Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1912-05-03
Improvement of Orchards by
Use of Dynamite.
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in the successful growing of trees.
Those who have tried it are thoroughly
convinced that no method of excavating
the hole in which to plant young tree
is so economical, quick, or productive of
desirable after-results as blasting with
dynamite.
Sometime ago it was the prevailing
idea that dynamite was unnecessary for
tree planting unless the soil CHANGED to
be underlaid with hardpan, in which
case the explosive was regarded as val
liable for breaking through sthe hard
soil. 1t has been found by experiment,
however, tnat trees thrive better when
planted in blasted holes than in hand
dug holes, even when no hardpan is
encountered.
The explanation of this is simple. 1t
is because the explosion of the dynamite
loosens up the soil for yards around the
spot, kills all grubs, worms or other
animal life likely to injure the young
tree and thus makes root growth easy;
whereas, digging the hole with tools
tends to pack the earth around the roots
and retard their growth.
Scientific agriculturists have discov-
ed that water is the most important
element in all kinds of plant growth.
Soil which is of the natural consistency
to allow water to circulate fire ely
nh cti 10. J.
so that it is available at all times for
growing plants, may be considered as
ideal for agricultural purposes. Few
soils possess this natural consistency.
Other soils, which may be classified as
good, average, or fair, must have arti-
fetal preparation in order to make them
produce the results that may be expect
ed from the rarely-found perfect natur-
al soil.
Few persons understand the principle
of plant growth. 1t is not necessary, as
many suppose, that the root of a plant
shall come in actual contact with all of
the plant food elements of the soil
needed for the sustenance of the plant
or tree. Plant roots have the power to
draw from the surrounding soil the nee
essary elements of plant food, provided
the soil is of such character as to per-
nit the passage of these elements
through it. Water or moisture is the
carrier of these plant food elements
through the soil and into the plant
roots. This will indicate the Importance
OF porous soil which will permit the
free passage of water through it in
order that plants growing upon the sur
face may be properly nurtured for rapid
and healthy growth, and it is because
the action of on explosive on soil causes
it to become thoroughly loosened and
| aerated that trees planted in blasted
holes show so much stronger and
healthier growth than trees planted I'M
der the old conditions.
In order to give those who may not
understand the subject an idea of the
scientific principles of plant growth, l
will quote Mr.. w. J. Spillman, agricul-
turist in charge of Farm Management
Investigations, Bureau of Plant Indus
tries, U. S. Department of Agriculture.
He says in a recent bulletin:
"Plant food is dissolved in water.
While plant is growing, a constant
stream of water flows up through it
and evaporates at it's leaves. For every
pound of increase in dry matter made
by the plant, from 300 to 500 pounds of
water flow up through it.
plants in their growth, make use of
thirteen elements, nine of which they
secure directly from the soil. These
are called the mineral plant foods.
They are PHOSPHORUS, potassium, cal
cium, magnesium, sodium, iron, silica,
chlorin and sulphur. Soil consists main
ly of small particles of rock. Nearly
all kinds contain more or less of these
mineral plant foods. Every year the
soil water dissolves off thin surface
layer from each particle and plants ap-
propriate this water, thus securing
their mineral plant food. Hydrogen,
an other important element of plant
food, is also secured from water.
''In order to produce a ton of hay on
an acre of land, it is necessary that the
growing grass pump up from that
ground approximately 500 tons of wa
ter. In order to supply this enormous
quantity of water, the soil must not
only be in condition to absorb and hold
water well, but must be porous enough
to permit water to flow freely through
it.
''In addition to acting as water car
rier for plant life, soil must permit a
proper circulation of air through it.
Nearly half of the volume or ordinary
soils is occupied by air spaces. Soil
which becomes so compact as to stop
the air passages, is too wet for most
crops and needs drainage, for plant
roots must be supplied with air and the
soil must be porous enough to permit of
its free circulation. One of the most
important objects of blowing is to
loosen up the soil and mix fresh air