The silver messenger., 1912-02-27

Principally in Soil Turned WIN
the PIoW.
Who're Deep Plowino 10 Pracs'eeo
Ground 10 In Condition to Hold
More Moisture Than That
Which Has Been Looseo.

(By ". c. PALMER. North Dakota Agr'-
cultural College)
The plant feeds principally IN the
soil that is turned with the plow.
This can be determined In any held
by noticing the poor growth that the
plant in the dead furrow makes, the
fair growth made by the plant OUT
sido OF 1t, and the best growth MADE
by the plant on the back furrow. The
plant in the dead furrow, while 1t
came from the same kind OF seed as
the others, cannot make the growth,
as 1t has to feed in the sub-soil-soli
that has not been turned with the
plow-and the plant food that Is In II
has not been made available. The
plant on the back furrow has an ex-
ira amount Of soil that has been
turned with the plow, and the result
is that, having more available food,
1t makes a larger growth than the
plant on the regularly plowed land.
This, then, gives an insight into
what is needed by the plant to make
it's best growth, and the beauty OF 1t
is that the plant tells us itself. The
surface soil will dry out to the depth
OF at least two inches. The roots
cannot feed in this. II the plowing
Is but five inches deep, that leaves
the plant only three inches OF soil
that is in condition for 1t to feed
from. II the blowing Is eight inches
and the same amount dries out on the
surface, the plant then has six
inches, or twice as much soil, that 1t
can feed on. as compared to three
inches on the five-inch blowing This
should make it quite plain. from the
standpoint Of the plant getting its
food, that the deeper blowing Is
quite important
Then there Is the other fact that
rain soaks into the deep plowing
more readily and quickly, SO that
there will be less run-off from it than
from the shallow plowing. The plow-
ed soil Is also In a condition to hold
more moisture than that which has
not been loosened up with the plow,
both through the soil grains being
better arranged and through the add
ed organic matter. Another matter
that should be considered here Is
that the plant must have the mois-
ture where the food is, that it is 60
ing to take up. Being in the soil
turned with 1he plow, that is where
the moisture must be to do the plant
much good. This is the reason, then.
why the soil should be packed and
every means taken to have it In good
contact with the sub-soil so that as
the plant uses up the moisture in the
surface soil, more moisture can travel
up to take its place. The deep plow-
ing also makes it necessary that more
organic matter be added to the soil.
else, as the soil is worked deeper
and the organic matter distributed
IN more soil, there will be a less
amount OF 1T In a given amount Of
the deep-plowed soil than the shallow
ploWed land. The fact that the plant
feeds in the soil turned by the plow
Is reason. too, why corn should not
De cultivated deep after 1t has made
a good root system. as the main feed
ers being 80 near the surface. some
OF them will be cut of and the plant
delayed in its growth, as It must
grow new roots before 1t can properlv
feed itself. Especially is this i'm.
port1nt late in the season. And In
dry farming, corn should be cultivat.
ed late. as two reasons for growing
1t In this system Of farming is to save
moisture and to kill weeds.
These points in regard to where the
plant feeds and the consequent need
OF deep blowing. Of adding organic
matter, OF shallow cultivation for cu,.
tlvated crops. need to be kept In mind
whether the farming is being done in
dry or humid climate but more ~.
tention needs to be given them in
dry farming.