The Raymer enterprise., 1912-12-19
GROWING FRUITS AND TRUCK
Extracts Taken From Address Dellv
cred by Hon. Sam n. Dixon Before
Texas Dry Farming Congress.


There are certain fundamental facts
in plant development that are as fixed
as the stars. They are these: Plants
eat. plants drink. and plants breathe
In discussing the methods necessary
to grow fruit and vegetables under
dry-farming conditions, these facts
should be emphasized. Plants cannot
live without water. Water is neces.
sary to plant life as 1t is to animal life
Some plants, however, require more
water than others.
In launching out into fruit or vege
table growing in this section, where
the rainfall is scant, one of the first
things that should command our en-.
ergies is the proper preparation of
the soil for the retention OF the mois-
ture that is precipitated during the
season of rainfall. A large amount OF
moisture is demanded by the plant.
The area Of the soil in which each
plant rootlet grows is small and the
process by which the rootlets take 1t
is SO slow that it requires an enor.
nous root surface to do the work.
This, then, suggests the necessity Of
preparing good seeded. that the
rootlets may penetrate the spaces be-
tween the soil particles with the least
resistance. It is the minutest root
hairs which branch out from the
thread.like tibers that constitute the
chief absorbing surface Of the roots.
These minute root hairs drink in the
soil water and supply the plant with
its moisture.
Moisture in the soil is not only nee
essary to the well being of the plant
in supplying 1t with driking water.
but 1t is necessary to create the cor
rect condition Of the soil. The plant
foods In the soil are made available to
the plant rootlets by action Of mois-
ture. This food Is consumed by the
plant in fluid form only. Thus, mois-
ture is absolutely essential to enable
the plant rootlets to avail themselves
Of 1t. This is another important rea-
son why we should so manipulate the
soil as to conserve soil moisture.
There is another important factor
In the scheme of conservation that
we cannot afford to overlook In grow
Ing fruits and vegetables under dry
farming conditions. 1t Is SO important
that our soil experts consider its alb.
sence with alarm. refer to the neces-
slty OF soil humus. do not refer to
humus as contributing fertility to the
soil, but to its power to improve the
soils texture and to assist in maintain
ing soil moisture.
To succeed in growing any character
of crops where there is not an abun-
dance Of moisture in the soil the sup
plying Of the soil with humus must be
co-extensive with plowing of the land
in planning to conserve the moisture
for its utilization by the plant root.
lets. Humus benefits the soil In many
ways. One of its greatest benefits is
the improving of the soils texture.
Leaf mold gives our sandy soils more
body" and makes 1t less leachy. Add
leaf mold to stiff clay soils that clod
and crack in the field and 1t becomes
more porous and works well. One way
II filming the soil and hence OF in.
creasing its productive power, is to
improve Its texture by adding humus
Humus is the food Of microscopic
life In the soil, and the waste products
OF this microscopic life is an essen
tial to food plant. Humus confers upor
the soil the power to hold moisture.
Soils without humus dry out quickly.
There may be an abundance Of plant
food in the soil, but 1t Is useless for the
tine being II there is not enough mois.
ture to dissolve 1t and carry 1t to the
plant through the little hair.like root.
lets which absorb 1t.
Success in growing fruit trees and
vegetables In a dry climate depends
almost exclusively on so treating the
soil as to conserve the moisture. This
can only be done by proper plowing in
the fall and winter months. The land
should be plowed deep and not allowed
to dry out. Follow this plowlng with
the harrow to smooth the surface.
Never permit the surface to crack or
form crust. Plow shallow after each
rain. Let the harrow follow the plow
when the surface is Just moist. This
will form soil much that will hold
the moisture beneath 1t. Land treated
In this way will remain moist enough
to readily germinate the seed planted
In 1t. Cultivation should be continu.
GUS after the crop begins to grow, but
never deep.
II the farmers In the seml.arid re.
gions will I'LL their soils with humus
and treat this soil so as to conserve
the moisture and cultivate frequently
and thoroughly, they will produce an
abundant yield.