American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-09-09

ly two feet below IT. Where 1t Is ex-
posed to the surface II is termed by
the farmers slick spots" and on which
1t is difficult to raise crops because
OF It's gumbo nature. The farmer Is
apparently unaware OF the correction
between the clay layers and slick
spots. The surface exposure of this
clay layer Is not as frequent as 1t
might appear when the large area over
which 1t is spread is considered. This
clay layer IL encountered at times
when 1t Is necessary to level the
! s...gher contours of the farm to facili
| tate irrigation. Wherever the proper
surface soil is limited IN depth be
cause of the clay or other causes such
areas of the farm will vary in crop
production according to these con-
! ditions.
Causes Of Crops Drying In Spots.
The difference In the appearance Of
the crops under the conditions men
toned is very marked and under cx-
I Irerne weather conditions Its contrast
would become suddenly conspicnn"-
II, for example a protracted wet spell
Hnturing the soil to a considerable
depth and cauSing the plants to be-
come very succulent and rank In
growth. Is followed by winds and
temperature above normal for a few
DAYS. such conditions would cause the
clay to dry very rapidly and the plants
in such clay areas would suffer be-
cause of the rapid Transportation OF
moisture from the leaves and much
faster than the roots can supplement
the loss to the leaves and thus their
cell tissue dies. destroying their ac-
ton, and hence the elaborated sap
formed by tho leaf and necessary TO
root activity In impaired and the plant
,suffers IN proportion to the degree
OF such conditions.
The Spotted Soil.
In a spotted soil some plants suf-
fer very quickly as a result OF abnorm-
al weather conditions. while others
thrive even though growing apparent
ly by the side OF each other and by
comparison In appearance the injured
plants become suddenly noticeable
while under normal weather 1t would
be less conspicuous because less In
hured. In some states the hot wtnds
are very Injurious to crops even wher
growing In the best of soils II thu
proper moisture requirements ar
lacking. Knowing the weak condition
OF the soil spots to produce large
r crops II is oftimes 30 as to increas
the yield. In normal seasons sue
Z variations OF soil may be easily oh
: served because OF It's effect on crop
r which will be OF n darker green colo
O when needing moisture and are les
a thrifty than the plants about then
n Especially Will this be observed wit
such crops as alfalfa. potatoes an
n corn and the leaves OF the latter wi
a quickly shrivel In the soils of poe
a texture. In the irrigated section
v these weak soil spots can be watche
closely and irrigated frequently an
n especially after abnormal weather col
q ditions.
Rains Deceptive.
j. Some farmers who feel assured thu
II after the protracted rains and cloud
= WaafhaW M tnnra nnnlotnrn uylII B
o needed for some time on the heavit
o soils. especially clay spots. may
suddenly aware that the crop IL dryin
up and possibly beyond relief.
the heavier soils the plants root noal
: err the surface, and during the pre-
Q longed rainy spells the roots are Of
\ couraged to feed nearer the surface [
r secur better soil aeration, and urde
9 these conditions the roots cease I
hustle as before the rains for the r,
o CURED moisture, and are left strande,
r also the roots are injured by IN
3 deep cracks when the ground dries an
r bakes and In this type of soil textur
Q which acts with tenacity to Withhold
the required water from the plant.
is also very difficult for the plant roo
TO forage In such soils for the require
moisture.
Q Physical Conditions Of Soil.
n 1t is possible to materially bette
the slick spots or soils of poor ter
n ture by putting them In botter phys
cial condition, for upon the physics
condition of the soil depends the phys
h cial condition of the plant. This On
be done by the rotation of crops al
with the view OF Incorporating muS
organic matter In the soil by the n
IL dition of manure, straw, cover crol
le and the like, to be plowed under. AT
IN II sand Is available II would be OF
10 OF the best correctives especially whit
- applied with the organic matter. II
J. latter should be thoroughly incorpo
he ated with the soil. otherwise - :.
G. have n tendency to d. o,, ~
e large amounts ar orpanic matter +,
,epNlted aud not we'll INCORPORATED "