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The Commoner,
JULY 9, 190
EDUCATIONAL SERIES
t
Great Crops By Scientific Soil Culture
By H. W. Campbell
If you will take a peep into the annual re
port of the department of agriculture you will
discover that in no other part of the country
has the average yield of wheat been so much
increased in recent years as in Nebraska. You
will not find any specific explanation of the
fact. But there's a reason.
Another thing that will impress the student,
if he goes very deeply into the subject, is that
the greatest increase in area in ordinary farm
crops, is in the states which are in or border
upon what is spoken of loosely as the semi
arid region of the country. That means that
agriculture is crowding back the desert. It
indicates that the area of soil given over to
ranges or to sheer waste is being lessened all
the time. It means that farms are being cul
tivated right now where for years it was regard
ed as impossible to grow anything save short
grass and small brush. There's a reason for
all this.
I feel sure I do not overstate the matter in
asserting that no one subject is attracting great
er attention through the world of agriculture
than that of how to enlarge the area of tillable
land and increase the productivity of the land
already used. This is the field of scientific soil
culture.
In a sense this Is very gratifying to. me. I
can not but feel that the position I have main
tained for a long time, most of the time almost
alone, has-been vindicated by the logic of events.
The attitude of the public toward scientific soil
culture has changed. We do not beg for a
hearing; we answer questions. It used to bo
that men were all the time asking, "Now
really is there anything In this theory of farm
ing so as to get good crops In the dry country?"
Now they ask, "How do you do it?"
So, you see, the situation is quite different.
Men do not now question that there is some
thing in it, a very real and substantial some
thing. Wat they want to know Is how to make
practical .application of principles which have
been shown by the best proof to get results.
We do not now engage in arguing that farm
ing can be done in regions where long it was
supposed no farming could be done, nor do wo
have to enter into a joint debate as to whether
or not the yield of crops can be enlarged by
scientific soil culture. Everybody now admits
it, or tit least everybody free from prejudice and
who knows.
What, then, Is this scientific soil culture which
is the basis of the wonderful development In
the dry regions of the world?
I might say it is very simple and after ex
plaining a few things pass it up; or I might
surround it with mystery and say it is so com
plicated that only experts and men of science
can understand it. I might justify either course,
but I prefer, if I can, to say something that
will aid the plain farmer and lead him into in
vestigations for himself that will enable him
to make the most out of his opportunities.
Scientific soil culture is simply a' question of
disking, plowing, harrowing, packing, and cul
tivating the soil In such a manner as to be able
to utilize the heat, air, water and light and
obtain the largest possible yield of the various
crops. But, you may say, this is about all there
is to farming in any old way.
For the dry country the essential thing is to
not waste, or permit the waste of the moisture.
My contention has long been that in most of
this country and in nearly all seasons we have
enough water if only we have not been waste
ful and extravagant. This applies to regions
that are regarded as very humid. One great
trouble has been that many farmers have had
all their training in regions where water is free
and abundant and they have never had the idea
that it may be necessary to conserve the mois
ture. This is one point which ought to greatly
interest every farmer.
While the conservation of the moisture is an
important factor it is by no means all. It is
only one of many vital things to be carefully
considered if we aTe to reach the high limit of
yield in all fields that now seems possible.
The physical or mechanical condition of the
Boil is the all important factor, as it has more
to do with the quantity and quality of the crop
yield than any other one thing. If the seed
and root bed is not properly prepared all the
after cultivation can not bring the highest yield.
No matter how much moisture you have con
served in the soil below or how completely you
may keep the weeds out you can not reach the
high Hmit of yield without close and careful
attention to tho preparation of the soil.
Air Is just as necessary an element In tho
soil as tho water, but both must bo there in '
proper quantities. If there is too much air
and too littlo moisture nitrification ceases. If
there is too much moisture and too little air tho
effect Is the same. From experience and ob
servation we have concluded that a certain chem
ical action must be practically continuous in
the soil during tho growing season If wo are
to grow the largest crops. This chemical action
is unquestionably dependent upon a certain ideal
or perfect condition of tho soil a physical con
dition that will Carry in the soil just the ideal
quantity of both air and water and then as
soon as the soil becomes sufficiently warm na
ture's work begins.
The soil mulch is for three purposes to
more readily admit tho rain when it comes, to
admit of a free circulation of the air Into tho
soil and to prevent tho loss of moisture by
evaporation.
Sometimes tho cultivation is not deep enough
or sufficiently frequent and a: crust forms at tho
top of the firm soil undeneath tho mulch. This
crust shuts out the air to a degree and it mat
ters little then how perfect may be the supply
of moisture at the roota, for the growth will
certainly be checked.
That nitrification is a necessity in the soil
during the crop growing season is unquestion
ably true. If the process of nitrification is go
ing on sufficiently to meet the requirements of
the crop this Is always evidenced by tho dark
green and healthy appearance pf the plant.
Just a word here In regard to the subject
of "summer culture" or "summer tillage" and
what it is and what is accomplished by It. In
the first place summer culture Is not summer
fallow. The latter contemplates permitting the
field to lie fallow format least a large part of
the season. Summer culture contemplates tho
working of the field and doing this for a spe
cific purpose. The primary purpose is to se
cure good tilth of the soil. The incidental pur
pose is to store the water In tho soil. Take as
an illustration a field which in the springtime
is in only fair condition for a crop season or
not in condition at all. There may not be
enough moisture or the land may be hard and
Impossible to work, or It may not be fit for
cropping for any one of a dozen reasons. The
first thing is to get the surface worked down
as best it may bo so there will not be a rough
surface of large clods. It should not be
worked down to a dust surface. Almost cer
tainly there will come some rains In the spring
time. If the field is left alone the water soon
disappears. A crust forms at the surface and
this favors evaporation and shuts out the air.
