Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-07-12
AROUND THE FARM.
BY JAMES 8, WOODS.


This season is different from last
season in that generally. the soil, -
now full OF moisture, with favorable
signs for good crops this summer and
fall. Dry spells may come this sum-
mer, but the thing for US to do now 10
to work the land in such a manner a.
to conserve what moisture 1t holds.
Narrowing plowed land a. soon as
possible will aid in preventing the
escape Of soil moisture. 1t is a good
plan to have the plow In the field and
to harrow in the evening all that has
been plowed during the day. This
will not only conserve the store Of
moisture In the soil, but the clods will
remain moist and soft for subsequent
easy working. Narrowing newly.plow.
ed land Immediately after blowing in
late spring and early summer reduces
the labor Of working the land down
to q flne and smooth seed bed.
Water In the soil 10 what dissolves
the plant foods for making the cult.
waited plants grow. The more soil
moisture prevent. other conditions be-
Ing good, the larger will be the crop
yield. As the summer advances with
longer days and hotter sunshine, evap-
Grafton from the surface of tho soil
becomes very great. 1t should be the
aim in handling growing crops in hot
weather to retain as much soil mois.
ture as possible to feed the roots of
the growing plants. Frequent stirring
Of the soil early in the season, leaving
the surface soil fine and level, will
prevent excessive evaporation OF soil
moisture and hold 1t down at the roots
Of the plant where needed. Saving
the spring store Of soil moisture by
fright cultivation Is an insurance
against late summer suffering OF the
crops. Hence, saving the moisture at
this time means saving, or making,
money.
The time to plant corn is just as
soon as the soil becomes warm enough
to sprout the grain with no danger Of
the seed rotting on the ground. Some
soils by nature are much warmer
than others Your neighbor may safe
ly plant corn from a week to ten days
sooner than you because his soil may
be warmer. For the same reason, some
fields on your own farm may be fit for
planting considerably earlier than 9TH
ers. Every man must be the Judge
of his own soil conditions, and pillow
and plant accordingly Some delay
planting till late in May, and even up
into June, in central latitudes, because
they say early planted corn is slow in
growing. 1t Is true that corn will not
come up and grow rapidly while the
soil and air are cool, yet If the seed
will sprout the young plants will be
making deep roots for rapid and bet
/ ter growth when warm, growing
weather does arrive. Other things in
favor Of early planted corn are that it
has longer season for growth and
development, the mature ears as a
rule will be heavier and frmer, sum-
mer worms will not bother the ears,
and sesd will mature and dry sum:
ciently SO as not to be injured by late
fall frosts and freezes. 1t Is often a
good thing to plant small field Of
/, late corn to be used for late fall green
feeding, yet the main crop should be
out as early as the soil can be worked
without injury and when it is warm
enough so that the seed will sprout
perfectly without rotting.
Those who are short of hay and
have a field of good clover may have
hay for the work horses by cutting
small strips Of the clover before It be-
gins to blossom. Enough can be cut
for two or three days feeding at a
time. This can be allowed to cure in
the field for several hours, then raked
up and hauled to the barn. 1t will
not be fully cured In this time, yet It
will soon be fed out and, hence, none
will spoil. Most farmers before new
haying begins have abundance Of NOV
room. SO by spreading new clover hay
thin on the NOW floor, enough can be
kept without spelling to last the teams
for five or six days: