm on which he can put
water from an irrigation plant is far
more certain OF results than one who
gets his water supply by the acts OF
Providence.
The irrigation farmer Is therefore
IA more certain as to the outcome OF
his crors than those in the rain belt.
who get little or much water, accord.
Ing to the rainfall.
Tbs water supply is therefore the
most uncertain and most important
In the greater portion OF the arabic
lands OF this country. says writer In
Farm Progress. This is so well
known that no farmer who has
farmed on irrigated land, having an
abundance Of water. is willing to go
back to the old method and put his
dcI endence on Providence"
II is a most important point to
know whether, under normal condl.
tions. farming In any humid section
can be as safe. free from risk. and
profitable as the business can be
made when one can turn on the wa.
ter as he needs without reference to
rainfall.
/ think that all farmers who have
studied the water question In connec.
tion with crop making. will agree
with me. that great deal can be
done to conserve the moisture from
all natural resources. and that often
fairly good crop can be made by
proper management.
1t Is hardly safe to say that the
rainfall that is usual in the spring is
sufficient to make a crop without
more rain. but all observant men
have learned that the rational con.
servation of moisture can often make
good crops, when the neglect of
this. will be certain 10 cause a fail.
ure.
This Is very important point, and
In some seasons It is absolutely vital
to the making Of fair crop. There Is
no mystery about this: the point to
Keep In mind is TO prevent evapora.
ton OF the water from the soil
1t cannot be done entirely; much
water will evaporate in spite OF us,
and much will 20 on down below the
reach OF plant roots; but In seasons
OF only ordinary drought It is DOS.
sible to conserve enough moisture to
make fair crop Of corn, tobacco, po.
tatoes and other hoed crops.
The dust mulch" or blanket OF
finely pulverized soil on the surface.
say three or four inches deep, will
stop the waste OF water almost en-.
tirely. In fact, II the soil is kent
stirred on the surface quite often, Il
may be truthtully said that all the
moisture may be kept in the ground
for the use of the crops.
or course. We can never tell at the
beginning OF the season whether II Is
going to be wet season or a dry
one. but II a man cultivates with
reference to keeping the moisture In
the soil, It will be all the better In
case OF very wet season, and II may
be the salvation OF the crop in case
OF severe drought. So 1t Is wise to
keep this In mind
II is therefore very important for
one TO plant no more land than he
can cultivate perfectly, and always
In n dry season to keep the soil
stirred to depth OF two or three
inches. No matter whether the culti.
walton is actually needed or not,
stirring as often as possible a few
inches Of the surface will stop the
escape as absolutely as a cover Of
sheet iron.
Those who doubt this method Of
saving crops from suffering by
drought should try this method thor.
oushly. 1t takes labor. but II may
save the crops. ! know from expert.
ence.