The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-01-23
will heal this rash
CORN GROWING.
Getting Moisture Into the Soil for Good
Corn Yields-Preparing the Land
for Planting.

Corn gets what it takes from the sol
be moisture to spare. The actual mum.
Der of inches OF rainfall on given field
however. ID not alone safe guide, es-
pecially in droughty regions as much de-
ponds on the amount of water that j.
stored at different seasons; the amount
that is wasted in run-off. evaporation or
seepage; and, finally, the amount actual
Iy made available to the root system OF
the corn. 1t has been estimated that a
! rainfall of 10 inches will be sufficient to
| produce 80 bushel yield of corn, provid
ed none of il escaped except through the
plants. Even weeds, however, cannot
take over every bit OF moisture and it is
| impossible under field conditions to pre-
vent losses.
Corn specialists OF the bureau OF plant
industry, United States department of
agriculture, in farmers bulletin T73,
therefore, caution corn growers in
droughty regions ~ to plan their cul-
turai operations so as to have the soil
surface In best condition to take in wa
ter when rains ARE most likely to occur;
| ~ SO to handle the soil that deep pene-
tration NAV he secured; and t3l so to
cultivate the soil as TO store up heat and
at the same time prevent excessive loss
OF soil water through capillary action
and surface evaporation.
The ease with which soils take in, re-
tain or lose moisture depends mostly on
their texture, physical condition, and
surface slope, they point out. II is to
the extent that cultivation can modify
these factors that more water can be
made available to the growing crop.
There are loose, open soils through
which water pours as through sieve,
and there are tight, gumbo soils which
swell when the surface is moistened and
become practically waterproof,
Sandy soils take in water more readily
than heavier soils; hence, less preeaution
Is necessary to prevent run-ofi.
The greatest loss may be from seepage
to depths beyond the plant roots. Ma
nure and decayin2 vegetable matter
check seepsge and improve soils Of this
character. As corn roots penetrate three
to even six feet deep, larger yields OF
corn are frequently raised on sandy soils
in semiarid regions than on surrounding
hard soils.
The heavy, hard. or close textured
soils require the most cultivation to keep
them In proper condition so as to prevent
moisture loss from r,m.off and evapora
ton. Unless the surface is kept broken |
or somewhat rough, but little water will |
be absorbed durin> hard rains and a
greater loss will occur from evaporation. |
To maintain the surface soil in proper |
cultivation IL necessary soon |
after heavy rains If cultivation is too I
frequent, however, so that the surface /
becomes too fine. moisture cannot pene
trate readily and blowing OF the soil is
likely to occur.
II is OF great Importance that moisture
be made to penetrate several feet below
the surface. In most soils this penetra-
ton is slow, and during hot, dry weather
surface evaporation is great. Surface
moisture cannot penetrate frozen soil.
Summer and fall precipitation has time
to penetrate several feet deep and be in
a position to support growing crop the
next summer. While it is seldom advis
able to waste whole summer in storing
for corn crop the next year, it
IL advisable TO peBlH eluFI0H SOIL MOISTURE
as soon as the preceding crop will per
nit. The ideal seed bed for good corn
,rop in semi-arid regions is one with a
loose, coarse surface and sub.soil well
illed with moisture to a depth of several
ieet.
Preparing Land for Planting.
As lack OF moisture, more than any
hing else, limits corn yields in droughty
-egions, the first question regulating each
operation should be, 'What win be its
fleet upon the soil moisture suppiyf'
The authorities state that while sum
ner fallow frequently results in greater
Fields of corn, the practice has not
proved practicable. They, therefore, adj
rise beginning the preparation of land
o prevent loss of moisture and to put +!
he surface into condition to receive {
Moisture as soon as the preceding crop
will permit. Cultivation after the re- I
novai of the preceding crop is profitable /
{ it stops or prevents growth of weeds. I
SUIT If the growing season is past, dead /.
weeds NAV catch more snow than wcTld ,
,e caught by cultivated surface.