Show soil Noi moisture sture incidental to tn the prevalent discussions of the various phases or of the irrl irrigation gatlon question the iho subject of saving the soil moisture Is receiving considerable attention it Is interesting to note the va various rl sides from which such subjects aro are approached and the varlo various conclusions reached depending on the writers point of view such diversities uro are to bo be expected an and d grant good on oil tile the bhole holo comes from such exchange of 0 experience and opinions tor for although each sees tho ilia subject from his own side this interchange of views makes each soine somewhat what conversant with the subject as a whole this fuller acquaintance he would never got gel by his own unaided experiences it Is ia from earnest intelligent observation and discussion that the advancement ot of farming interests must come so wo we may expect only rood good front from the discussion now occupying so much space in agricultural and country papers upon tile the subjects of irrigation conservation of moisture and etc whilo while the subject of 0 how bow to supply plants with the proper amount of moisture Is one as a whole takes lakes as many phases as the different persons handling it there are in fact act many distinct f factors actors that go to make this one general result A proper and full treatment of the subject would include all of 0 them but bu it Is often convenient to classify and an I 1 to deal with one at a time one writer thinks only how to pet get water on the soil ue ife Is inclined to say that all we want Is water another thinks that thai the preparation of the soil Is the all important thing lie ile would subsoil I 1 and plow deep thus preparing a deep bod bed of earth to hold the water and tho the plant food and give tho the plane roots room to expand and amplify amply ty fy so that the crop will have a larre large area froni from which to draw its supply in time of 0 need aced another would strive by methods of cultivation to retain any water that falls upon the soil of his bis golds fields or that may bo be put upon it by irrigation ile iio observes the loss of from throwing up the fresh earth to winds by deep deall 00 oo and tho the evident distress of plants from this cause and front from having their roots disturbed and broken at a time when under tile the most fadora able opportunities the plant la is sorely pressed to sustain itself no doubt there ibara Is much in what any of these may say on this favorite theme but alt all should be considered together the question of how to save moisture lit in soils and at the same time if possible bring tile the soil to tho the condition that eicens excess water does no damage Is far broader in its application lien thin than that of bringing water upon the soil there are many sections where irl iii ir ii i l gation gallon will not be practiced where iraln rainfall Is usually for the needs of crops but which suffer buffer at times limes how to economize in the use or rather was waste to of 0 the water in the soil when such times come BIB an important co methods of 0 preparing soil and of tillage that will servo to 10 keep tho the soil in ther best condition are then of great val value ue in all sections lu la those where rainfall Is generally sufficient and in those where irrigation must bo resorted to hut but it would seem to be of greater importance where water in soil stands for an outlay of money or labor or both whore water has cost nothing but las has fallon fallen from the clouds one may bo be excused for letting it escape in wasteful ways way perhaps but certainly no lie such waste can call be a corded forded where water costs pomo thin thans the water it in either c cais as bo be wade made to xa go as far us as possible in growing crops deep and thorough opening of the soil Is a first requisite lit in many soils but here discrimination rubt bo be used close compact soils will repay opening up by the subsoil sub soll plan it if need be on some soils green or applications of well rotted ba barnyard rayard manure would bo be useful in ill I 1 ug the texture te ture to say nathla not hla of 0 their effects as a fertilizer liser in like this tile hie harrow should closely follow tho the plow soil thrown up roughly dries out rapidly and becomes cloddy tho the harrow or tho the roller and leveler should be used at the close of each days pie plow ing tho the difference lit in tile tho loss of water from soil thrown up roughly by tho the plow and from that which ba has 8 been harrowed arid and la IS certainly consider considerate abe al though I 1 have no figures uvon udon tho the sub jcck surface tillage at the tha time when crops aro are suffering most for or water will servo to reduce loss by evaporation thosa these methods are all being urged tor for adoption by mon ilion who would improve their larm farm practice they have been abundantly justified hy by experience in pr practical experiments we may confidentially denti ally expect that as greater study Is given to soil sell physics because of the prominence it Is ass assuming in irrigation lol til investigations our knowledge know knowledge Fedge of how to save tile tho water of 0 our soils will be kreal great ly increased and that tho the importance of such measures will bo be so fully demonstrated that thai none will question it IL prof irot hii 11 Fi Fial alyer |