Progressive Agriculture 117 



dry. Make frequent borings in your thick or thin 

 stands of wheat and other grains and observe how 

 much longer you have apparent available moisture 

 with the thinner stand of wheat than in the 

 thicker stand on the same type of soil. This, 

 however, does not refer to wheat so thin that weeds 

 are growing where the wheat should be. You 

 must be sure that the thickness of the wheat is 

 the only veriable factor, before drawing con- 

 clusions. Remember also that a very thin stand 

 does not protect the moisture by shading as does 

 the stand that just covers the ground. 



Bore in your summer tilled fields and in your 

 adjoining fields and observe the difference in the 

 per cent and depth of moisture you are carrying 

 in your summer tilled fields as compared to other 

 fields that are carelessly handled or are growing 

 crops. Observe carefully the amount of moisture 

 in the very top of the firm soil under the mulch 

 when the surface has been frequently stirred or 

 cultivated as compared to land that has remained 

 a considerable length of time without cultivation. 

 Observe the advantage of the coarser mulch in 

 holding the moisture as against the finer dust- 

 like mulch. This you will find very marked as 

 you reach the more heated part of the season, and 

 especially if a crop is growing. Notice the 

 difference in the amount of moisture in the thick 

 and thin stands of corn under the same conditions. 

 The difference will be more noticeable after the 

 corn reaches the tasseling stage. Above all do a 

 little careful thinking as you observe these condi- 

 tions, for as you become more interested you will 



