Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-07-28

there is nothing to gained by surface
tillage for the reaso that there Is no
water to save. 1t is true that once a
soil Is thoroughly dried out under the
conditions mentioned, surface tillage
will not enable the farmer to store
any water in it. At the same time,
the working of the soil at intervals
improves its physical condition and
greatly ADDS to the bacterial activity,
through which insoluble plant food is
made soluble for future use.
While no one knows what the sea-
son of 1912 may have in store for us In
the way or rain, the chances are that
soil moisture will be scarce next year.
A wet season next year is an impossi-
bility; for even though the rainfall
should be considerably above normal,
the soil being so dry now, will take
care of a great deal more than an
average rainfall and still not become
wet.
In view Of these conditions we urge
our readers to get busy with the plow
and the disc in their Stubble fields
just as soon as conditions will permit.
Kill the weeds, improve the physical
condition of the soil, and get it ready
to absorb water readily when rain
ZONES Then use the disc freely after
each heavy rain to r~e-establish the
soil mulch. In this way, if we should
have several heavy rains this fall, the
bulk Of it may be stored for use next
spring, or If you desire to SOW fall
wheat it will be of great value to
start the crop and produce a good
growth for the protection of the roots
during the winter season. A mulch
on plowed ground from three to four
inches deep is more effective than one
half that deep, because light rains
will not Interfere so much with a
thin one
We realize that there are sections
where fall blowing and working OF
the surface is not desirable, and In
fact not practicable. In sections where
high winds prevail and the soil is
light, too frequent cultivation, max
ing it mellow and fine on top, causes
it to blow and drift; but In sections
where this objection does not obtain
surface cultivation from o on until
the ground freezes up cannot help
but be of great benefit regardless Of
whether much rain falls or not, and
an effort should be made to
all that can be saved.
Plow Is deeply as possible. II you
have been blowing from four to five
inches deep 90 n or two inches
deeper this fall if you can. AS a gen.
eral rule none Of us has been blowing
deep enough; we are too much in
clined to merely scratch the surface.
In European countries rhey pillow
from 7 to II inches deep, depending
upon the character of the soil. They
realize that the more thoroughly the
soil is stirred and worked the larger
the crops it produces. If you expect to
winter wheat or winter
rye it is important that your land
be plowed early. If you cannot
pillow it now. 1t will pay you to double
disc it so as to establish a mulch and
then plow later on. Remem Der that
water Is precious this year; you cannot
afford to lose a single pound that you
can manage TO save. Water saved
this fall may mean the difference be-
tween a good crop and no crop at all
next year.
Discing before blowing, where the
land is to be gotten ready for a grain
crop shortly after blowing, is OF great
advantage in that a better capillary
is established. The top soil
when loose comes in closer contact
with the bottom OF the furrow after
blowing than when it is hard and
crusted. If the ploWed ground Is to
lie undisturbed all winter, diScing be-
fore blowing is not so important, but
when it Is to be seeded shortly after
blowing it is factor that should not
be over looked.-Farmer and Breeder.