570 Bulletin 84 



moisture storage 



To determine the variation in the moisture content of the soil, 

 series of samples were analyzed in spring and fall each year the 

 farm was operated. Borings were located at various representa- 

 tive places on the farm and eight-ounce soil samples were taken to 

 a depth of eight feet where possible. The results are given in 

 Table XLI. Samples in 1910 and 1911 were taken from the Flake 

 field, and for the remainder of the period from the Smith and 

 Hancock fields. The intention was at all times to take samples in sum- 

 r.ier immediately prior to the summer rains, and in fall when the land 

 \\-as driest. 



A striking feature of the data in Table XLI is the low moisture 

 content of the first foot of soil in late spring and early summer. 

 Moisture dissipating forces are particularly active in spring and 

 special care should be exercised to conserve all the moisture pos- 

 sible. A finely pulverized mulch in fall is undesirable, since it 

 prevents ready percolation of water; while if the surface is rough, 

 deeper penetration is secured, and a greater percentage of water re- 

 mains in the ground. It has been observed that a surface crust 

 forms in June even under mulches four to six inches deep. This 

 crust is more pronounced in heavy soil but is evident in all types. 

 The need of conserving sufficient moisture from winter precipitation 

 to germinate and maintain seedings made prior to the formation of 

 the sub-surface crust is manifest. 



PRESCOTT DRY-FARM 



In the summer of 1911, after several examination trips had been 

 made over the promising agricultural districts of the vicinity, the 

 Prescott Dry-farm was established seven miles north of Prescott 

 and one and one-half miles north of P. & E. Junction, on the Santa 

 Fe, Prescott & Phoenix Railroad.* The farm includes three soil 

 types characteristic of the more important valleys of the region. It 

 contains both level and steep lands, and aft'ords opportunity for irri- 

 gation with diverted floodwater. 



Establishment of the Prescott Dry-farm was made possible by 

 cooperation of the Prescott Chamber of Commerce, through which 

 business men of Prescott subscribed $2000; the Santa Fe, Prescott 

 & Phoenix Railroad, which, through its general manager, Mr. W. 

 A. Drake, subscribed $2000; and a $500 appropriation subscribed 



♦For map of Prescott Dry-farm see Twenty-eiRhth Ann. Rept. Ariz. Agric. 

 Expt. Sta., p. 399. 



