38 



Campbell's 1902 Soil Cultuke Manual. 



ordinary plan. In this plan we have the advantage of only seeding half the 

 land and only harvesting half the land. The great value of work along 

 this line lies in grasping fully the idea of storing and conserving the rain- 

 waters. It is the all important element, and if water is stored in the soils 

 of our western prairies, nature has formed the conditions so perfect and so 

 complete to bring this moisture back by (iapillary attraction to feed the 

 plants during the dry periods that there can be no possible loss by drought. 

 In fact, when the conditions are understood and the necessary labors 

 properly applied, records of phenomenal yields will be numerous as far west 

 as eastern Colorado. 



The following from E. F. Stevens, of the Crete Nursery, shows the 

 value of summer culture, even in the more humid portions of the semi-arid 

 belt. He says: "Regarding the possibility of carrying moisture conserved 

 one year over into the next season for use for the next crop. We remem- 

 ber that one year we grew a crop of seedlings on elevated table lands on a 

 part of the divide between the Blue and Salt Creek, just southeast of 

 Crete. Seedlings for their best growth require very frequent cultivation. 

 They are cultivated weekly and oft times twice a week, to secure the larg- 

 est possible growth and the best grade obtainable in a few months. This 

 superior culture conserved moisture but we did not so understand it then. 

 As a rule a crop of seedlings does not take up all the annual rainfall, so 

 quite a portion of this conserved moisture was carried over until the next 

 season. The following year on this plat of ground previously devoted to 

 seedlings, as above stated, we secured 105 bushels and forty pounds of 

 corn jjer acre." 



This marvelous yield referred to by Mr. Stevens is the direct result 

 of the careful cultivation which resulted in storing a large surplus 

 of moisture, and it is fair and reasonable to conclude that equally as good, 

 if not better, results may be gained in any portion of Nebraska, Kansas, or 

 western Iowa, and Missouri, by following out the plan of summer culture 

 as we have explained under that heading. Another»remarkable instance 

 may be mentioned to substantiate these points is that of a piece of corn 

 on the Geneva Nursery ground at Geneva, Neb., in 1894, when the corn 

 crop of the whole country was swept by the excessive hot winds. This 

 piece of corn was grown on ground upon which seedlings had been raised 

 for three consecutive years on the same plan referred to by Mr. Stevens. 

 By the improved physical condition of the soil and the large amount of 

 moisture that was conserved and stored below, both the direct result of 

 the frequent cultivation of the seedlings. This piece of ground carried its 

 crop of corn over and made over 30 bushels to the acre, when all other corn 

 for miles around was entirely ruined. We could add to this many more simi- 

 lar statements, but this is sufficient to show that marvelous results may be 

 attained in crop yield on these very fertile prairies if the proper cultiva- 

 tion is applied. To secure these results the farmers' mind must be clear 



