SAVE SOIL MOISTURE
Reservoir Must Be Prepared to
Receive the Rain.
Water Carried Into Subsoil Must Be
' > Brought Back to Surface Where
Seed Is Germinating and
Young Roots Growing.
So far as cultivation is concerned
there are three principal steps in the
conservation of soil moisture :
1. The soil must be loosened to a
considerable depth in order to prepare
a reservoir to receive the rain and
carry the water downward into the
soil. This may be accomplished by
deep plowing , by listing , or by disking
unplowed lands.
2. The water which Is carried down
into the subsoil must be brought back
again into the surface soil where the
seed is germinating and the young
roots are growing- and to accomplish
this a good connection must be made
between the furrow-slice and the sub
soil , and this is the purpose in the use
of the subsurface * packer immediately
after plowing.
3. Finally , in order that the water
which is drawn up again towards the
surface may not reach the air and be
wasted by evaporation , the upper two
or three inches of the soil must be
kept mellow in the form of a soil
mulch , and this is accomplished in the
growing of crops , by frequent culti
vation , which Is not so practicable
with wheat and other small grains as
with corn and other intertilled crops.
The most important step in soil
moisture conservation is to get the
water into the soil. When this has
teen accomplished , the keeping it
there and returning it gradually to the
growing crop is a relatively simple
matter. Many farmers have yet failed
to learn this most important fact of
dry farming , that the storing of the
moisture In the soil is the first and
great principle of soil moisture censer
vation. The firming and pulverizing
of the soil to prepare the seed bed ,
and the surface cultivation of the soil
to maintain the mulch , are each with
out avail unless there has been stored
In the deeper soil a sufficient amount
of moisture to support the growing
crop in time of drought.
Now the moisture should be stored
at all times during the season , but
especially during the interval between
harvest and planting. This requires
early plowing so that the soil may be
In condition to catch the rain and absorb
serb it.
In order that there may be room to
receive and store a heavy rain , deep
plowing is desirable. If plowing can
not be done early , the cultivation of
the unplowed land with a disk harrow
will keep the soil in good plowing con
dition longer and favors the absorp
tion of rain.
A good rule , but it cannot always be
followed , is to plow when the soil is in
such condition that it will drop from
the moldboard in a mellow , friable
condition.
Deep plowing should be done with
purpose and intelligence.
Loosening the soil by deep plowing
favors the absorption of moisture , but
If rains do not come In time such land
will suffer from drought more quickly
than though it had been plowed shal
low.
low.The
The loose soil dries out and capil
larity is broken , preventing the fur-
row-sMce from receiving moisture from
the subsoil rapidly enough to sustain
the growing crop. The depth and fre
quency of plowing should vary accordIng -
Ing to the nature of the soil. A lighter
or sandy soil requires less depth of
plowing and less frequent plowing
than a heavy , or compact , 9layey or
"gumbo" soil.
As a general proposition , plowing
should be shallow when it precedes
planting only a short time.
Plow deep in the fall , and plow deep
for summer fallow.
A long interval between plowing and
seeding allows the soil to settle suffi
ciently , while freezing and thawing
mellows the raw , hard subsoil which
has been brought to the surface.
The relative depths of plowing may
be stated as follows :
Shallow plowing 3 to 4 Inches
Medium plowing 5 to 6 Inches
Deep plowing 7 to 8 Inches
Plowing deeper than eight Inches
with the common plow is not usually
practicable , but the soil may be stirred
twelve to eighteen inches deep with a
deep tillage plow or subsoil plow , and
in heavy soil with hard compact sub
soil such deep stirring may occasional
ly be desirable.
When land is allowed to He for a
considerable period after plowing be
fore the crop Is planted , the settling of
the soil , together with the surface cul
tivation to preserve the mulch and the
cementing due to rain , usually causes
the soil to repack and firm up to a
sufficient extent to make a good seed
bed.
One Feeder's Method.
A very successful feeder last year
bought his sheep early in September ,
turned them into clover , rape and
grain fields for a week. Then he
gradually worked them into a stand
ing field of corn. Between this and
the meadows the sheep got into a
fine condition of flesh by the middle
of November.
The sheep before this time were
gradually accustomed to clover hay
and finished on corn and barley. The
bulk of tlie feed was gathered by
the sheep themselves , thus reducing
the cost of harvesting. The more ex-
nensive feed used In finishing was re
quired for only a short time.
TILLAGE DRY FARM SECRET
Must Be Good as to Time as Weil as
*
to Amount and Quality Keeps
Moisture in Soil.
