Campbell's 1902 Soil Culture Manual. 



47 



iie discovered the power. The simple facts referred to with reference to 

 the movement of moisture in the soil have already been proven to mean a 

 great deal. 



With the fact that the moisture can be stored in the ground and 

 there controlled and made available to the plant by the aid of capillary 

 attraction, with such results as have been indicated, what are the possibili- 

 ties of this great semi-arid belt? No one who has ever passed over this 

 country, or remained in it for any length of time, has ever discovered any 

 objections outside of this one fact, that crops and trees have not been suc- 

 cessfully grown. All agree that the climate is most magnificent, the soil 

 exceedingly fertile and very easy of tillage. The condition of the majority 

 of the soil in the eastern states, that is, its composition and formation is 

 such as to not be" susceptible to the remarkable effects of capillary move- 

 ments of moisture that are shown in the great semi-arid belt. It is 

 undoubtedly due to this fact that so little attention has been given to this 

 question until recent years. Capillary attraction is known to us and is 

 illustrated by sponges. A sponge is moistened, then compressed, until all 

 the possible water is pressed out, then drop the corner of the sponge into 

 the water, and water is seen to immediately climb up through the entire 

 sponge. The finer the sponge, the more quickly is it filled. This is an 

 illustration that we used some years ago, which is exceeding clear and 

 quite convincing. The lamp wick is another illustration, as the oil is con- 

 sumed from the end of the wick, more is at hand, and it gets there by no 

 other power than by capillary attraction. 



Study these three points carefully. Percolation, evaporation, and 

 •capillary attraction; they will be found more interesting the more the 

 reader and investigator understands them, and when fully understood, the 

 question of soil culture will be much better appreciated. You will then 

 comprehend why the plowing should be reasonably deep and the under 

 portion made fine and firm, while the top should be fine, but loose and dry. 



CORN. 



The question of raising corn is one upon which much may be said. 

 Back in the eastern states among the hills of New York and New England, 

 a large amount of time is given over to the preparation of the soil. Ex- 

 perience has taught them that without fertilization crops are light. Barn 

 yard manure is used freely, and two, three, or four dollars worth of fertiliz- 

 ing per acre is not uncommonly necessary in order to secure good crops. In 

 Illinois the soil is more fertile and rain usually ample, so that no fertilizers 



