The Clovis news. [volume] (Clovis, N.M.) 1907-1929, 1913-12-04
FLOWING URGED
Method Has Been Praoiiced
From Time ImmemoriaL
AZ Matter Of Carrying over Water IN
soil and to Receive Fall Ralns and
Snow q is one Of Most DOM
lnant Factors.

re Is wonderful how little moisture
Tpenotratea our harder soils IN sum
mer, no matter how abundant the
rainfall may be, and ven long expe-
rience with such soils hardly pre-
pares one for their dry condition when
nj goes forth to pillow.
The moisture falling SO late this
season there has not been 50 much
evaporation, and IA some soils 1 have
observed the downward penetration
has been much greater than with q
great deal more precipitation In the
summer months, and 1t Is likely to
endure for some time, giving an OBJ
portunity for deep blowing.
It Is not necessary here to urge
deep blowing is suitable to all condi-
tions. The point is, IS It not neces
sary to u hard land, especially those
to be dry farmed?
Merely as a matter Of carrying over
water In the soil and for the entrance
Of later rains and SLOWS, is it not the
one most dominant factor In produc-
ing crops; is not the question Of max
ing use Of our denser dry soils n Of
bringing them more to the porous
condition Of the sander soil, which abb
sorb all the rainfall and a great deal
Of snow before it e%vaporates in our
warm sun and dry atmosphere?
If the answer IS yes, then the I'M
pOrtance Of blowing deeply when con-
ditions are favorable as at present
must not be overlooked unless we
have command Of deep tillage tools
and power to operate them, and even
with these a less expensive result VIII
be claimed than IN a dry time.
Ihave not the data and do not know
even that It exists to show at what
point gravity overcomes the pumping
power Of the sun to draw moisture
from the soil, but It Is at no great
depth. So long as the soil is kept
stored and pipes are not formed
through which the water can evapo-
rate. Roughly speaking, I should say
that when moisture has descended
eight to ten inches it viii be with any
reasonable top mulch either from
good blowing or cultivation continue
in large measure to descend and that
short Of six inches it win be very apt
to ascend in vapor and largely disap-
pear, no matter how carefully we try
to retain the dust mulch on large
tracts OF land.
theoretically, the dust mulch will
hold It perhaps also in practice 80
long ais 30 cropping interferes with
cultivation, but for practical resuNs
It IL extremely desirable to get the
moisture down as far as possible from
the SUMS attraction, which raises 1t
to the winds and evaporation In an at
mosphere which with us almost al
ways absorbs moisture.
This same moisture when It has de-
seconded to a depth Of eight to twelve
inches, lies as a poultice on the sub
soil and softens It and descends yet
deeper where In Its original state the
subsoil was quite incapable Of absorb
ing It in the small quantities which
lay on It for only a short time and
thus we get penetration Of moisture
to Eve, six or more feet, and have
accomplished something permanent
quite different from merely wetting
i've or six inches Of top soil by light
plowing
It Is true that crops viii use the
moisture. but it's effects on the subsoil
VIII remain, for It has become absorb
ent to future rains and SHOWS.