Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-23

lows: First, the water which falls as
rain and that supplied through irriga-
ton is readily absorbed and distributed
in the soil Second, this water natural
Iy carries atmospheric oxygen into the
ground and therefore aids in fermenta-
tive processes which are essential to the
liberation Of nitrate. Third, carbonic acid
is also carried into the soil enabling an
attack TO be made on such extremely
insOluble foods as phosphates ana slil-
Gates, which results i'm setting free in
some measure supplies of phospherlc
acid, potash and lime hitherto not avail
able to growing crops. Fourth, erosion
and soil washing are greatly reduced
and thus the richest and finest part or
the soil is preserved. Fifth, there Is
better distribution OF moisture IN the
soil, and hence plants grow with great
ed uniformity throughout the season
Sixth. the plant food which may have
been applied in an artificial form is car
ried down and distributed through the
soil to the advantage of the growing
plants. Seventh, drained soils warm up
earlier in the spring while stiff clays
are made more porous and friable.
Eighth. the effect of a drought is les
sened on properly drained soils, while
the soil is also deepened and the text
ure and mechanical condition frequently
improved.
The Importance of controlling the
water supply through drainage and lrrl-
cation is shown by the fact that dur
in gthe three winter months the rainfall
in the southeastern states is not far
from is inches; in the spring months 1T
frequently runs down TO inches; IN
the summer il often rises to "a incnes,
and in the autumn il ranges around ~
inches. Who is not familiar with the
drought which prevails in some parts
of Georgia at some period of the grow
ing season and which frequently re-
duces crop yields by one-third to one
half? If il is possible through drain
age and through soil management to
conserve a part of the abundant supply
OF water which falls as rain our crops
Yields could be greatly increased with
the present expenditure for labor and
fertilizers. Can any one estimate the
full value of such an attainment AS
a matter of fact, the rainfall varies In
Georgia from As to more than 60 inches.
II is said that in some of the best wheat
growing sections of the world only Ia
TO 20 inches of rain are available dur
ing the entire year. In some parts or
the United States crop of grain is only
raised once in two years by reason of
the paucity of the rainfall Neverthe-
less by deep blowing and the resting of
the land and the storing OF moisture, a
very good crop is raised every other
year.
BY controlling Ne water supply, Wild
stoe, of the Utah Station, found that he
could grow 1899 pounds of wheat,
grain and straw included. with a rain
fall equivalent to 47.74 inches. This
same investigator, also grew 1924
pounds of dry matter in corn, grain
and slower included, with 1884 inches
of water. 1t will be seen that Georgia
naturally enjoys a heavier rainfall than
is necessary to produce phenomenal
crops of corn and wheat; yet under the
greatly improved methods of practice
witnessed in the past few years, we are
still only making an average of fifteen
bushels of corn per acre, and about
ten bushels of wheat. 1t is manifest,
therefore, that the greater part of the
water which falls as rain is not serv-
ing a useful purpose in our agriculture.
Italy is a country enjoying an annual
rainfall of 81 inches and yet she has
nearly four million acres under irriga-
ton. She would be said to possess a
humid climate. One acre in every six
teen of her total land area is irrigated.
King states that he was able under
controlled conditions to grow more than
lA.3 IOnS OF NdlGE-lTcc SuOSNdllCc IA
flint corn and s3.5 bushels of kiln-dried
shelled corn per acre by supplying all
the water which the plants could use
at the right time. Under similar con-
ditions he grew four tons of clover hay
from the first crop and two tons from
the second crop. He was also able to
raise potatoes at the rate of 695 bushels
per acre. using "a inches Of water or
less than half the annual rainfall of
Georgia. These figures are quoted to-
show the essential relation of water to
crop Yields and the Importance of study
ing all the means by which the water
supply can be controlled.
PREPARING RATIONS FOR CATTLE.
W. NJ. H.. Macon, Ga. writes: ] would
like 20 know how 20 make a good ration for
cattle from cotton seed bulls cotton seed
meal. alfalfa meal and Cuban molasses.
would like 10 have the analysis OF cotton
seed bulls. Cuban molssses and alfalfa meal
If you will mix together FIVE pounds