SOIL WATER : HOW IT IS LOST 



171 



were in the soil, a destroyed, withered crop might have 

 been saved. 



These facts point to a general conclusion : fall plow- 

 ing, because it offers an uneven, broken, open surface to 

 the rain, enables water to enter the soil, and increases, in 

 a marked degree, its water content. 



DISKING THE GROUND BEFORE PLOWING 



A good practise, but not generally followed. It helps to make a fine seed- 

 bed, saves moisture, makes plowing easier and increases the crop 



This same conclusion applies to early spring plowing 

 and to disking, and for the same reason. 



Lands that often suffer for water later in the season, 

 may be helped much by running the disk before plowing 

 time (as a part of land preparation for the seed). Old 

 corn lands, pea stubble, and worn-out pastures and mead- 

 ows, especially, are helped by this practice. When these 

 are plowed a few weeks later, the soil will pulverize more 

 readily, and it will be fitted for seeding with less effort 