Dry farming was the term originally
used to describe the methods of farm
ers in generally irrigated country who
cultivated land above the level of the
Irrigating ditch , or in nonirrigated
sections where the annual rainfall
was less than twenty Inches.
It has been shown by actual experi
ment that twelve inches of effective
rainfall during the growing season of
wheat planted in soil in good condi
tion as to moisture should produce a
yield of forty bushels to the acre , and
that , on the same basis , a twenty-five
bushel yield might be expected from
a jjainfall of 7.5 inches. In most of
the arid and semi-arid sections of the
country the annual rainfall is in ex
cess of ten inches. . The work of the
dry farmer is to cultivate so as to re
tain this moisture In the soil for the
use of his crops.
"Don't call it 'dry farming' ; speak
of It as 'good farming , ' " said Prof. H.
W. Campbell , In an address before a
dry farming congress at Minot , S. D.
The professor , who is sometimes
styled the "father of the dry farming
method , " went on to say that he was
no longer much concerned about com
bating lack of moisture , but was tryIng -
Ing to spread the gospel of good till
age and of bending every effort to
ward increasing the yield.
Dry farming , in the technical sense
In which it has been used of late
years , is Imposlble without good till
age. Good tillage and that means
good as to time as well as amount and
quality is the whole secret of dry
farming. The system has , however ,
produced crops in Utah and portions
of Colorado and Wyoming where so
little rain falls that the drops of a
season can almost be counted.
Dry farming saves the drops. It pre
serves them from the thirst of a blaz
ing sun by cultivating a "dust blanket"
over the soil which they have moist
ened to the extent of their capacity.
The directions are : Plow about the
middle of June. Plow six or seven
inches deep ; some say twelve to four
teen , but this is determined by the
character of the soil. This allows what
rainfall there may be to penetrate to
the subsoil. Subsequent and frequent
cultivation causes the formation of a
"dust blanket , " which prevents surface
evaporation. Crops derive their nour
ishment from the moisture in the sub
soil. The latter serves the dry farmer
the same purposes that the reservoir
serves the irrigation farmer.
As an example of crops grown under
dry farming methods , there are rec
ords for 1909 of 132 bushels of 48
pound oats grown on land cultivated
and stored with such moisture as was
available , and in the succeeeding year ,
when there was no rainfall after July
27 , the yield on the same land was 57 *
bushels of oats per acre , weighting 38
pounds per bushel.
Feed for Fattening Sheep.
Clear corn is far from being the
best feed for fattening sheep , espe
cially fattening lambs. A little wheat
in some form , even if damaged bad
ly , will help greatly.
A little bran or shorts , or oats , will
to an extent take the place of wheat ,
and good wheat screenings are still
better. Sheep should be gotten onto
a corn diet very slowly , and if lambs ,
should never be fed corn exclusively.
Concrete Feeding Floor.
A concrete feeding floor for the
hogs is one of the most profitable in
vestments on the farm. It Is com
paratively cheap , easy to make and
saves much feed for the hogs , be
sides making them more comfortable ,
which also means money in the own
er's pocket.
GENERAL FARM INFORMATION.
Winter plowing seems to be gain
ing in faver.
Run the hand separator according to
the Instruction book.
Now that the general field work
is over , keep the manure spreader in
daily use.
Toads rank next to birds in value
as destroyers of harmful insects about
the garden.
The long halter strap in the stall
has been the cause of permanent in
jury to many animals.
Barnyard manure , cottonseed meal
and acid phosphates are excellent fer
tilizers for Irish potatoes.
Seed corn should always be stored
In the ear. It should never be put in
to boxes , barrels or sacks.
It is just as necessary to strengthen
the thin spots In the soil as to repair
the weak places in the fence.
This is a good time to cover the
bare spots in the pastures with man
ure , to be seeded early next spring.
Since alfalfa Is a permanent crop
the ground should be prepared with
more care than ordinarily , making it
level , free from stones or other in-
cumbrances.
Clover Is rich in nitrogen , and in
homogeneous soils it develops tuber
cles , which attract nitrogen from the
air , where it is stored in inexhaust
ible quantities.
In large pastures "the animals roam
from one especially attractive patch
of grass to another , traveling all
over the field , and trampling down
more than they can eat.
Manure should be spread upon , the
field as soon as possible in order to
avoid loss by fermentation and leak
ing. Nothing but water is lost after
the manure is put on the land.
In addition to increasing the num
ber of. domestic animals on farms ,
farmers must pay more attention to
leguminous crops , and to other crops
which provide a supply of humus for
the soil
CABINET
of the loaf la the snowy
_ flour ,
.And back of the flour Is the mill ;
Back of the mill the wheat and the
shower
And the sun and the Father's will.
