The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1912-04-18

insulation OH the bottom of the fur
row that effectually stops the up
ward movement of capillary water
Too often a crop is lost after til
moisture in the seed-bed has bee1
consumed which would have bee,
, saved had the contact between th,
the furrow slice and the bottom o1
+ the furrow been made compact.
Microscopic Moisture.-Hygroscopit
moisture is the vapor that exists il
the air. Surface ills if they BIe o.
good tilth and rich in humus, absorb
air and with the air moisture. While
the amount is OF sufficient to pro
duce crops, it is of material benefit
in localities where heavy dews an6
fogs prevail. Microscopic moisture
is sufficient to maintain plant life in
deserts.
Summer Fallowing, or summer cul.
ture. as it is often called, is another
method of storing and conserving
moisture. In some localities the an.
Fnual rainfall is insufficient to grow
crops each year, hence the necessity
OF cropping the land alternate years
The plan that has been successfully
adopted in California, Wyoming
Utah, western Kansas and Nebraska
are as follows:
AS soon as the frost is out of the
ground in the spring, land that has
been ploWed the previous year is
disced until the soil is loose and por-
GUS enough to absorb any rains that
may occur. After rains and as soon
as crust forms. the harrow is used
for the purpose of forming m mulch
blanket and to destroy weeds. This
operation is continued until early
fall, when the ground is again plow-
ed, disced, and if lumpy and loose,
made compact by using sub-surface
packer. Wheat is then drilled and
the surface made compact by using
the corrugated roller. 10 summer
fallow and not cultivate the land is
of no benefit, but OH the contrary
detriment if weeds are permitted to
grow, for they not only consume as
much water and plant food as a crop,
but in the absence of a mulch blan.
ket moisture escapes.
Soil Mulch.--Soil mulch or spread
ing OIL the surface. straw, grass or
any organic matter that will prevent
the SUMS rays from reaching the
soil, causing evaporation, s means
OF conserving moisture, is not prac-
tlcal in any extensive way, still some
farmers have distributed straw dur
ing the winter over their winter
wheat and have been rewarded by
80 per cent increase. The mulch
prevented waste of moisture during
the tins the crop was growing. 1t
also proved effective after the grain
was cut, and when plowed under, it
improved the texture of the soil.
Che plan gives excellent results to
the truck gardener. especially is it
beneficial to potatoes. The objec-
tlon is that it hinders aeration of the
seed-bed. due to the fact that if a
straw mulch formed, cultivation is
impossible.
Fertility.-The dry farmer must not
loose sight Of the necessity of mail,-
tanning high state of fertility. The
moisture absorbing and retaining
power of soil depends upon the
amount of organic matter it contains.
Soil deficient in that will not retain
moisture long. Humus is necessary
to hold nitrogen, and it is absolutely
essential soil bacteria. Nitrogen cam
be maintained by planting alfalfa,
COW peas, and SOY beans. If the sol
is deficient in PHOSPHORUS, and ma
nure is not available, it should be
supplied in commercial form.
Rotation Rotation Of crops should
not be overlooked. Alfalfa is not
only drouth resisting legume, but
1t improves the soil in every way.
LII furnishes organic matter and nj
trogen. 1t renders the soil porous
and makes available latent plant
food. A good rotation for the dry
farmer to adopt is wheat, peas, pota-
toes, running alfalfa six years. 9th
er drouth resisting crops can be
placed III rotation system. Any
crop grown on the same land year af
ter year will gradually decrease in
production.
Planting.-Seeds should be planted
deep enough to insure rapid germin-
alton. Corn and sorghum should be
listed. Packing the soil after plant
ing is, very beneficial unless the
ground is wet. The best implement
to use is a corrugated land roller.
Grain should be drilled, broadcast
sowing has proved a failure in arid
sections.
Seed And Crop.-The dry land far