The Ordway new era., 1911-09-15
NEED OF DUST MULCH
Many Crops In Time Of DROUGHT
Saved by Method.
Blanket Of Finely Puiverized Soil On
tho Surface viii Conserve Mois.
turs Almost Entirely for
Crop Use.

Ordinarily when one thinks of the
conditions that are imperative 10
insure the production OF n farm crop
OF any kind tnat may be grown. he
thinks OF the fertile soil as the most
important Of all. And 1t is. OF course,
absolutely necessary that a soil with
abundant plant, food be planted on
to set crop.
But the soil. or rather tho plant
food. although absolutely necessary,
u !s not bit more so than tho need.
ed amount of moisture.
Fortunately water is in suflcient
supply as rule to make the ordi.
nary crops on most OF the arabic
land. or course. in the arid regions
the water supply is obtained from
streams. created mainly by melting
SHOWS. and. as rule. the irrigation
companies know just about what
water can bc supplied. and tho man
who has 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
ProvidCnce.
The irrigation farmer Is therefore
ia" more certain as to the outcome OF
his crcLs 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. says a writer In
Farm Progress. This Is SO well
known that no farmer who has
fnrmed on irrigated land. having an
abundance Of water. is willing to go
back to the old method and put his
del endence on Providence"
1t is a most important point to
know whether. under normal condi-
tions. 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 wa
ter as he needs without reference to
rainfall.
I think that all farmers who have
studied the water question in connec.
ton with crop making, will agree
with me. that a great deal can be
done to conserve the moisture from
all natural resources. 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
have learned that the rational con-
servation OF moisture can often make
good crops. when the neglect OF
this. will be certain to cause fail.
ure.
This Is 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.
tion OF the water from the soil.
1t cannot be done entirely; much
water will evaporate in spite OF us,
and much will go on down below the
reach OF plant roots: but in seasons
of only ordinary drought It is DOS.
sible to conserve enough moisture to
make fair crop of corn. tobacco. po-
tatoes and other hoed crops.
The dust mulch" or blanket Of
finely pulverized soil on the surface,
say three or four inches deep, will
stop the waste OF water almost en-
tirely. In fact, II the soil Is kept
stirred on the surface quite often, 1t
may be truthfully said that all the
moisture may be kept in the ground
for the use Of the crops.
or course, we can never tell at the
beginning OF the season whether 1t is
going to be wet season or a dry
one. but II man cultivates with
reference to keeping the moisture in
the soil. 1t will be all the better in
case OF very wet season, and 1t may
be the salvation OF the crop In case
OF severe drought. So 1t is wise to
keep this in mind.
1t Is therefore very important for
one to plant no more land than he
can cultivate perfectly. and always
In dry season to keep the soil
stirred to depth OF two or three
inches. No matter whether the culti-
walton is actually needed or not.
stirring ms often as possible a few
inches Of the surface will stop the
escape as absolutely as a cover of
sheet iron.
Those who doubt this method of
saving crops from suffering by
drought should try this method thor
ough!y. 1t takes labor, but It NAV
save the crops. l know from expert.
ence.