Babcock.
RAINY DAY DUTIES.
"When God sorts out the weather
and sends rain , why , rain's my
choice. " A rainy day is often as bene
ficial to the household as it is to the
soil , as such a day Is one usually free
from outside interruptions , and much
may be accomplished without inter
ference. There are always things that
have been put off for more time ; arrangement -
rangement of closets and boxes and
drawers , the looking for the piece of
trimming or article in some maga
zine ; all of these things take time ,
and many cannot be begun and left
unfinished.
Rainy days are good days to plan
for future work , to finish up that lit
tle piece of sewing that has waited
so long ; in fact each household will
find just the needed time to accom
plish so much that has been waiting
for a more convenient season.
A scrap book that money couldn't
purchase may be made in odd mo
ments and the time never be missed.
Cut out from catalogues and period
icals pictures of authors and other in
teresting people with an autograph
when possible and any interesting
clippings about them pasted on the
same or opposite pages. This scrap
book can be handed down with up-to-
date additions to several generations
of children and prove both instructive
and entertaining. Very young chil
dren may have their minds stored
with valuable knowledge without the
effort of study by simply having these
pictures to look at and the people
there pictured told about in story
form.
form.When
When going out on a rainy day ,
protect the feet , as damp feet cause
many kinds of trouble.
A very nice arrangement to wear
under a long coat on a rainy day is a
strip of half-inch black elastic with
an eye on one end and a hook on the
other. Slip around the body , having
it drawn tight , and pull up the skirts
all around. The elastic will hold
them up out of the wet.
Rubbers that are worse than use
less when the heels leak , can be made
useful by cutting out the heel like a
sandal rubber. They can then be
worn as sandals.
HEN a main ain't got no ideas
of his own , he'd ought to be
kind of careful who he borrows from.
Owen Wister.
FANCY CAKES FOR FESTIVITIES.
Small cakes that will keep indefi
nitely are a reserve that all wise
housewives desire to have on hand.
The following has good keeping quali
ties : i
Rocks. Cream a cup of butter , add
a cup and a half of sugar , three eggs ,
a teaspoonful of cinnamon , half a tea
spoon of allspice , a teaspoonful of
soda dissolved in two tablespoonfuls
of water , a pound each of walnuts
and dates cut fine and two and a half
cups of flour. Drop from a spoon on
a buttered sheet.
Oatmeal Cookies. Brown the oat
meal until a light color and put
through the meat chopper. Take a !
cup .of shortening , two cups of oatmeal - j
meal , two cups of flour , a cup of
sugar , a teaspoon of cinnamon and >
J
one of soda , two eggs and seven tablespoonfuls - j
spoonfuls of sour milk. A few nuts I
and raisins may be put through the
meat grinder with the oatmeal and
added , if desired. | '
Rice Cookies. Cream a half a cup
of butter , add a third of a cup of
sugar gradually , one egg well beaten , 1
three-fourths of a cup of flour , a half
teaspoon of vanilla. Beat well and
drop from a spoon on a buttered
sheet. Spread thinly with a knife
dipped in cold water. Put four large
raisins on each cooky. Blanched almonds
mends or strips of citron cut in small
pieces may be used.
Nut Cookies. Beat the yolks of two
eggs until thick , add a cup of brown
sugar gradually , a cup of nut meats ,
then the whites of the eggs , and sfce
tablespoonfuls of flour mixed with a
few grains of salt. Drop from the tip
of a spoon on a buttered sheet.
Spread and bake in a moderate oven.
Cocoanut Cream Cookies ? Beat two
eggs until light , add a cup of sugar
gradually , a half cup of shredded cocoanut -
coanut , a cup of cream and three cups
of flour sifted with a teaspoonful of
salt and three teaspoonfuls of baking
powder. Chill and roll out one-half
Inch thick. Shape with a small round
cutter and bake In a moderate oven.
A Nobfe Sacrifice.
"I understand that her father died.
n the insane asylum. "
"Yes , he did. "
"That's too bad , too bad. "
"Oh , I dou/'t know. He accumulat
ed a million dollars before he went
to. "
TO NATION'S WEALTH
Fertile Acres of Uncle Sam's Domain
Thrown Open to the Plow of
the Farmer.
