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Show UP-TO-DATE FARMING. How to Save Water and Increase Productions, ItmaUi's no difference how rich the soil may be In phi'itid or fertility, It is Impossible foruny kind of plants to grow without wutor. We all negleetthij point of retaining moisture in the soil for future fu-ture use. This is very ubbvntltil in liu mid regions during dry sea so us. The plant needs water for two principal purposes. Flrbtofall the plant food must be dissolved and in the liquid form before it is available. This is why liquid manure is so valuable, and then the plant needs water in its construction. con-struction. A largo percentage cf all plants is water. Tho lack of moisture causes more crop failures than lack of fertility. It may bo' surprising to note hpw much water is required in the growth of an acre of corn. Clinton, I believe it is estimates that an acre of corn producing produc-ing pO bushojs requires 1 .Q(1T ono.-pou'n-ds of water during the season., And if this subject is so important, vu sHould gfya it mora attention. A little careful work In this way often helps our crops wonderfully. Frequent, Frequ-ent, shallow cultivation throughout the season will conserve the moisture to a great extent, as It destroys the capillary capil-lary connection with tho air, tho water remaining below where tho roots are feeding. This cultivating must be shallow,,! sha-llow,,! know one Held of corn which surely was hurt at least 10 bushels to the acre by running the cultivator too deep the last time. The corn looked well before but after tho work was done it hub lopked rather biek ever bin ce. I have argifed all bummer with the owner of this corn trying to show liiiu the effect of tho shallow cultivation, but he still goes deep. The water-holding capacity of the soil may be increased by the adding of humus, in the form 01 barnyard manure, manu-re, or in ploughing under stubble or green crops. Tho soil is then more open op-en nnd will absorb more of the falling rain, and will retain it ah what is called call-ed capillary water. Thcro may bo a possibility of applying too much humus to the laud, but there is not much danger dan-ger of tho American fanner doing it. A1m the water holding capacity may bo Increased by fall plowing. This gives tho frost a chance to breaic up the soil in line particles, leaving It li better bet-ter condition to absorb and retain the winter rains until needed Inter 111 tho bonbon by the growing crops. Ploughing, Plough-ing, whether spring or fall, should be deep, us tills increases tho depth of the soil mulch and givos more space for conserving moisture. I'ropcr tiltaue is what counts in modem agriculture. Some of our experiment stations hnye been experimenting with sub soiling for tho above purpose and have found it to bo satisfactory. Hut mulching and proper cultivation are tho most practical practi-cal ways for the average farmer. The careful saving and applying of all the manure produced on tho farm would help us out many times. 1 repeat that this work needs more attention and we cun work It at all times of the year. We can cultivate in bummer, plow in autumn, haul manure in winter and drain in spring. Wo need to do more of this work, Tho up to date farmer has his farm in a high state of cultivation. I bellovo in intensive in-tensive cultivation when done in tho right way, nnd my bentiments iu farming farm-ing aro foWer acres and better tillage. Then wo can retain more of tho mols- ture and greatly incrsase our crops. Laud cau bo cultivated too much but, this. Is not often done. E. .7. Water-btrlpo Water-btrlpo hi Intcrinouutiiin Farmer. |