Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1912-05-09

feet bed, namely, ventilation ana
sanitary environments.
The process of making other
elements available being just as
exacting as the complex opera
ton of preparing organic nitro
gen for use as plant food, it be.
hooves the farmer to cooperate
with natures elements to the
fullest degree.
CONTINGENCIES TO CONSIDER:
Conditions of the soil call for
different treatment, and in such
matters the farmer should exer-
else good judgement.
We have stated that natures
ideal system of supplying plants
with moisture is by capillary at.
traction. Capillarity is perfect
when the particles of soil are in
close proximity and at the same
time air spaces exist between
them, but it is imperfect or prac-
tically destroyed if for any rea-
son large air spaces are formed.
If when the furrow slice is
turned the surface soil is lumpy
or covered with trash, such as
corn stalks, stubble, weeds or
course manure, the soil contact
| is not compact between the bot
tom of the furrow and the fur
row slice, due to the layer OF
trash or Jumps, and large air
spaces are formed.
Capillary water rises thru the
subsoils until it reaches the break
At the bottom of the furrow,
where it is partially or wholly
retarded; hence, when the mois-
ture in the seed bed is exhausted,
as it usually is unless rains &C.
cur very frequently, the plant
perishes. Capillary attraction is
also retarded if Jumps exist in
the body of the seed bed, thereby
forming more large air spaces.
The first condition can be pre-
vented by working the trash in
to the soil with a disc before the
ground is plowed.
The second condition, namely,
Jumps in the seed bed, can be
eliminated by pulverizing the
ground after piowing with a
disc or harrow.
Again, manure should be APP
Piled evenly with a spreaded af-
ter the ground is plowed, and
subsequently disced into the seed
bed, rather than plowed under,
for the following very good rea-
sons:
ID The fertility is not lost
by teaching, but is available to
the roots during the early stages
of the growth of the plant.
Cd The organic matter is in
the seed bed and not below it.
Cd Manure in the seed bed
retains and regulates heat, abb
serbs and retains moisture and
stimulates to activity soil BAG
terra.
Cd Renders the soil mellow
and easy to cultivate, especially
| if it is inclined to be clayS.
Another contingency that may
exist is loose soil. If. the soil is
very loose and light, the evapor-
alton of moisture is excessive and
rapid, also seed in such soil ger
inmates very slowly. This con-
dition car be remedied by using
a surface or subsurface packer or
a corrugated roller. In semi
arid regions the subsurface pack
er and the corrugated roller give
the best results.
PLowNG:-We have pointed
out the indisputable advantages
of a deep seed bed, not from a
theoretical standpoint, but be-
cause of many actual field DEM
onstration where deep blowing
and thorough tillage was the de
rect means of increasing a crop
from 80 to so per cent. We de-
sire, however, to qualify the adj
vice as follows:
Virgin ground should be plowed
no deeper than the bottom line of
humus, for the reason that should
subsoil not contain a sufficient
amount of humus to promote the
Il. >e III a..ka~sa - fP0e, chit