Show DRY LAND FARMING Fertility of Soil Depends Largely Upon Physical Condition and of Water Upon Proper Mingling Air Depends Success of Farmer Heat Starts Mechanical Process The fertility of a soil depends largely Is ly upon Its physical condition that upon Its firmness and texture Its soluble sol-uble minerals and humus and the proportion pro-portion of air and water it contains writes H W Campbell In Campbells Scientific Farmer No soil can be fertile i fer-tile that contains either too much or I too little air or water The presence of either to the exclusion of the other stops plant growth Upon the proper or Ideal mingling and mixture of both depends the success of the farmer Not until the farmer realizes that he must do all he cnn to regulate the air content of the soil as well as Its water wa-ter he will never reach the high limit of yield When the soil Is In proper physical condition and has the necessary amount of air and moisture the application appli-cation of heat starts the chemical processes which are necessary to fertility fer-tility tllItThis necessary condition of the soil can be secured and be maintained In a dry region or In a humid region during droughty periods by Intelligent cultivation with special reference to keeping the plowed portion of the soil line and firm and In close connection with the unplowed portion and In addition I ad-dition a sufficient soil mulch at the top to prevent unnecessary waste of water as well or to admit the proper quantity of air The loss of water Is most harmful during the growing season but water saved and stored at other seasons Is Just us useful Tho preservation of the rainfall from season to season and keeping the soil in right condition for a moisture reservoir Is therefore a vital vi-tal matter In the regions of limited rainfall That which Is most disastrous to crops whether In a dry region or during dur-ing a drought period Is the formation I of a crust at the surface or under the mulch This Indicates rapid evaporation evapora-tion of tho water and what Is more important the deposit of dry salts which fill the soil pores and shut out the air from the plant roots If a soil mulch Is maintained too long without change the crust may form Just beneath be-neath the mulch which Is Just as bad The formation of such a crust must be prevented I Sometimes It Is found that even with the greatest care there Is not sufficient suf-ficient moisture In the soil within reach of the roots to make It safe to try a crop A season of summer tillage til-lage by which the rainfall of the year Is stored and the fertility of the soil Is Increased all the time will bring about the desired physical condition The secret for the farmer In dry lands Is that he must understand these vital conditions and plow cultivate cul-tivate or otherwise till his soil to that end Tho plowing must be done when the soil Is In condition to be plowed The lower part of the plowed portion must be packed down firm so that moisture will be carried and be retained The sub packer Is invaluable Invalu-able In most soils The disk Is an admirable ad-mirable tool for keeping the surface stirred before plowing and sometimes after plowing especially In handling heavy soils after excessive rain Always Al-ways put the seed Into moist firm soil for then you know It will surely grow when the weather Is sufficiently warm I The Important thing Is that the i farmer should keep in mind the soil conditions he desires and make use of tools that will get the results Lotus us repeat the vital thing Is to secure an ideal physical condition that Is a fine and firm soil with air and mols tureand to maintain It Just so long as It Is possible to do any work In the fields |