American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1911-08-24
VALUE OF DUST MULCH
MANY Crops in Time of DROUGHT
Saved by Method.
Fertility OF Soil, Although Absolutely
necessary, Is Not a Bit More Need.
ed Than the Proper Amount
Of Moisture.

ordinarily when one thinks of tn
conditions that are imperative f
insure the production of a farm
crop OF any kind that may be grown
ne thinks of the fertile soil as tn,
most important of all. And 1t is, o
course, absolutely necessary that
soil with abundant plant food b.
planted on to get a crop.
But the soil. or rather the plan,
food, although absolutely necessary
1t is not a bit more so than the
needed amount of moisture, says a
writer In the Farm Progress.
fortunately water is in sufficient
supply as a rule to make the ordi.
nary crops on most of the arabic
n Or course. In the arid regions
the water supply is obtained from
streams created mainly by melting
SHOWS, and as a rule, the irrigation
companies know just about what
water can be supplied, and the man
VINO 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
far more certain as to the outcome OF
his crops than those in the rain belt,
who get little or much water, accord
Ing to the rainfall.
The water supply is therefore the
most uncertain and most important
In the greater portion of the arabic
lands OF this country. This is so well
known that no farmer who has
harmed on irrigated land, having an
abundance of water, is willing to go
back to the old method and put his
dependence m Providence"
1t is a most important point to
known whether. under normal condi-
tons. 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
water as he needs without reference
to rainfall.
l think that all farmers who have
studied the water question in connec-
ton with crop making. will agree
"NN NV ina q 6lSdl uSdl Cdu Ut
done to conserve the moisture from
all natural sources, and that often a
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
h w 1aoVn1I chat H. -.- 49, |
servation of moisture can often make
good crops. when by the neglect OF
this, they will be certain to cause a
failure.
This is a very important point, and
In some seasons 1t is absolutely vital
to the making of a 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
will evaporate in spite of us.
and much will go on down below the
Of plant roots; but in seasons
or only ordinary drought 1t is posi-
BILE to conserve enough moisture to
make a fair crop of corn, tobacco. po-
and other hoed crops.
The dust mulch" or blanket of
finely pulverized soil on the surface.
say three to four inches deep. will
stop the waste of water almost en-
In fact, If the soil is kept
on the surface quite often, 1t
nay be truthfully said that all the
moisture may be kept in the ground
or the use of the crops. I
OF course, We can never tell at the
beginning of the season whether it is s
going to be a wet season or a dry :
me, but If a man cultivates with I
'eference to keeping the moisture in /
he soil, it will be all the better in
.ase of a very wet season, and it may |
re the salvation of the crop in case q
# severe drought. So it is wise to y
.eep this in mind. a
1t is therefore very important for f
ne to plant no more land than he n
cultivate perfectly. and always Q
q a dry season to keep the soil a
TIRED to a depth of two or three |,
1ches. No matter whether the cult f,
alton is actually needed or not, n
tirring as often as possible a few h
lches of the surface will stop the "
scape as absolutely as a cover OF b
beet iron. h
Those who doubt this method of f.
lving crops from suffering by n
rought should try this method is
thoroughly. 1t takes labor, but 1t in
Iay save the crops. | know from tx
,rianra