The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1908-current, 1911-07-10
SOME SPECIAL DRY WEATHER
INSTRUCTIONS.
BY w. c. Lassetter, Department of
Agriculture, Fayetteville, Ark.


During the dry hot weather that
now prevails it is imperative that
special attention be paid to the Gull
tivaton of all crops. If cultivation
is neglected now, the amount OF
moisture in the soil may be decreas-
ed to such an extent that the crop
will be almost an entire failure.
During a season of low rainfall,
plants are dependent lor their water
supply upon that water which has
accumulated from the winter and
spring rains and is stored up in the
soil itself. So long as the surface
of the soil is not broken, the water
rises from the subsoil, through the
small spaces between the soil parti-
cles, and at the surface it is evapo'
rated by the heat from the suns rays.
There is a constant force, called capil-
larity, which is constantly pulling the
water up from below, through these
small spaces. When these spaces
between the soil particles are made
larger the force of capillarity is de-
creased and when they are made still
larger this force disappears entirely
and the moisture is unable to rise.
This is the object of cultivation
When field is well cultivated to
depth of three inches the spaces be-
tween the particles of soil in that three
inches are made so large that the at
traction disappears and the moisture
cannot rise through them Then that
water already stored up is not lost
through evaporation from the surface
OF the soil, but is held at the roots
OF the plants for their use as they
need 1t. This supply at the roots is
continually renewed from below be-
cause the soil at that depth is un-
broken.
/ By cultivation the surface three
inches are completely dried out. This
serves to make it all the more i'm
possible for the moisture from below
10 rise through it. Cultivation to
greater depth than three inches does
not increase the saving of moisture,
out IN addition to injuring and de-
stroying the root system of the plants.
SIOulU
the roots, and is much more expen-
s1ve than the more shallow cultiya.
ton. The objects of cultivation are
TO Kill weeds and to conserve moist
ure. Three inches is entirely suffi-
Client for both purposes.
Not only should cultivation be done
as soon after all rains as the ground
VIII permit, but during the dry
weather 1t is most important that 1t
be done every week or ten DAYS at
the most. During dry weather the
SOIL loosened up by cultivation will
gradually settle back together until
the spaces are small enough to at
tract some water. through, and the
longer it is allowed to remain un-
stirred the closer will the particles
settle together and the more rand
VIII the loss of moisture become
frequent stirring is necessary to keep
these particles sufficiently far apart.
linus it is evident that it is most
important that cultivation be prac.
lced often during dry weather. when
thdt moisture we have in the soil is
most needed for the crops. Therefore
uurihg This period cultivate to
oepth OF three or four inches. every
week ana at most do not let the i'm.
ferVals between civilizations be longer
imam ten days. By a close practice
oi thls most of the i'll effects of an
ordinary drought can be avoided