The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-03-16
State AGENT
GIVES PLANS
FOR FARMERS
G. K. MeQuARRlE or GAINESVILLE
EXPLAINS PROBLEMS OF WORK
DURING WET SPRING.
BY c. K. MeoUARRIE.

~ ~ rs "C4OAnnbEs
The excessive rainfall OF the past
FOUR months, especially In what is
knAWn as the staple crop section OF
- state. has made a peculiar soil
seQndition that the farmers, fortunately.
20 not have to face very often in the
|springtime.
In some sections the rainfall has been
q to Is inches above normal, leaving
the soil In packed condition and
making 1t q very difficult proposition
to prepare q good seed bed. This rain
fail to large extent. has been detri-
ment to the early working OF the
farm lands. but at the same time 1t is
very seldom that the farmers Of the
state have had an opportunity to make
bumper crops that they have this
year. because Of the moisture supply.
Every effort should now be strained
to conserve this moisture that is al
ready in the soil for the use OF the
growing crops In theM future.
"a II - generally conceded by those
who ought to know. that 1t requires
moisture equal to eight inches. Of
rainfall to make q twenty i've bushel
crop Of corn. and other crops in pro-
portion. provided the soil is fertile
enough Tor that amount and proper
culture methods are practiced. There
fore. we can readily see that with
the large amount Of moisture now in
the soil the farmer has prospects Of
larger yields than usual If this mois-
ture Is only conserved.
Steps taken to do this should be
along the lines Of cultivation Of the
fields already plowed, and the break
ing up OF the crust formed on the
plowed fields for the purpose Of not
only giving aeration to the soil which
Is so necessary, but also for the con-
servation of moisture by providing a
dust mulch or soil blanket.
Use Any cuitivator.
Any cultivator at hand can be read
lily used for this purpose. and it is
advisable to use tool that will cover
the largest area in the shortest time.
We must remember that practical men
tell US eight hours Of Florida sunshine
and March winds will evaporate an
inch OF rainfall. A spiked-tooth har-
row well slanted back, or an ordinary
shovel cultivator. weeder, disk har-
row, or any tool capable of doing
good work should be used as soon as
team can be safely put into the
fields. Perhaps 1t might be necessary
to repeat this cultivation two or more
times. as the preparation Of the seed
bed win be little more different this
year than usual: and as the proper
preparation farmers should see to
it that the seed bed Is well prepared
before making any paintings.
1t is hoped that we have seen the
last Of these heavy rains for a time.
but II we should get more rain than
we expect, every farmer should plant
so he can break the crust left by the
rain as soon as possible thereafter
The selection Of seed before plant
ing is~also very important, and 1t Is
hoped that large number Of our
farmers have been testing their seed
and selecting 1t during the rainy
spells we have had when nothing Of
more importance could have been at
tended to.
Must Cultivate.
The cultivation of the crop i'm
mediately after planting, should a
heavy rain occur, will have to be done.
II, a heavy rain should occur before
the crop comes up. a weeder or spiked
tooth harrow should be used to break
that crust, and civilizations OF at
least once a week with shallow work
ing tools should be practiced during
the growing period. This would serve
the double purpose OF warming up the
soil and maintaining dust mulch
which would prevent the evaporation
Of moisture.
There has been less evaporation In
the state than usual owing to the,
cloudy weather. Therefore. the soil
conditions are not Of the best to give
M the stand we would expect.
Thnrefore we would urge upon the
farmers to thereby prepare the seed
he'd and take full advantage Of the
moisture already in the soil. so a
bumper crop will be produced Of all
the staple crops of the state Exten-