Capillary Water 



Capillary water is the moisture that sustains the ])lant. The water is 

 first stored in the deeper subsoils and by nature's process, called capil- 

 lary attraction, it moves upward, passing from soil particle to soil par- 

 ticle, until it reaches the surface, where it is taken up by plant roots to 

 sustain the plant, or it is lost by evaporation. This process is perfect if 

 the seed-bed is so made that the particles of soil are in close proximity 

 and at the same time minute air spaces exist. If, however, the air 

 spaces are so large that the particles of soil are not in close contact, 

 the movement of water stops. 



Two things will stop the movement of capillary water, and it is up to 

 the farmer to so till his soil that such conditions do not exist. They are : 



1. Surface trash, such as weeds, stubble, corn-stalks or coarse 

 manure turned under. 



2. Lumps in the body or on the bottom of the seed-bed. 



Trash turned under is responsible for more crop failures or short 

 crops, especially dry years, than all other causes together. The trash 

 turned under prevents a compact soil contact between the furrow slice 

 and the bottom of the furrow. The result is, large air spaces, and when 

 the capillary water reaches the break, it stops, and the seed-bed dries 

 out. 



Lumps in the seed-bed produce practically the same condition. There 

 is but one good sure remedy, and that is, disc all the trash well into the 

 ground before it is plowed, and disc the ground thoroughly after it is 

 plowed and in semi-arid regions, make the seed-bed more compact by 

 using a sub-surface packer. 



Mr. Farmer! The disc harrow is always a safe insurance policy 

 against loss, and whether you farm in a humid section or in the semi- 

 arid regions, you cannot afford to ignore discing before and after plow- 

 ing. By doing so you make available soil water regardless of drouths, 

 and you increase the feeding area of plant roots by pulverizing the 

 lumps. 



Hygroscopic Water 



Hygroscopic water, or vapor water, is the moisture that exists in the 

 air. When air enters the soil, the moisture adheres to the soil particles. 

 This moisture is of little value in dissolving plant food elements, but 

 does in a measure stimulate plants in dry regions. 



Preventing Loss 



Moisture is conserved or prevented from escaping through surface 

 cracks and insect holes by maintaining a soil mulch blanket on the sur- 

 face. This can be done in corn by running a mulch harrow between the 

 rows or by using a surface cultivator. The mulch should be formed as 



