THE FIRST BOOK OF FARMING 



which are continually pumping water up by their 

 roots and transpiring it from their leaves into the 

 air. 



HOW SOME FARM OPERATIONS INFLUENCE SOIL 

 WATER 



Plowing and soil water. One of the first effects 

 of deeply and thoroughly plowing a close, compact 

 soil, is that rain will sink into it readily and not be 

 lost by surface wash. In many parts of the coun- 

 try, especially the South, great damage is done by 

 the surface washing and gulleying of sloping fields. 



The shallow layer of soil stirred up by small plows 

 and practice of shallow plowing so prevalent in the 

 South takes in the rain readily, but as the harder 

 soil beneath does not easily absorb the water the 

 shallow layer of plowed soil soon fills, then becomes 

 mud, and the whole mass goes down the slope. 

 Where the land is plowed deep there is prepared a 

 deep reservoir of loose soil that is able to hold a 

 large amount of water till the harder lower soil can 

 gradually absorb it. 



The soil stirred and thoroughly broken by the 

 plow serves not only as a reservoir for the rainfall, 

 but also acts as a mulch over the more compact soil 

 below it, thus checking the rapid use of capillary 

 water to the surface and its consequent loss by 

 evaporation. The plow which breaks and pulver- 

 izes the soil most thoroughly is the one best adapted 

 to fit the soil for receiving and holding moisture. 



