Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1914-05-08

in the Inland Empire If
proper methods of tillage
were followed. We must till for at
least three distinct purposes: to keep
the soil clean, to put the soil into
proper physical condition for the neces-
sary chemical changes to take place in
the soil for the liberation of plant food.
and to conserve moisture.
Under dry conditions the first two
purposes are accomplished when we till
properly to conserve moisture. The
handling of the soil may then be CON
sidered from the standpoint of proper
conservation of moisture. Since our
precipitation occurs largely in the dor
mant period our soil must be in condi-
ton first of all to absorb and retain
this rainfall as completely as possible.
To keep the soil in an absorbent condi-
ton good supply of humus should be
maintained in the soil This makes the
sell looser, more absorptive and reten-
tive of moisture, more friable, with "a
less tendency to puddle in winter and
bake and crack in spring An abund-
ant supply is also necessary for the
rapid formation Of available mineral
plant food in the soil
Under our present system of wheat
farming in which we remove the larger
part of the straw and burn the surplus
and even the stubble, the supply of
humus in the soil is becoming gradually
depleted The evidence of this de-
Of the hill sides, the greater difficulty
fIciency is seen III the greater washing
with which the soil is brought into a
mellow condition, and the lighter color
and the more spindling growth of the
grain. Manure spots are showing in
our grain fields more conspicuouly
every year Without doubt we shall
ultimately be obliged to grow certain
crops for the primary purpose Of re-
newjng this humus in the soil. Alfalfa
AMI clover will probably play an i'm
portant part in this rejuvinatior OF our
soil.
This depletion, however, can be very
appEeCably checks by working in all
the straw and stubbIe from each crop
that we cen. Where the blowing under
Of considerable straw or stubble has re
suited III burning of the crop, the fault
has been in the method followed.
Where loose straw or stubble is plOwed
under with no previous treatment. and
the furrow is left untouched the straw
will act like ventilator i'll a potato pit,
drying out the soil completely. To
overcome this difficulty surplus straw
should be scattered thinly over spots
most in need of it, and the straw and
stubble should be chopped into the soil
as much as possible by the use of some
form of sharp disc, performing this OPP
Grafton before the setting in of winter.
The winter rains will beat down the
loose soil and broken straw starting it
to decay in the early spring, so that
when finally ploWed under and the fur
row properly worked down it soon be
comes Incorporated with the soil and
helps to form humus.
Added reasons for discing our stub
bic land in the fall are: First, to cover
seeds OF weeds and volunteer grain so
that they may terminate and be de-
Stroyed when the land is ploWed III
stead OF being turned under to be
gradually brought to the surface to
cause trouble in succeeding years. Sec
ord, to loosen the surface of the soil
50 that the winter precipitation may
be absorbed as completely as possible.
he difference between the amount OF
water taken into the soil through
Ioosened surface and the amount alb
Sorbed through a firm surface is some
tmeS very marked instances beng
noted on the college farm where the
loosened surface has permitted the alb
sorptlOn of three times the moisture
taken IN through firm surface with
slope Of surface and character Of soil
almost identical. If our soil absorbs a
l