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Show VALUABLE INFORMATION INFORMA-TION FOR THE FARMER " i CULTIVATION INSTEAD OF IRRIGATION Man can not control the amount of moisture that falls but he can control con-trol the amount of cultivation he gives his soil. By cultivation he may 1110,0 "early approach the benefits derived de-rived from ample precipitation than through any other method. This has been a dry year; one that has given opportunity to test the Gospel of moisture preservation through consistent cultivation. Has the land which was plowed deep and kept open with a sponge like tendency tenden-cy of absorbing all the moisture that fell, from which the weeds were kept cleared; and over which a fine blanket blank-et or mulch was kept that prevented the moisture below from evaporating produced a half-matured, wilted, stunted crop? Compare the crops on such land with those on uncultivated lands or lands that have received partial cultivation and see which is the best process. Now is the time to take notes, compile data, make comparisons, com-parisons, and draw conclusions. Practically Prac-tically all the West has suffered from lack of moisture, but the carefml farmer far-mer who had properly cared for his ground previous to and after planting has suffered less than his neighbor who planted without taking any heed of the principles on which successful farming is based. Plow the land in the fall. Plow it deep. Keep it loose. Do not let it oack or bake. Do not let it crack and thus let all the moisture that is stored escape. Keep it clean, for weeds as well as useful crops absorb moisture. If irrigation is practiced, stir the soil when possible after watering wat-ering and thus preserve the 50 or 7 5 per cent that goes off in evaporation. Late spring plowing of land covered with vegetation increases the loss of soil moisture. This land should be plowed early so as to kill the growth before it has consumed the moisture content of the soil. The ground should be carefully watched. Different Dif-ferent kinds of soil need different treatments. Cultivate the ground, for cultivation conserves the much needed moisture and insures good crops. If any one be suffering because of the drouth, now is the time to get busy and hold' all the water that reaches it for by that method a similar simi-lar occurance can be avoided. |
