The Raymer enterprise., 1913-01-09
DEEP FLOWING BIG BENEFIT
Dominant Factor in Carrying Mois-
ture Over Winter for the Produc.
duction Of Good Crop.

H. j
1t is wonderful how little moisture
penetrates our harder soils in sum-
mer, no matter how abundant the rain
fall may be, and even long experience
with such soils hardly prepare 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 l 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 conditions.
The point is, is it not necessary to
our 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 snow. is 1t not the
one most dominant factor in broduc.
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 sander soil. which abb
sorbs all the rainfall and 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 ina dry time.
have 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 1t is at no great depth
So long rs the soil is kept stored and
pipes are not formed through which
the water can evaporate. Roughly
speaking, should say that when
moisture has descended eight to ten
inches 1t will with any reasonable top
mulch either from good plowing or
cultivation continue in large measure
10 descend and that short Of six inches
1t will be very apt to ascend In vapor
and largely disappear. 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 SO long
as no cropping interferes with cult
walton. but for practical results 1t is
extremely desirable to get the mois
ture down as far as possible from the
suns attraction. which raises 1t to the
surface TO be carried away by winds
and evaporation In an atmosphere
which will with us almost always alb
sorb moisture.
This same moisture when 1t has de
scended to depth OF eight to twelve
4
inches lies as poultice on the sub
soil and softens 1t and descends ye
deeper where In its original state thu
subsoil was quite incapable Of absorb
ing 1t in the small quantities which
lay on 1t for only short time ant
thus we get penetration Of moisture
to five, six or more feet. and, have &c
complished something permanent
quite different from merely wettinl
five or six inches OF top soil by light
plowing.
1t is true that crops will use the
moisture, but its effects on the subsoi
will remain, for 1t has become absorb
ent to future rains and SHOWS.