The domains of Uncle Sam , within
his gift , are growing smaller each
year and it is only occasionally that
we read of a new land opening where
men with a birthright under the stars
and stripes can procure a farm home
for the mere cost of his filing fees ,
and the brain and brawn he will put
into the development of the land. Sec
retary Fisher , the steward of Uncle
Sam's estates , has recently thrown
open to settlement a large area of
land In northwestern Montana , which
has been withdrawn from settlement
and entry by the reclamation service
with a view to irrigation. Uncle Sam
withdrew this 250,000 acre empire
'
from settlement a few years ago with
the view of placing it under irrigation
(
( from the large Blackfeet project
which is now being constructed. Set
tlers came to the land lying east , west
| and south of this reserved land In
j j 1907 , 1908 and 1909 , and have had such
success in growing all forms of agri
cultural products , that Uncle Sam has
been compelled to throw the land
open to settlement and entry under
the 320 and 160-acre homestead laws.
This became effective November 20 ,
1911. Prof. Thomas Shaw , one of the
foremost agricultural authorities in
the United States , is enthusiastic over
the possibilities of the new area
opened for settlement.
HARD LUCK.
The Fortune Teller You are de
stined to marry great wealth.
I. M. P. Cunious Fine.
The Fortune Teller Unfortunately ,
death will claim you two days after
the event.
CUTICURA OINTMENT HEALED
BAD SORE ON LIMB
"Some time ago I was coming up
some steps when the board crushed
under me like an egg shell , and my
' right limb went through to the knee ,
and scraped he flesh off the bone
just inside and below the knee. I
neglected it for a day or two , then it
began to hurt me pretty badly. I put
balsam fir on to draw out the poison ,
but when I had used it a week , it hurt
so badly that I changed to oint
ment. That made it smart and burn
so badly that I couldn't use it any
more , and that was the fourth week
after I was hurt.
*
"Then I began to use Cuticura Oint
ment for the sore. It stopped hurting
immediately and began healing right
away. It was a bad-looking sore be
fore Cuticura Ointment healed it , and
I suffered so I couldn't sleep from two
days after I fell until I began using
Cuticura Ointment.
"Cuticura Soap is the best soap I
ever saw. I have used all kinds of
soap for washing my face , and always
it would leave my face smarting. I
had to keep a lotion to stop the smart ,
no matter how expensive a soap I
used. I find at last in Cuticura Soap
a soap that will clean my face and
leave no smarting , and I do not have
to use any lotion or anything else to
ease it. I believe Cuticura Soap is the
best soap made. " ( Signed ) Mrs. M.
E. Fairchild , 805 Lafayette St. , Wich
ita , Kan. , May 8 , 1911. Although
Cuticura Soap and Ointment are sold
by druggists and dealers everywhere/
a sample of each , with 32-page book ,
will be mailed free on application to
"Cuticura , " Dept. 22 K , Boston.
The Weak Ones.
Police Chief Sebastian of Los An
geles was talking about a married
man who had fallen before the charms
of the beautiful "flirt catcher. "
"George was always weak , " said
Chief Sebastian. "Once , when he was
a boy at school , his mother was
apologizing for him to his school
teacher.
" 'George is so easily led , ' the
mother said.
" 'Yes , ' the teacher agreed 'except
tn the right direction. ' "
In Hard Luck.
Hewitt You are always broke.
Jewitt I know it ; I couldn't raise
the wind with an electric fan.
Constipation causes many serious dis
eases. It is thoroughly cured by Doctor
Pierce's Pleasant Pellets. One a laxative ,
three for cathartic.
Somehow or other the fellow who
knows it all is never the one who
wins the bets.
There is no leftover stock on the
political pifr counter.
One of the Boones.
From San Antonio , Tex. , comes
Harry Boone , itinerant scribe. Harry
drifted into town a couple of days ago.
Introduced as "Mr. Boone , " he said :
"Yes , call me Daniel Boone. It isn't
my name , but I'm always called it , so
I'm getting used to it. Which re
minds me ; I was Introduced to a fel
low once and gave him the Daniel
part of it so he would remember the
name. The next time I met him he
said : 'How are you today , Mr. Crock
ett ! " San Francisco Chronicle.
The Optimist.
Ex-Senator Mason of Illinois gave a
new definition of an optimist in a re
cent speech before the Boston City
club. "A true optimist , " said the ge
nial senator , "is a man who is able to
make lemonade at night out of all the
lemons handed him during the day. "
A Flat.
"Did the singer succeed in getting
what suited her in an apartment ? "
"Oh. yes. She told me she had a
suite thing in A flat.
BEAUTIFUL POST CARDS FREE
Send 2c stamp for flve samples of 1117 very choic
est Gold Kmbosscd Birthday , Flower and Motto
Post Cards : beautiful colors and lorellest designs.
