The Nevada County picayune., 1916-02-03
ILL SOIL TlLEAGE.

By constant observation and eXpe" imentation farmers have learned thM certain practices are necessary for the production of high yields.
 Preparation of Good Seed Bed: Among those practices of foremost importance Is the preparation of 3 ! good seed bed The 1uc roots of the young seedlings are too tender e. force their way very far into harl ground in search Of food If com. pelled to do so the amount of soil from which they can draw food ana , moisture Is necessarily limited, and consequently the plant is likely to be stuuted.
 X good seed bed IS deep. but not too loose Land broken in the fall and left iu the furrow over winter can be prepared for seeding by a thorough disklng followed by har- TOW, but If cover crop has been grown it should he broken again as early as possible in the spring This is especially true If the cover crop E pastured A roller seldom benefits heavy soils except when large amount Of organic matter such as ma nure or green crop has been turned under Just a short time before seed. ing.
 Storing and Conserving Moisture. The water which falls upon the soll in the form of rain may be lest by running off from the surface, by evaI- oration from the soil, by transpiratIon through the leaves of weeds, or by pereolGtion into the lower strata be. low the reach of plant roots Loss by tn" first three processes can be materially reduced by proper tillage
 When the land has been deeply broken the rain enters into it readily and is held there. but when the sou Is hard and compact most of the va. ter runs on into the stream channels. where it Is of no use to crops Not only is the water thus lost which n4sht have been used for future use. but the water running of the lana washes away ths richest part of the soil and causes gullies to form. thus rendering tillage operations more dtf hcult After rain the surface soil soon dries out by the evaporation of the water II the soil Is compact. moisture is continually being drawn up from below by cspiIlarity and eyap. oyatsd from tho surface Bul il the top is stirred loose earth mulch ls formed which breaks up espiIlarity and reduces the loss
 Weeds. however cause the greatest loss of moisture frem the soil ln the growth of ehs ton of Yssds about four hundred tons of water Is used. whil IA equivalent to thrss and half inches of rsintall per acre Weeds also take up hs available plant tosd. thus rebsinS tn. crops and rsduetn. |. tha yiels
 soH Ventilation: \ tAhd important benefit eI thsrouGs taIss. results trsa the n.ix,rE of large amounts of sr rHh the soil Ar Is needed by shs ssnsnelsl soil orGsnisnls ,ueh as ,ts s+risrtsa bacteria which makes tts assv sssn of organic matter avail thA. ana t promotes the growth Of Nsse bacteria whLoh msk. the nitro teA ~ the air available 10 plsnts
 PsN vs Spring Breaking When Nme and weather conditions permit t, is ssster te break th. srsuHd in the fall This leavss it in s loose condi aea ready ts absorb the winter and spring rains and prevents rashias and suilyins Where the land is rolling Ms turrows should run orosswise to i th. slope and should not be smoothed with S harrow or drag unless a cover 1 crsp h grown
 Deep Breaking and Shallow Cultiva l tion; As s rule the soils of Arkansas are not broken deep enough to secure tho best results Deep breaking re Quirss the use Of larger teams. but it pays because larger amount oi plant food Is mads available, and more moisture Is stored up for use in time of drought An exception to this rule should be noted. however, in the case of lisht sandy soils These are al reasy too loose and deep breaking is injurious sood average depth for breaking Is six to seven inches for play losms and clsys Very sandy soils should not be broken deeper han from three to four inches
 After the ground hss been broken dssply shallow cultivation of titled reps such as corn. cotton. or potatoes $ the best rule to follow Deep cul
 walton destroys ths hne feeding -oots thus rstarding the growth of the l.Rnts aad destroying the beuenclal
 fleets of the deep breaking