Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1911-03-09

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the soil, nor realize it as we would If
we could see it. A housewife hangs
out clothes that are wet and in an
hour or so they are dry from evapor-
alton from the sun and winds.
Plants i'm Dead FurrOw
Prof. Palmer also showed the diff
ference between the growth and
thrift of plants outside a dead fur
row and those in the dead furrow.
The roots in soil turned over by the
plow spread out and caused the plant
to thrive; while the plant growing in
the dead furrow can hardly struggle
along. The mulching of the top sur
face of the plowed soil retained the
moisture underneath, while it eva
porated rapidly from the hard soil
in the dead .furrow. On a back fur
row the growth of plants is always
still larger. These conditions hold
everywhere. Flowing seven inches
deep gives plants twice as much soil
for nourishment as if the plow was
run but five inches deep.
Fields that have been plowed with
thistles underneath must in some way
be packed. Campbells sub-surface
packer was recommended and also
the use of a double disc drill was ad-
vised for packing ground when seed
ed.
Shallow cultivation for corn after
the first cultivation was recommend
ed. Dealers are selling teeth that
can be attached to any cultivator, es-
pecially adapted for surface cultiva-
tion, which does not cut of the roots
and delay growth.
Narrowing Grain
Narrowing in June, with grain
three or four inches high, was ad-
vised. If dry season is threaten
ed harrow grain as often as possible
Last years crop would have been in.
creased in this tate said the speak.
er, $1O,OOO,OOO in value by harrow.
ing wheat. An inch of water saved
by narrowing is equal to shower
Moisture will not jump from one soil
particle to another and moisture IL
evaporated from soil that appears tc
be thoroughly dry. The ideal time
to harrow field is after shower
Drag after plowing. Prof. Palmer
also gave an illustration of how wat.
er was saved in soil by mulching
He illustrated by drawing picture
of two glass tubes on the blackboard
One filed with soil, the shorter one
filled with water. One of these
tubes filed with soil contained dust
or mulch layer at the top of the
tube, two inches thick, the other tube
had compact solid soil without the
layer of fine broken soil. The diff.
ference in evaporation of the water
through the soil of the two tubes was
as IA inches is to inches or, in
other words, the tube with the broken
up soil on the top only allowed 1K
inches of water to pass through the
soil while the other tube allowed Z
inches of water to evaporate in the
same length of time.
Welcomed to City
Just before adjournment of the
morning session Mayor Blewett vel.
coined the farmers to the city in a
neat speech saying that jamestown
people realized that the prosperity OF
the farmers around the state and
county meant the prosperity of the
towns. A cordial welcome was ex.
tended to all visiting farmers. Prof
Hoverstad complimented the commit
tee on arrangements for having hall
ready with seats and tables and prop
erly heated.
Afternoon Session
Prof. Hoverstad introduced Col.
Wilkinsen. Of Minnesota, N BY saying
[ that ll a latter shad been q farmer
from pioneer days and that his wide
experience was worth fortune.
Col. Wilkinson gave the experience
of himself and other farmers on the
east side Of the Red river valley.
They commenced with a crop that
would bring money quick, as they
didn't possess much OF the filthy
lucre. They found wheat the most
productive and dependable. Mr.. Will.
kinson believed that all the farmers
in North Dakota also started in on
that stand point. A sentiment grew
up in his vicinity and Mr.. Wilkinson
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