Art Post Card Clue , 7-H Jackson St. , Topeka , Kansas
Many a man doesn't realize that he
might have made good as a fiction
writer until he hears some of his love
*
letters read in court.
Cleanses the System
effectually ; Dispels
colds and Headaches ;
due to constipation.
Best for men , women
and children : younq
and old.
Toqetits Beneficial
effects , always note the
name of the Company
( All/CRN LA flG
plainly printed on the
front of every package
of the Genuine
CURED in a few days
without a surgical oper
ation. No until cured. Write to
Dr.Z.E.Matheny,60lF.L.&Tr.BIde..SouxCity.Ia. pay !
W. N. U. , SIOUX CITY , NO. 49-1911.
$
1 For Infants and Children.
& f > The Kind You Have
te
f iiuiiimmiTn Always Bought
ALCOHOL-3 PER CENT
! l AVegeteble Preparation for As
$ i similating iheFoodandRegula- Bears the
ting the S tomachs and Bowels of
s *
4GH1LD RE N
Promotes Digestion.Cheerful-
ness and Rest.Contains neither
Opium.Morphine nor Mineral
NOT "N AR c OTIC
cfOldDrSAMUELtfTCffER
Pumpkin Seed -
jtlx Senna *
RothtUe Sails
Anise Sttd
WormSeid -
ClaraTitd Suyar-
Winteryrten Flavor.
A perfect Remedy forConslipa-
lion , Sour 5tomachDiarrhoea ,
Worms .Convulsions .Feverish-
ness and LOSS OF SLEEP
Facsimile Signature of
Thirty Yeara
THE CENTAUR COMPANY ,
'
NEW YOR'K.
i PjGuaranteedunder _ the Foodand ,
Exact Copy of Wrapper.
THE CENTAUR COMPANY. NCWTONKCITT.
* * * * ?
PERFECTION
In every cold weather emergency you need a Perfection
Smokeless Oil Heater. Is your bedroom cold when you dresser
or undress ? Do your water pipes freeze in the cellar ? Is it
chilly when the wind whistles around the exposed comers of
your house ?
A Perfection Smokeless Oil Heater brings complete com
fort. Can be carried anywhere. Always ready for use
glowing heat from the minute it is lighted.
Ask your dealer to ihow you a Perfection Smoteless Ofl Heater ; or
write for descriptive circular to any agency of
Standard Oil Company
( Incorporated )
W. L. DOUGLAS
* 2,50 * 3.00 * 3.50 & *
, , . , . 4.00 SHOES
All Styles , All Leathers , All Sizes and
Widths , for Men and Women
THE STANDARD OF QUALITY
FOR OVER 30YEARS
The workmanship which has madeW. L.
Douglas shoes famous the world over is
maintained in every pair.
If 1 could take you into my large factories
at Brockton , Mass. , and show you how
carefullyW.LDouglas shoes are made , you
would then realize why I warrant them
to hold their shape , fit and look better and
wear longer than other makes for the price.
PflllTlflN The genuine have W. 1. Douglas
V""u"nam and
price itamped on bottom
Shoes Seat Everywhere All Charges Prepaid.
- Xlovrto Orderl > v Mail. If W.L.Dong-
f las ehoe are not sold in yonr town.send direct to
( m l factoI7 * Take measurements of Toot as shown
Uivuj ln mxiei ; gtate style desired ; size and-width
usually worn ; plain or cap toe ; neary , medium
or light sole. I do the largest shoe matt
order business in the world
Illustrated OatalocFree. ONE PAIR of my BOYS' 92,92.50 or
93.OO SHOES -will
W. I DOUGLAS , positively ontwear
TWO PAIRS of ordinary ' shoal
boys'
H5 Spark St. , Brockton , Xsss. Fast Color Eyelets Used Exclusively.
Lamps and
Lanterns
The strong , steady light.
Rayo lamps and lanterns give most light for the oil they burn.
Do not flicker. Will not blow or jar out.
Simple , reliable and durable and sold at a price that will surprise you.
Ask your dealer to showjrou bis line of Rayo lamps and lanterns/or write to any agency of
Standard Oil Company
( Incorporated )
PUTNAM FADELESS DYES
Colormoregoodsbrighterandfastercolorsthananyotherdye..pnel ( kpackagecolotsallfibers. Thevdyeincoldwaterbetterthananydtherdye Youcan
dye any garment without ripping apart. Write for free booklet How to Dye . , Bleach and Mix Colors. MONROE DRUG COMPANY , Quiacy , I1U.
