The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-07-11
SOIL MOISTURE
CONDITIONS
STATE IS IN SHAPE TO Raise
BUMPER CROP - MORE Mols.
TuRE IN SOIL THAN FOR MANY
YEARS SAYS w. r. PORTER,
SOIL EXPERT,

The following was written by supt.
W. r. Porter Of the North Dakota DEM
o~nstration stations:
During the month OF May the past
seven seasons moisture determinations
have been made on the different DEM
onstration farms scattered throughout
the state. Soil samples have been
taken to a depth of three feet with a
soil tube on every plot or the entire
series of demonstration farms. These
soil samples are put into air tight jars
and these Jars are sent into the lab
oratory where the exact percentage of
water in each soil sample Is deter
mined and the average for each farm
is worked out from this.
Last october when these moisture
determinations were made there was
more water in the soil than there had
been in any year since the entire se-
ries Of demonstration farms started.
The average moisture content OF 1913
fields on twenty-four farms in TWEEN
ty.four different counties of the state
was 22.97 per cent of water In the
upper three feet Of soil in May, 1912.
This is the highest average moisture
content that the soils on the demon
stration farms have = had since
this work commenced in the spring
Of 1905.
In the spring of 1905 there was 1854
per cent Of water in the upper three
feet Of soil. In 1907 1885 per cent; in
1908, 1890 per cent; in 1910. 1881 per
cent: in 1911, 1889 and this spring
a2.97 per cent or more than 5 per cent
more water in the soil than there was
lin the spring of 1911 and over 8 per
cent more than there was in the
spring of 1910. There vas yer Q per
oz.A - naa wro%np IN the uns1 thar IN
the spring Of 1908. The only other
spring that had real wet soil since
the demonstration farms were started.
In the upper three feet of soil on
the average there is approximately 350
tons more water per acre than there
was In 1910 and approximately 312 tons
more water than there was in 1911 on
the average demonstration farm. This
should be sufficient to carry the crops
over q protraeted dry spell. If abun-
dant rains fall early in July the small
grain crop will be one Of the largest
ever produced in the state provided
black rust should not become cpl
| demic as II did eight years ago.
This extra large moisture content
IN the soil this spring would go a
long way TO secure q normal yield Of
grain this year provided we get any
thing like the usual amount Of mois-
ture.
The rainfall for June up to date has
been ample over the southern and
western parts of the state. In the
northeastern part of the state ii has
been much below normal. The last
ten days OF June have been dry over
the entire state but the crops are yet
making a very good growth, except
in some OF the northeast counties
About the only thing now that can
cause a shrinkage in yield would be d
period OF very hot dry weather IN
which high winds would prevail. such
conditions. Of course. might very ma
teFiaIly injure the crop but with any
| thing like normal conditions North
Dakota this year should produce i
bumper crop of all kinds Of small
grains Judging by the moisture con-
tent OF the soil ON the state demonstra-
ton farms which should be a pretty
good indication Of the moisture con-
tent Of surrounding farms.