The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1911-10-05
DRY FARM PRINCIPLES
Opening Up Heretofore-C Called
American Desert.
Methods Can Be Used to Advantage
In Region With Double Amount
Of eipitation as That Of
Arid West.

In Campbells dry farming or scien-
tifc soil culture we have the opening
OF the heretofore-Lalled American
Desert or the arid region Of the west.
Land which was formerly considered
unfit for agricultural purposes be-
cause Of the lack OF water is now
yielding fair crops to the man who is
Just learning the why's and where
iores" Of the proper tiiage OF the soil.
writes Guy 5. Ellis in the Breeders
Gazette The fact that this land
yields crops OF a fair average has
brought many to study the theory OF
dry farming The subject might also
have a direct bearing on the tillase
Of land in the humid region. In the
humid region We usually find a time
when during the summer months we
wish 10 SOW forage crops or turuips
and there Is not moisture enough TO
start the seeds or to supply the needs
Of growing crops. Here Is where dry
farming methods can be used to ad-
vantage in region with double the
amount Of precipitation as that OF
parts Of the arid west.
The first requisite is a firm sub
soil. In firming the sub-soil, We
break up the large Jumps and compact
the whole so that the particles of soil
lie closer together. forming a perfect
connection between the unbroken sub
soil and the loose soil Of the furrow.
Capillary connection is established,
that is. the very minute pasageways
are established through which the
soil moisture can rise from the sub
soil TO the soil above. By using a
harrow or disc a dust mulch can be
made which will hinder the further
INV ard passage Of water and hold It
within reach OF the growing plants
or sprouting seeds.
A firm sub-soil which is in good
physical condition is favorable to
holding large amounts of moisture, and
TO the most rapid movements of mois.
ture by capillary attraction. II is also
favorable TO the development Of
the greatest amount of available
fertility and the most prolific
growth and development Of lateral
roots. We should therefore bear In
mind that the soil is natures labora-
tory, where the proportions Of air
and water may be combined in Just
the proper quantities. If the soils are
too loose. then there is too much air
for the water the soil can hold, and
only under very ideal climatic con-
.ditions can a fair crop be grown.
With firm seed-bed In which the
soil is in good tillage and the mois-
ture near the surface. we have a good
medium in which to plant seed. II
the soil has been properly tended
these conditions can be carried thus
throughout the season.
The process Of farming the sub-soil
furnishes FIVE aids in carrying the
growing crops over long dry periods.
We have more water in the soil. BY
destroying the many large non.capil-
larry pores in the surface soil we
bring its grains closer together and
the water is aided in Its upward pas.
sage.
We gain a stronger capillary move
ment OF moisture. Prof. F. II. King
OF Wisconsin says, "In rolling the soil
its waterllfting power is increased to
such an extent that often within
twenty-four hours after rolling, the up,
per | minute to 2 minutes beneath
the firm ground contains more mois.
ture. while the lower minutes be,
come dryer than soil adjacent which
is left untreated."
We have a more rapid development
of bacteria and nltrates. There is
no time OF the year, according tC
Campbell, when water held In the
soil near the surface I'm sufficient
quantities will bring about as many
valuable chemical changes as in July
and August A large amount OF bac
teria and nitrates are developed then
This comes during the months wher
Iowa generally has her drouth, II she
has any, and to get these valuable
chemical changes we must study and
use proper tillage methods which will
nut this moisture near the surface.
There is a more prolific growth o.
roots Roots or rootlers will not pene
trate air spaces IN tne SOIL SO u We
wish strong vigorous root system We
must first see that the ground is pack
ed so as to break up the Jumps ant
bring the surface soil particles closer
together. Again the development o
bacteria and nitrates aid in making
vigorous root systems. The moisture
arising from a stronger capillary at
traction brings food into soluble
form and the -ootlets spread out Il
gather in this supply OF plant food.
We gain a larger percentage o.
available fertility during drouth. TIL,
growth Of all plants depends upon th'
amount any energy OF the availabl,
fertility. This is great or small II
proportion to the physical or mechan
ical condition OF the soil.