OCR Text |
Show STORE UP WINTER MOISTURE Sufficient Water for Crops Assured by Deep Plowing In Fall to Absorb Rslns and Snow. Doubtless many a Minnesota farmer farm-er has thought, during the past season, sea-son, as he witnessed tho destruction or curtailment of bis crops by the long-continued drought, "What a fine thing an Irrigating plant would have been this year!" A few horticulturists and m.irket gardeners In this state have already Installed such plants, and others are planning to do so, says a writer In the Northwestern Agriculturist. Agricultur-ist. "Hy use of pumps and windmills or garollne motors, many small pieces of land can be supplied with water. On many farms, small streams, lakes or swamps are so situated that their waters can easily be turned upon the land for Irrigating purposes. These methods of helping nature to help Itself It-self have loig since been learned by the settlers of the seml-arld regions of the west, where the Irrigated lands are now the most highly productive of all lands." Hut the farmer to whom such sources of ater supply aro not yet svdllshle may. If be will, "bottle up" Uca quantity of water. Just under toe surface of his Isnd by plowing It deeply In the fall so that It will absorb all the rains and melted snows, and then cultivating so ss to keep It covered cov-ered wtih a dust mulch as to assure a sufficiency of moisture for bis crops. This Is the whole secret of so-called "dry farming," which Is In reality only Irrigation under another form. Selection of the Brood Sow. Sows that come from prolific families fam-ilies are m.ue certain to Inherit those qualities and become good mothers than those thst descend from families fam-ilies that are less prolific. |