Moisture of the Soil. 497 



"known means. Dependence must be placed upon irrigation and 

 the conservation of soil moisture. 



9. Irrigation is expensive, and while entirely practicable in 

 arid regions, yet in our section if flooding by irrigation should be 

 followed by heavy rainfall, the effect might be disastrous. Where 

 irrigation is not a common necessity, it must be secured by indi- 

 vidual enterprise, and is, therefore, expensive. In New York we 

 must depend largely upon conserving or preventing the loss of the 

 moisture. 



10. The means by which moisture may be conserved are: 

 judicious plowing and tillage, mulches, underdrainage, wind- 

 breaks, applications of lime, salt, etc., and adaptation of crop to 

 the soil. 



11. The absorbing or capillary power of a soil depends upon 

 the fineness of division of its particles. 



12. The plow is a most valuable implement for pulverizing 

 and fining the soil. Fall plowing is recommended for heavy 

 clays, the surface to be left rough and unharrowed. Fall-plowed 

 lands catch and hold the water. 



13. Surface tillage should begin early in the spring, as every 

 day's delay after the soil is in fit condition means a loss of many 

 tons of water. 



14. The harrow is valuable as an implement with which to 

 establish and maintain a surface mulch. Frequent harrowing of 

 an orchard will greatly lessen the evaporation from the surface. 



15. "V^^lere cultivators are used as conservers of moisture, 

 many fine teeth are preferable to a few coarse teeth. 



16. Ridge culture is calculated to promote evaporation. To 

 conserve moisture, practice level culture and so reduce the area 

 exposed. 



17. The roller brings moisture to the surface by compressing 

 the soil. On loose, sandy soils it is useful by compacting the 

 particles. On clay its use may prove injurious if followed by 

 heavy rains. Where possible it is well to follow it with a smooth- 

 ing harrow to restore the mulch. 



• 18. A surface mulch of leaves and decaying vegetable matter 

 is nature's way of conserving moisture. It also adds humus to 



83 



