The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-09-06
Conserving Mois-
ture Now IN Soil
Reasonable Crop Assured for Next
Year on Account Of Rainfall
During This Year


the aggregate it was doubtless never
equalled," says Prof. Thos. Rourke.
''But the. conclusion should not be
reached that this result is owing to the
high class character of the farming.
With the same rainfall as in 1910 the
results would be little if any improve
ment on the crop of that year. The
bumper crop of the present is owing
almost entirely to the unusual rainfall
of the present season and to the time
illness with which it fell.
''This rainfall, unusual in the length
of its continuance has not only given
the farmer the bumper crop referred
to, but it will also give him at least
reasonable crop in 1913 if it is prop
erly conserved, even though the sea-
son should be dry one. How shall
this moisture be conserved? First, by
discing the stubbles; second, by plow-
ing later in the season; third, by STIR
ring the soil in early spring with disc
or harrow or both, and fourth, by har-
rowing the grain once or oftener after
it has begun to grow.
''In an exceedingly dry year discing
the stubbles after harvest may not ac-
complish much by way of conserving
moisture, but it will open up the dry
soil so the rain may penetrate it more
easily should it fall. But in a year
like the present there is much mois-
ture even in stubble land. 1t is greatly
important that it shall be conserved.
AS soon, therefore, as the crop is re-
moved the stubble land should be we'll
disced. If the harrow can follow, the
operation will be more complete, but
this is not absolutely essential. The
discing will exert very potent in
fluence on the retention of moisture.
1t also allows moisture that may fall
subsequently to the discing to pene-
trate more deeply than it otherwise
would.
1.-THE land that is thus disced should
be plowed later in the fall. Some
farmers argue that stubble land should
not be plowed Or even disced in the fall,
since the undisturbed stubbles may
better hold the snow, but the prepon-
derance of argument is easily in favor
of autumn blowing. The land that has
been disced is easily plowed and the
same power will plow it more deeply
than if it had not been disced. 1t is
not so essential to plow disced land in
the fall that is to be planted with corn.
If the stubble land thus disced cannot
all be plowed in the fall, the blowing
of what is intended for corn can best
be deferred. Much has been written
about packing fall plowed land, but it
is not very often that lands plowed in
the autumn require to be, packed.
''Stirring the soil in the early spring
with disc or harrow or both as occa-
sion may call for, is but little practiced.
1t is, nevertheless, of great moment
and should be done as soon as the
ground can be stirred thus without in
jury to its mechanical condition. It
stays at once the loss Of moisture from
the soil, at least for a time. Even,
though crops are to be planted late, as
in the case of alfalfa, this stirring of
the soil is very important. Of course
it can only be done on summer-fallow-
ed land or corn or potato land of the
previous year, or on land that has been
autumn plowed.
''When grain has been sown on land
thus prepared, the moisture may be
further held by narrowing the grain.
The best stage for the first narrowing
is when the grain is just beginning to
appear. The best implement for har-
rowing it, all things considered, is a.
light adjustable steel harrow. The
teeth should be slanted backward with
some few exceptions. But weeder
may be more suitable for soft soils. If
a second narrowing is given, the grain
should be, say four or FIVE inches high
at the time SO that none of it will be
buried. Even flax and alfalfa may be
narrowed, but not when they are COM
ing up. If they are narrowed it should
be when. they are several inches high.
Narrowing grain is not profitable when
many sods or much trash is on the land.
eff the farmers Of the northwest
will but handle their lands thus they
will be assured Of at least fairly good
crops next season, but if they give no
attention to these methods Of cultiva-
tion much moisture will be lost. If q
very dry year follows the crop will
then fail. II would be peculiarly un-
fortunate not to improve the opportun-
Eity TO the utmost. Such seasonssa the
4 present are I'll too rare. Unless the
Z farmers stack much Of their grain they