The Keota news., 1912-06-14

vation after seeding.
The Cultivation Of intertIlied crops.
While 1t 10 a disputed point among
authorities whether 1t pays to harrow
wheat and other sowed crops, there IL
no difference OF opinion regarding the
necessity or value OF frequent cultiva-
ton OF corn and Of all other crops usu-
ally planted In rows. The main pur.
pose being. a. described here. to keep
down the weeds and maintain q mel.
low soil mulch n far az practicable
during the growing season Of the crop
There il some disagreement regarding
the depth and frequency OF cultivation
desirable. The writer favors rather
deep cultivation in our drier, hotter
climate. and after every hard rain II
possible or at least sufficient to keep
the weeds In check.
1t Is not necessary or practicable to
attempt TO cultivate after every rain.
and there 10 no virtue in the admoni.
.ion Keep the cultivator going in q
dry time" II the soil has been we'll
stirred ana the mulch Is of sum cient
depth. to cultivate again would be a
loss OF time and might do actual harm
by drying out the deeper portion OF
the soil mulch and also causing a too
fine and dusty condition Of the surface
soil unfavorable TO the absorption OF
moisture when the rain comes and t.
vorable to the blowing or drifting Of
the soil in strong winds.
Such a system OF culture ~ out
lined here Is intended to favor the
conservation OF soil moisture. and IL
thus especially adapted TO regions
where limited or irregular rainfall
makes The most careful methods OF soil
culture necessary in order to store and
conserve the water in the soil and 70.
the most use from 1t In the -produc-
,ion OF crops The principles stated
above have been known and practiced
NOR. or less for a long time In fact.
dry farming IL simply good tillaSs
and thorough cultivation OF the soal.
1t the right time. In the right way. aad
In Systematic manner
Scientific farming pays. everywnsaA
'e writer believes In the PRACTICABLE
'ty OF thorough tillage and good cultt
vauon on every farm. and the increase
IN crops BY such farming viii more
thAn pay for the extra labor. But the
great problem In western agriculture
today 10 not how to get larger crops
out OF the soil for . few years. but
rather how to produce paying crops
every year and At the same time main
tain the fertility and productiveness q
the land.
Simple tillaSs win not maintain sotl
fertility. It becomes Necessary finally
TO replace the plant food. exhausted by
the continuous growing Of crops. With
the application Of manure, or chemical
Esrtilisers. and BY green manuring and
the rotation Of crops. In which the -
gume crops such ~ alfalfa or clover
or deld peas o. vetch. are introduced
In order 70 restore again the nitrogea
and organic matter. the supply a
which has become moro rapidly ~
auced BY intensive cultivation
Tho supply Of organic matter may b
In part maintained BY plowtnS under
Il , stubbls and By carefully saving The
straw and manure and EsknrnlnS =
again to the oon
A regular and systsmstic rotation q
crops has not ~ CONE into general
practice In ths western plains eouD-
~. E1ax II extensively grown IL H.
northern states: the sosghums are a
important crop In Kansas and The
states further south: alfalfa 10 gTow1
successfully In The eastern edge Of The
dry farming belt and IN the moro d,