The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-06-22

as seeding land to pasture, growing
timber, and planting cover crops In the
winter tends to check and diminish
erosion greatly. Other methods which
retard the flow of the water and con-
duct the excessive run-off from the
field with a reduced amount Of erosion,
are contour blowing, hillside ditching, |
and terracing.
Deep Tiliaoe.
BY deep blowing the absorptive pow
err and reservoir capacity Of soil Is
increased greatly. 1t Is said that ten |
inches of loose, plowed soil will abb
sorb two inches of rainfall. The In
corporation of organic matter or
humus in soil adds materially to it's
moisture-holding capacity. This is
best accomplished by blowing under
deeply, manure, stubble, stalks and
various cover crops. This organic
matter, in a decomposed state, is
capable of absorbing considerable wa
ter and forms a richer and deeper top
| soil.
Vegetation or cover crops will pro-
| lCS( tuc Scll LII IO0A ways. NJ ~
holding rain water on the surface for
a time, thus giving the soil
better, opportunity to absorb the wa
teag ~ by keeping the soil open
through the growth of the roots, which
form passages for the water to reach
the subsoil; (3) by holding the soil
particles together through the binding
power of the roots; and (4) by reducing
the movement of soil particles through
diminishing the velocity Of surface wa
ter. Cover crops usually are grown
during the winter or when the land
otherwise would be idle. Vetch, clover,
cowpeas, oats, wheat and rye are COM
monty used for cover crops.
Level Culture.
Contour blowing and the following
in general OF practically level lines In
farm operations tend to check the sur
face flow down a slope and to retain
the water where 1t falls. In cultivat'
ing crops, each row is banked up and
shallow depression which holds the
surface water is left between the rows
Thus the absorption by the soil of this
: impounded water is facilitated and
the rapid run-off down the slope, with
!. its destructive eroding power, often Is
/ entirely eliminated In case of ordinary
rains. Comforting contributes also In
/ a considerable degree to the conserva'
ton of moisture on hill lands.
Often it seems impossible to prevent
, erosion on lands with excessive slopes
No attempt should be made to cult
: vate such areas, but they should be
seeded to pasture and usually retained
/ as such. In well-sodded pasture lane
2 the soil Is not exposed directly TO the
/ erosive action Of the water, so thai
erosion Is much less destructive thar
, In cultivated fields.
i In many sections of the countr,
timberland on excessively steep slopes
s has been cleared for cultivation, ant
9 in many instances after clearing it wa
: found impossible to control or checl
i the erosion. Such lands should be re
t verted to timber; otherwise the raw
s ages of erosion will reduce 1t soon Il
f state OF barrenness. 1t is know
n that erosion Is least active In foreste'
areas, because of the penetration ant
binding power OF the roots and the &C
e emulation of thick layer Of leave
e and organic matter on the soil surface
s Undertaking.
J. 1t can be seen readily that by tn
1t undertaking of land to carry off tn
o excess water from the soil space
g, created for the reception of more wa
,e ter from the surface. The water fall
e ing upon the surface sinks into th
J. soil, percolates through 1t, and Is cor
l. Quoted away by the underdrains to a
st open drainage channel without runnin
y, over the surface and causing destru'
r, tive erosion. Entrapped air, whic
often prevents the entrance and fire
il movement Of water In the soil, finds
t means Of escape through subdrainag
d channels. The physical condition
N the soil Is altered by undertaking
IN through the aeration and focculatio
p OF the soil particles. A perceptible e.
A. pansion and slight upheaval of tn
ii. soil take place, resulting In an increas
III In the size of the individual POI
We spaces. Hence, the rainfall percolatt
n more easily and quickly into the so
&c and diminutIon In the ruD-of TO
II, LOUIS