Show S D Explosions Break Hardpan and Conserve Seasons Season's Rainfall State of Kansas Conducting g Experiments Experiments ments on Suggestion of Former Governor Crawford Method Crawford Method Will Probably Be Success Topeka Kan Dynamite Dynamite farming may become a very common agricultural ral method in Kansas and other middle middle mid mid- dle dIe western states The state of Kansas Kan sas is working out some e experiments with dynamite farming on the farm of Samuel J J. J Crawford war governor of the state Most 1 of the farming sections of Kansas are with witha a soil foundation known as hardpan It is not so BO hard as st stone ne but it Is IK harder than common soil soli and the roots of plants cannot go through it In Iii some sections this hardpan appears close to the surface and In other sections sections sec sec- it Is down 20 to 50 feet When at great depth the hardpan has no appreciable appreciable ap ape ap- ap effect on crops On Governor Cra Crawfords Crawford's farm Carm the hardpan comes close to the surface and as this condition is the only one where the experiment is likely to prove provo successful Governor Crawford gave the state the use of some of his ground for Cor this year ear earI I have done some experimenting with hardpan and dynamite said Governor Crawford the other day If It I this formation Is close to to the surface it forms a perfect floor and the moisture moist moist- ure cannot get down to the subsoil Roots of growing plants go down downto to o the hardpan and aud can can go no further end and when bad growing weather comes they curl up and die If It we break breakup up the hardpan it stores the water as as asIn asin In n a reservoir and in dry weather this reservoir gives up UI its moisture to the crops crop The he state through the agricultural r I department and the agricultural col lege e took up the scheme of dynamiting ting the hardpan at Governor Crawfords Crawford's Crawfords Crawfords Crawford's Craw Craw- fords ford's suggestion The powder mills were asked for a low grade explosive and they are turning out a dynamite for breaking up ap the hardpan at a cost of about 1 50 per acre Early this spring a field was taken as the test field Holes were drilled 25 feet apart and in rows feet wide The sti sticks ks of dynamite containing containing con can 25 per cent of nitrate ammonia ammonia ammo ammo- I nia powder were put down to a depth depth of three feet Half the sticks were set off b by a battery and half by fuses The ba battery tery explosions seemed to be bethe bethe bethe the best The hardpan was thoroughly thorough ly pulverized for six feet each side of the drill holes and large cracks ran I for considerable distance in all directions directions directions from Crom the holes showing that the explosions had broken out fissures I through tho the hardpan Around each hole a large reservoir was created where several hundred gallons of wa- wa wa-I wa I ter was stored during the sprin for use in the dry summer mon man mon Corn oats and other spring sprin are being planted Part of the vas was not dynamited and this Is IsI planted also to demonstrate th I clency of ot the new farming methI meth rueth I will show whether or not the dy ting did an any good rho The rows lows feet apart and If the crop not as good in the middle betwee l rows It will show that the dynamiting should be in narrower rows Dr William Hamm of Vienna was the discoverer of the dynamite method method meth meth- od of farming He has found that In Europe it Is not necessary to treat tho the ground oftener than once In three years The state agricultural college and nd the state agricultural department are making the experiments on Crawfords Crawford's farm and the government agricultural experts are watching the experiments just as closely as the state |