The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1912-04-18
DRY LAND FARMING
BY DR.. w. E. TAYLOR

CONTINUED FROM LAST ARTICLE.)
Subsoilins.-The subsoil plow is in
valuable if the condition of the sol
requires it, and the implement is O
, the right type, If the subsoil is por
Gus, it is of 10 special benefit, but
hard pan exists, or the ground he
low the reach of the ordinary plow j
SO hard that it does not absorb wat
er readily, it is Of great assistance il
storing water. In fact, it practicall,
solves the problem of storing watel
in dry sections.
The implement is not intended t,
bring the snbsoil to the surface. bu
simply to cut a cash in the hard pan
permitting the entrance of air ant
water. If the point of the plow il
large, and the ground is hard, il
forms air spaces which prevent cap
Hilary attraction, hence the only safe
subsoil plow to use is one with a thi1
blade and very small point, not more
! 0AA"A GIL 1AVl CHlCh. 1AO SLdIl pOILl
forms reservoir for water and from
it the water spreads outward and
obeylng the law of capillary attrac.
tion, it moves upward, followed by
air. Air and water acting in that
way mellow the soil, thereby de-
stroying a hard pan or any extreme
compactness Of the ground that may
exist. The blade or cutter should
not exceed one half inch in thick
ness. Such plow can be drawn by
two horses. cutting a cash from ten
to twelve inches below the bottom of
the furrow. Entire gangs can he
equipped with a subsoil attachment,
placing one OIL each alternate plow.
In sections of the country where the
weather is cold during the winter
months, late. plowing, leaving the
surface rough, is very advantageous
because land in that condition catch
es and holds snow and rains much
better than when it is smooth and
frozen. During the intervening time,
however, between harvesting and late
fall the hesurface should he kept in a
condition to readily receive and re-
tain moisture. In southern ATTITUDES
where the ground does not freeze to
leave the surface in a rough state
would assist evaporation. The far
mer should be governed by condi-
tions and adopt the best possible
plan to prevent the loss of water.
Conserving M Moisture.-Conserving
water is just as essential as storing
it. We know the amount OF water
required to make the crop. We know
that it can be stored in the subsoils
as securely as in a cistern, and we
know that unless proper means are
used water will escape by evapora-
tion to the extent OF one or more
inches during a hot. windy day. An
inch of water weighs 112 tons, or one
fourth of the amount required to
make an acre of good wheat, hence
negligence for two or three days may
cost the farmer year of toll.
The process of conservation is SIM
pie. A surface mulch is effective,
and if maintained there is little dam
ger of losing cultivated crops, and
grain crops are in a great measure
protected by it.
The corrugated roller is beneficial
tograin by forming a surface mulch,
even when the grain is grown to the
extent of jointing. 1t firms the soil
about the roots, and at the same time
closes effectually surface cracks. If
the soil is hard, the harrow is of
great benefit. Either plan is very
beneficial until the grain has attained
growth sufficient to shade and pro-
tect the surface from the wind and
heat. In cultivated crops the mulch
must be renewed as soon as cracks
form after rains.
Capillary Attraction.-Capillary at
tration is natures process of moving
water from the deeper subsoils to the
surface. Stored water passes up
ward from soil particle to soil parti-
Gle, forming a film around each atom
of soil until the surface is reached,
where it is consumed by growing
plants, or passes into the air by
evaporation. Water will rise from
eight to fifteen feet, depending upon
the character of the soil, and deep
roofing plants will secure moisture
from even a greater depth. The rap
idity of the movement of capillary
water depends upon the compact,
uniform proximity of the soil parti-
cles to each other. In coarse ground
the movement is slow and in lumpy
ground where air spaces exist it is
retarded OR en- ntirely
stopped. Hence. we emphasize the