Nj 6. JDfiPARTMENT OF AGtllCtJL'ruRE. Hi 



the other hand, when the drying wind is carrying away the moisture 

 at the surface of the field, the water below is rising to equalize con- 

 ditions. As more moisture is carried away by the air, more rises to 

 replace it, and there is constant loss of water — constant draft upon 

 the gi-eat reservoir created by the rains of past months. 



The Mulch. — It has never been easy for me to accept the state- 

 ments of scientists concerning the problems arising in farming unlees 

 the everyday facts in the field appear to sustain them. Some young 

 readers may share in this disposition to want evidence, and the con- 

 trol of soil moisture is so important that a fev/ experiments are sug- 

 gested. 



In a dry spring, place a straw mulch about some berry plants, and 

 leave the ground bare about others. Mulch one-half of a pansy-bed', 

 and leave the other half bare. In a dry July, mulch a few rows of po- 

 tatoes with litter, and leave a few rows untouched. Note the differ- 

 ence in results, bearing in mind that no more water has fallen on the 

 mulched plats than on those left untouched. The dillerence in the 

 moisture content, so appai-ent upon examination, is due to the arrest 

 of evaporation of soil moisture in the mulched land, and to its es- 

 cape from a soil that has no mulch and is left bare and compact. 



Soil for Mulching. — It is impracticable to use any foreign ma 

 terial for mulching our potato fields, but we have learned that a 

 mulch of soil may be made to serve the purpose of retaining the 

 water in the ground. Knowing that the water tends to rise during 

 drouth to replace that which has escaped into the air, our aim is to 

 interpose something between the rising moisture and the hot air 

 that would carry it away. The water rises in a compact material, 

 but is checked by one more porous. Straw makes a good check, 

 but exjjerience has taught that two inches of loose soil on top of the 

 compact portion also is a highly effective check. Its pores have 

 been broken up by stirring so that water does not pass up through 

 it readily, and it lies as a blanket, guarding the water from the wind 

 and sun. 



Another test may be suggested at this point with profit. After 

 a drouth of several weeks duration, take a post-hole digger into 

 a field that has had careful surface cultivation, and tlhus has had 

 its moisture retained by the soil mulch, and dig a hole three feet 

 deep, noting the degree of moisture found. Then go to an adjoining 

 plat that has lain uncultivated for any reason, — pasture land, a fence- 

 row, or preferably, a piece of bare land — and dig down three feet, if 

 the dtryness of that land will permit. Again note the degree of 

 moisture found. If the land has been bare, there has been no draft 

 upon it b}" plants which transpire great quantities of water through 

 the leaves, as in the potato field, and yet it will be found much dryer 

 than the field that has been properly tilled and has furnished large 

 quantities of water to growing plants. The top soil can be made into 



