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

is important that this is supplied tc
the soil through the decomposition o
organic matter and especially does this
apply for such soils as contain an ex.
cess of lime, such as Is often found In
arid sections. Another way by which
this a be accomplished and with
s,Hght expense is by growing fall rye
and plo wing It under early in the
sprine and thrs not interfere with the
growing of annual crops on the same
land. The rye crop is :. 'aiuapie aic
for the purpose mentioned ,~nere the
irrigation water limited because
this crop will sri by the aid of tbs
winter precip$atfsSS alone and makes
a quicker growth under low tempera-
ture conditions than other plants, thus
enabling one to pillow 1t under early
In the spring,
Badger Knobs Useful.
Another important factor that should
be considered when leveling the land
for irrigation In sections containing
way TX spots and badger knobs is
to take advantage of the latter, when
possible to do SO, and use the dirt
from these knobs to spread over the
slick spots or soils Of heavy texture
The badger knobs contain much lime
In such soils as have a calcerous hard
pan below them, and when exposed
to the elements for a period of time
the hardpan d~isintegrates. The lime
has a loosening action on the clay oil
heavy soil, thus causing 1t to break
up readily from an adhesive mass into
small particles, and fitting 1t to bt
more easily worked and exposing 1t t.
better soil aeration and bacterial &C
ton, especially when organic matter
is Incorporated with 1t.
=, When slick spots are handled II
this manner they will absorb irrlgi
| ton water readily and hold It for
| longer time and aid In terrifying tn
crops during normal dry spells. Thes'
slick spots also the clay layer beneath
the surface, are rich In available plan
foods that are practically locked u
to the use of the plants because o. tn
poor physical condition of such sol
Calcerous Oime) hardpan underlie
much OF the lands of the arid sectio
and when at times 1t lays too near tn
surface It materially limits the dept
of the soil to hold water and thu
causes sudden fluctuations In II
moisture content, thus impairing Il
vigor OF plant life. Like the clay la
err mentioned above, this hardpan all
varies In depth below the surface al
anywhere from a foot to four feet al
In some soils II has been known
disappear as a result OF intensive far
practice.
Fertility In Hardpan.
From the luxuriant appearance
, the crops over the arid sections d
, would not Judge that there vas a har
, pan layer below the surface and nett
err would they judge that In the hum
sections there vas a hardpan belo
! the surface of much of 1t. The n h
= value while the other is injurious
the humid section II the rainfall
limited during the height OF the gro'
ing season the crops would be serio,;
ly impaired In the shallow soils. b
: the calcareous h~ardpan In the ar
' sections where irrigation Is practice
Iced not i~nterefer and cause crops
: suffer for moisture as water can
{ Pppjied when needed. In most plac
; where the soil Is not deep the hardpi
= being but Il few inches In thickness
can be broken up with a subsoil plo
which operates from one and a ha
to two feet below the surface. TIL
: lime hardpan Is n valuable mine
! fertility for II Is the teachings fro
: the surface soil which have been a
cumulating for centuries of time. b
> low his hardpan much of the subst
I, Is loose in texture much like the su
face soil but for the most part II is
, a compact nature and yet practical
I. all OF It affords a very deep soil are
ton and moisture penetration and
!. fertility is several farms in one.
Know the Soil.
To farm intelligently the farm
should know his SOIL" and to pro
erly know the soil on some farms
would be well to riddle II with hole
i to the proper depth and note h rea
ings and the locations and practical
make a soil survey Of his farm tn
a will be OF much value to h man "
h farms. by knowing the soil the
can be greatly increase by V'
the weak spots OF the fa s"''ec'
a decide to blast n part ~" ohe =
y .ubso;i ia Of rr -M " or all II
e ""a IN exture that nc
n ~ ~sspccis.'lly II prior 10 pla
'e rus -" orchard.
~, SUDDEN Death Of Trees.
III In a s'naIlow spot of soil in an
re chary. not blasted one may find n [
re That under normal conditions