The Raymer enterprise., 1913-11-06
DEEP FLOWING URGED
Method Has Been Practiced
From Time ImmemoriaI.
As Matter Of Carrying Over Water In
Soil and to Receive Fall Rains and
Snow Il 10 One Of Most Dom.
lnant Factors.

penetrates our harder soils in sum-
mer. no matter how abundant the
rainfall may be, and even long expe-
rience with such soils hardly pre-
pares one for their dry condition when
one goes forth to plow.
The moisture falling SO late this
season there has not been SO much
evaporation. and In some soils have
observed the downward penetration
has been much greater than with a
great deal more precipitation In the
summer months. and 1t is likely to
endure for some time, giving an op-
portunity for deep plowing.
1t is not necessary here to urge
deep plowing is suitable to all condi-
tions. The point is. Is 1t not neces-
sary to our hard land. especially those
to be dry farmed?
Merely as matter OF carrying over
water In the soil and for the entrance
OF later rains and SHOWS, is 1t not the
one most dominant factor in produc-
Ing crops; is not the question OF max.
ing use Of our denser dry soils one Of
bringing them more to the porous
condition Of the sander soil. which alb.
sorb all the rainfall and a great deal
Of snow before 1t evaporates in our
warm sun and dry atmosphere?
II the answer is yes. then the i'm
portance Of plowing 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 less expensive result will
be claimed than In dry time.
Ihave not the data and do not know
even that 1t exists to show at what
point gravity overcomes the pumping
power of the sun to draw moisture
from the soil, but 1t 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. should say
that when moisture has descended
eight to ten inches 1t will be with any
reasonable top mulch either from
good plowing or cultivation continue
In large measure to descend and that
short Of six inches 1t will 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 1t perhaps also in practice SO
long as no cropping interferes with
cultivation. but for practical results
1t is extremely desirable to get the
moisture down as far as possible from
the suns 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 1t has de-
scended to depth Of eight to twelve
inches, lies as poultice on the sub.
soil and softens 1t and descends yet
deeper where in It's original state the
subsoil was quite incapable Of absorb
Ing 1t In the small quantities which
lay on It for only short time and
thus we get penetration Of moisture
to five. six or more feet, and have
accomplished something permanent
quite different from merely wetting
five or SIX inches Of top soil by light
plowing.
1t Is true that crops will use the
moisture. but Its effects on the subsoil
Will remain. for 1t has become absorb
ent to future rains and SHOWS.