468 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



is plowed in the fall, oftentimes results in a greater increase in imme- 

 diate fertility than is accomplished by allowing the soil to remain 

 in sod during the winter. 



■to 



Soils Suffer Loss of Water When Bare. 



In the case of lands that are not plowed in the fall, but which 

 are allowed to lie bare during the fall and wunter, they become hard 

 and compact, particularly clay soils, and the rainfall is not absorbed 

 but is lost, because of the rapid surface drainage. Hence, on ac- 

 count of the loss in the drains and streams, the season's rainfall, 

 which with care might furnish sufficient moisture for a maximum 

 production, is deficient and the crops suffer. 



Fall plowing, by opening up and making more porous the surface 

 soil, permits the ready penetration of water into it, as well as its 

 percolation into the lower layers or subsoil, where it is held for 

 the summer crop. In fall plowing no attempt should be made to 

 thoroughly fine the surface, or to make it smooth, for this will en- 

 courage the soil to run together, or compact, particularly those of 

 a clayey nature. Of course, this fall plowing applies more particu- 

 larly to soils of a heavy character, or those which are compact or 

 stubborn, rather than soils of good physical character. Fall plow- 

 ing on sandy soils w^ould not be of any particular advantage, as 

 they do not compact, and rains penetrate readily during any season 

 when land is not frozen. 



If fall plowing cannot be accomplished, then the plowing should 

 be done in early spring, in order that the capillary connection be- 

 tween the disturbed surface soil and the lower lavers mav be estab- 

 lished before the spring rains cease, this, followed by deep culti- 

 vation and thorough pulverization of the surface previous to plant- 

 ing contribute materiallv to the conservation of moisture. 



Deep plowing also contributes to the absorptive power of soils, 

 and conservation of moisture, because providing for a much larger 

 area of soil for the penetration of the roots, and if practiced in the 

 fall, the best time to increase the depth, the inert material thrown 

 up weathers during the winter, and the resulting chemical changes 

 also improve the physical character, as well as increasing the active 

 fertility of the soil. If the plowing is left until the late spring, then 

 deep plowing is not so advantageous for many crops, as shallow 

 plowing, for if there is sufficient rainfall in the early season the 

 surface soil is soon dried and the roots of the young plants have not 

 had time to penetrate deeply enough to take advantage of the 

 reservoir of moisture lying underneath, whereas, if the plowing is 

 shallow the roots soon reach through into the solid bed below, 

 which contains the moisture, and the plant is enabled to resist more 

 effectuallv anv drouth which mav follow. 



