The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-03-31
From Emery's Journ
Prairia Rreakiup.

LET all new settlers read the following arti-
Gle. 1t is just the advice for thousands who
start the prairie pillow for the first time, this
season. Our correspondent has or thanks for
this article.
EDS. EMERY Journal OF AGRICULTURE:
In August, 1910, there being something of a
drouth the tall prairie grass became dry near
the ground. thought that in the dry time it
would De the best chance to XIII dead the prairie
grass on tract of land on which l wanted to
make garden, and the following year the
ground was so hard that l could not keep pillow
n at all less than four inches deep had to
put six yokes Of good oxen to the plow, one
man at the plow.handles and one at the beam
70 keep the plow in. and one to drive.
In the sIring of i84l, when attempted to
replow it found all that which looked like
earth before the pillow, when turned up, had the
with mud, and their long tresses drabbed in
it. Those hairy clods did not entirely disap-
pear for three years.
The year 1855, was with us, a very wet sea-
son. Wherever it did not rain, and the old
ground was too wet to plow, we run the Trairie
pillow. We broke some prairie nearly every
week from the first of May to the tenth Of
September. The ground being wet, the grass
had continued to grow, and was full Of sap all
of the time, until it was turned under. 1t all
rotted well, and all that was broken up that
season was in good condition for cultivation
in 1856. From all that have seen of prairie
breaking, conclude that it may be done to
advantage at any time after the grass is up
enough for cattle to live well upon il. until it
begins to die. The upper part Of the grass
will look green after the sap has ceased to cir.
culate near the ground-then it is too late to
plow.
Corn on PRAIRIE SoD.-If ! was compelled
to rely entirely upon new prairie for corn suita-
bic for grinding, the following would be my
plan;
Break three inches deep, as early AZ it can
be done to advantage,i. G., as soon as cattle
can live upon the grass. With an ak or spade
(asrade is the best after you get used to it,,
cut hole nearly through the sod that has been
turned over. If the burrows lap the cut should
be near the lower edge of the furrow, two and
a half and three feet apart in the row, and the
rows four to four and half feet apart. Drop
in the corn. step on the hill 80 as to close it up,
or nearly so. Soon after planting-say within
three lays-harrow it the same way it was
pl'wed. The subsequent cultivation is the
same as of drilled corn, on old ground, only
that the cultivation is necessarily very shall
low. Do not attempt to hill up the corn. but
keep the weeds down, and throw little earth
a crop of good sound corn as any process is to
produce it on old lands,
Having thus insured the necessary supply of
so,nd corn, would continue blowing two or
three inches deep, cut in the corn in the same
manner until the 18th Of June, unless the
ground become very dry. Do nothing with it
after planting till it is ready to cut up. 1t will
make good feed for stock, and if the season is
favorable it will yield much sound corn.
WHEAT ON PRAl RE SoD.-After enough corn
has been planted, pillow for wheat. If the weeds
| threaten to take the wheat ground after plow-
ing. and before seeding time run harrow over
it often enough TO keep them manageable.
should not replow for wheat, only harrow it -
Wheat does best here when put in with a drill.
l lay the furrows smooth tapping it. Then no
narrowing previous to diillng, the sod is not
disturbed have had but three years expert
ence in raising wheat on new prairie. l have
watched the corn on new prairie for nineteen
seasons.
PRAIRIE BREAKiNG PLows AND TEAMs.-A
prairie pillow is much more convenient when it
is SO constructed that the share can be taken of
conveniently. and sent to the shop to be shar.
pened, while with another share in its place, we
continue to pillow. have three extra shares
to my prairie pillow, which saves the trouble OF
sending to the shop often. A small boy takes
the three shares and extra coulter on q horse
very easily. while another boy continues to
plow. Three horses abreast is the best team to
break with unless man his more boys than he
has use for. In that case, two yoke of oxen
and a driver may be substituted for three hor-
ses, but they will not do as much work as the
horses. BIG,
TAMARoA, ILL.,, March, 1858.