CAMPBELL'S SOIL CULTURE MANUAL 147 



instructive, showing that by wetting the surface capillary 

 attraction was so increased as to show that moisture had 

 moved up from the fourth and fifth foot below. 



This emphasizes the fact that the tiller of the soil 

 should understand these conditions that he may know 

 just what to do to get the best possible yields. 

 CONCLUSIONS. 



In closing this chapter we venture to repeat that we 

 may emphasize some things taught. 



Winter wheat will not winter kill in firmed, moist 

 soil, while in loose soil it frequently thins out or kills 

 out entirely. 



A fine, firm root bed, with a loose surface or mulch, 

 is a condition that will withstand the extreme dry periods 

 longest without any injury to the plant. 



Study well the question of thoroughly pulverizing and 

 packing the lower portion of the plowing; a full under- 

 standing v)f its importance means many dollars, because 

 it means a larger crop result. 



Subsurface packing increases the moisture in the lower 

 portion of the plowed ground and induces decomposition 

 of the weeds, stubble, or manures that have been turned 

 under, thereby adding humus, the all important ingredient 

 for rapid plant growth, as well as enabling the plant to 

 withstand drouth. 



If you would get your soil to a condition of fineness 

 and firmness, do all your work to that end when the soil 

 is just slightly moist, for it then plows better, packs better, 

 and cultivates better. Do not go to work on plowed 

 ground that is dried to the bottom, whether plowed in 

 good condition or not, and expect in any way to get the 

 lower portion of the furrow in good condition. You may 

 improve it. The closer you keep to the plow the better 

 you can pack the under portion. 



