The Ordway new era., 1912-03-08

(4) Rendering the soil several de-
grees warmer than undraincd soil.
(6) Increasing the water absorbing
qualities, thereby storing more water
In the deeper subsoils.
(G) Preventing the washing away
Of soils and soil fertility.
T Destroying hard pans.
While drain tile and bitches are
splendid means of ventilating the seed
bed, we are mindful OF the fact that
all farmers cannot resort to these ex-
pedients.
Except where soil Is soRgy, deep
blowing and deep tillage are nearly as
beneficial as drainage. II the subsoil
Is loose, rendering the sub-AOw free,
deep plowinR is more desirable than
tile, especially 10 sections where the
rainfall Is abnormally low.
WATER
1t Is hardly necessary to state that
plants require water, not 10 minute
but in very substantial quantities. 1t
requires about three hundred pounds
OF water to make one pound Of dry
material or to mature an average acre
OF corn or grain 1t requires from four
to six hundred tons Of water. The
soil water, holding in solution plant
food, is carried through the plant,
performs its functions and is evapor-
ated through the leaves. Soil mois
ture, together with humus, equalizes
in great measure soil temperatures,
dissolves chemical elements and dis.
tributes them, aud in a great measure
contributes to the life and activity Of
the soil.
Water Is found 10 the soil In three
forms, namely
(D Hydr0static, or Rravitational.
t2) Capillary water.
(3 Hygr0scOpic, or vapOr water.
HYDROsTATIC WATER
Hydrostatic water Is the water that
falls On the surface 10 the form Of
rains or by artificial irrigation. II
this water exists In excessive amounts
and percolates slowly, saturating the
soil to the extent OF flling the air
spaces between the particles Of soil
for protracted period. thereby driv-
Ing out the air, 1t works disaster to
the crop. II, however, the ground is
OF good tilth, and the seed bed IL deep
and free from hard pan. the down.
ward movement Is sufficiently rapid
to prevent smothering the plant. II
. hard pan exists. which Is rarely the
case where deep blowing Is practiced,
but Is usually found where the prac-
tice Is to plow shallow, the soil re-
mains saturated. rendering it cold,
sour and lifeless. Deep plowinR and
where 1t Is needed are
sufficient to properly take care
Of ordinary rainfalls.
CAPILLARY WATER
Capillary water Is the reverse of
hydrostatic water 10 its movements.
Water Is stored in the deeper subsoils
and by the process Of attraction 1t
moves upward, passing from soil par
tlcle to soil particle. enveloping each
with film Of moisture, until the sur
face Ia reached. This water dissolves
plant food elements and distributes
them. 1t also forms chemical com.
making plant food com.
pounds, and holds them 10 solution
until they are utilized by the plant.
tnH
gatherers, pass between the soil par
ticles throwing out their minute ten.
tacles, which wrap around the par
ticles Of soil, absorbing by the process
of osmosis nourishment and sending it
through the plant arteries, perform
ing its functions Of life and growth.
It is needless to say to the observing
farmer that this process is not carried
on in saturated soil, for but few farm
ers have not observed the absence of
a crop where water has stood or the
ground has been completely saturated
for any considerable length Of time.
MICROSCOPIC WATER
HygrOscOpic water is the moisture
that is found on soil particles but is
not subject to movement either by
gravity or by capillary attraction.
More or less moisture exists In the
air, aed as the air enters the soil the
moisture adheres to the particles.
This water probably plays little or no
part 10 dissolving or distributing
plant food, but at the same time it
quenches 10 measure the thirst Of
sun. burned plants In semi-arid regions.
(This article will be continued in
next weeks ISSUE.
Cement for aala-Tiedemann