The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1913-01-31
GROWING FRUITS AND TRUCK
cred by Hon. Sam n. Dixon Before
Texas Dry Farming Congress.

There are certain fundamental facts
IA plant development that are as fixed
as the stars. They are these: Plants
eat, plants drink, and plants breathe.
In discussing the methods necessary
TO grow fruit and vegetables under
dry-farming conditions, these facts
should be emphasized. Plants cannot
i've without water. Water is neces-
sary to plant life as 1t is to animal life.
Some plants, however, require more
water than others.
In launching out into fruit or vege,
table growing in this section, where
the rainfall is scant, one of the first
things that should command our en-,
ergies is the proper preparation OF
the soil for the retention Of the mois.
ture that is precipitated during the
season of rainfall. A large amount OF
moisture is demanded by the plant
The area of the soil in which each
plant rootlet grows is small and the
process by which the rootlets take II
Is SO slow that 1t requires an enor.
nous root surface to do the work.
This, then, suggests the necessity OF
preparing good seeded. that the
rootlets may penetrate the spaces be,
tween the soil particles with the least
resistance. 1t is the minutest roo:
hairs which branch out from the
thread-like fibers that constitute the
chief absorbing surface Of the roots.
These minute root hairs drink in the
soil water and supply the plant with
its moisture
Moisture in the soil Is not only nee
essary to the we'll being of the plant
In supplying it with driking water.
but it is necessary to create the cor
rect condition Of the soil. The plant
foods in the soil are made available to
the plant rootlets by action of mois-
ture. This food is consumed by the
plant in a fluid form only. Thus, mois-
ture is absolutely essential to enable
the plant rootlets to avail themselves
of it. This is another important rea-
son why we should so manipulate the
soil as to conserve soil moisture.
There is another important factor
In the scheme of conservation that
we cannot afford to overlook in grow,
Ing fruits and vegetables under dry
farming conditions. 1t is so important
that our soil experts consider it's abb
sence with alarm. refer to the neces-
sity of soil humus. l do not refer to
humus as contributing fertility to the
soil, but to its power to improve the
soils texture and to assist in maintain.
Ing soil moisture.
To succeed in growing any character
of crops where there is not an abun,
dance OF moisture In the soil the sup
plying of the soil with humus must be-
co-extensive with blowing of the land
In planning to conserve the moisture
for its utilization by the plant root
let's. Humus benefits the soil in many
ways. One Of its greatest benefits is
the improving of the soils texture.
Leaf mold gives our sandy soils more
body" and makes it less leachy. Add
leaf mold to stiff clay soils that clod
and crack in the field and it becomes
more porous and works well. One way
of fining the soil and hence of in.
creasing its productive power, is to
improve its texture by adding humus.
| Humus is the food of microscopic
| life in the soil, and the waste products
Of this microscopic life is an essen
tial to food plant. Humus confers upon
the soil the power to hold moisture.
/ Soils without humus dry out quickly.
| There may be an abundance Of plant
( food in the soil, but 1t is useless for the
time being If there is not enough mois.
ture to dissolve it and carry it to the
/ plant through the little hair-like root
let's which absorb it.
Success in growing fruit trees and
vegetables in dry climate depends
almost exclusively on SO treating the
soil as to conserve the moisture. This
can only be done by proper blowing In
the fall and winter months. The land
should be plowed deep and not allowed
to dry out. Follow this blowing with
! the harrow to smooth the surface
Never permit the surface to crack OF
form crust. Plow shallow after each
rain. Let the harrow follow the pillow
when the surface is just moist. This
will form a soil much that will hold
the moisture beneath 1t. Land treated
In this way will remain moist enough
to readily terminate the seed planted
In 1t. Cultivation should be continu
GUS after the crop begins to grow, but
never deep.
If the farmers in the semi-arid re-
| ~{o hot