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Show HOW WATER MOVES IN SOIL UiijiaaaTarts Are Shown by the -oT5vVrnmsnt Experiments In Or ehards of California. Most farmers are under the Impression Im-pression that water moves from the surface straight down Into tha soil-that soil-that is, evenly on all aides, when it is applied 'to a single spot or in a ditch. Thla la not the way tha water is absorbed. Government experiments In California Cali-fornia orchards show the lateral mo variant va-riant of water la surprising. Where water was sent through Irrigating ditches between rows of trees the soil wa wet to a considerable depth but in wedges of V shapes and that th wr.ter had moved laterally only about to feet In soils that are Jn good condition the movement of water either up or down Is not very great but the lateral movement is extremely slight Thla ki owledge la of vast Importance In the application of fertilizer and explains many of the failures because tbey must have water to make them available avail-able as plant food and If placed too far from the plants the latter will ba receiving no benefit. These facts will be of value to th growers of fruit and vegetables where drenching or sprinkling is resorted to. Of course nature's way of supplying moisture to the entire surface Is th bst but If we water our plants It Is better to apply fertilizer first and then priv a thorough-drenching In order that th moisture will dissolve the fertilizer md send It to the roots. |