The crust must be broken up and this will stop
evaporation and permit the permeation of the
air in proper quantities. Perhaps the soil down
near the bottom of the furrow is loose and
open; if so, it is important that this portion be
packed. This, however, should be done at the
time of plowing. But a' little later another
rain falls and another crust Is formed, then
must the crust again be broken up with the
harrow. This is the process of summer culture.
Why all this attention to the soil when there
are no crops? You are getting ready for tho
future. You are storing water which falls this
year that you may use it next year or the year
after. You are putting the soil Into that cer
tain necessary physical condition for the con
trol and utility of air and water that you may
enlarge the amount of humus in that soil. You
aTe assisting nature in the chemical processes
which lead up to the ideal condition for tho
seed bed and the increase of available fertility
on plant food.
It is very hard for the farmer to believe that
he can store the moisture in this way for use
at some other time, but it is actually being done,
and there is no use arguing with facts. Neither
can the average farmer appreciate that certain
tillage this year may and if timely and properly
dono will Incrcaso tho crop next year, or that
air Is vital to tho growth of tho plant as water
but both must bo in tho soil in proper quanti
ties and properly combined.
Tho tendency of tho molsturo is to go down
ward, if there is onough of it so that the ordi
nary force of gravity enn operate. But It will
also soak down into the lower portions of tho
soil by capillary attraction. Thus tho soil will be
come moistened down severnl feet deep. Thcro la
abundant evidence to prove that by proper work
ing of tho surfaco the molsturo content may bo
afTocted down five or six feet in some soils.
This layer of soil fivo or six feet la literally
tho farmer's cistern. It may receive a frcHh
supply of molsturo In July or August or In tho
middle of winter, nnd it Is just as important
that tho fresh supply bo saved and stored ono
tlmo as another. Therefore In time of amplo
molsturo prepare for drouth.
As to saving this molsturo tho soil mulch la
tho best thing. If there is a heavy crop on tho
ground tho plants will shade tho Hurfaco and
retard evaporation, but of course the roots aro
sucking up the molsturo. If tho ground Is baro
and a crust is formed such aa will bo formed
whore tho rain has beaten down tho dust sur
face, then evaporation will bo very rapid. Tho
farmer should maintain a soil mulch of amall
partlclea of soil broken up, this layer to bo two
or three Inches deep. If It Is a layer of dust
it will either blow away or really aid In tho
waste of tho water. But a mulch of small
particles of soil will very largely prevent loss
of water by evaporation. At tho same tlmo
such a mulch will permit tho access of air to
the soil and thus aid In tho chemical processes.
I have given these illustrations of the appli
cation of tho system so that farmers who actu
ally hold tho plow may understand Just what
can bo dono. After all, this la only a small
part of tho whole system. It affects tho founda
tion principles, hence tho development of tho
system leads to a great many now Ideas and
It covers 4ho whole range of soil cultivation.
I may bo permitted a word of reminiscent
nature which will aid in an understanding of
tho principles. It was while I was engaged in
farming In South Dakota in 1882 and subse
quent years that I was literally forced by reason
of tho disastore of a drouth to take noto of
conditions in tho dry coun'' Ono thing which
attracted my attention wnp .t in a field whore
tho wheat 'crop was pn ally a failure by
reason of a prolonged dry spell, thcro was no
ticeable a larg3 number of small patches all
ovnr the field. Investigation proved that theao
were where the hoofs of the horses had sunk
deep Into tho soft ground and had bo packed
tho under portion of the ground that molsturo
was held there. Aa a result the grain grew
strong and fine on these small patches that
had been packed down by the horses. Right
there I became convinced that there was some
thing in tho idea of having tho soil packed
down whore there was danger of loss from
drouth. In 1885 I had made, in a small black
smith shop at Columbia', S. D., tho first ma
chine designed especially to pack tho under por
tion of the plowed ground. It was a success
Insofar as packing the soil was concerned but
it waa too hard to operate and was abandoned.
But the Idea of having the aoil packed never
left me and out of this Idea grew tho modern
soil packer, which Is now In use all over the
world.
Now, going back to the first two paragraphs
of this article, a reason can bo found for cer
tain things. In the first place, It Is In Nebraska
more than In any other state that there Is wide
dissemination of Information as to scientific
soil culture. I have myself lectured and ad
dressed hundreds of meetings all over the state
and for six or seven years It has been taught
and explained by the state Institute workers at
farmers' institutes In all parts of Nebraska, and
I know personally that on many farms there
has been for years fairly good application of
the principles. Out on the state experiment
farm at North Platte scientific soil culture la
being tried out in a' manner to challenge the
attention of the world. A yield of sixty-two
bushels of wheat to the acre In 1907 and of
sixty-seven bushels per acre last year Is a fact
not to be passed over lightly. The average yield
of wheat In Nebraska is being increased by rea
son of the use of scientific soil culture methods.
We predict the next five years will see another
Increase in the average yield.
Again, It Is certainly true that within the
past ten years tho area of land actually put
under cultivation in the semi-arid region has
been enormous. I have had something to do
with demonstration farms In a dozen states of
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