Nebraska advertiser. [volume] (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882, 1858-04-15
Farm and Garden.
Prairie Breaking,

Having my attention called to "speak-
ing out'' on the subject of breaking prai-
rie, by noticing an article in your paper
of April lst, under that head, and having
met with good success in that branch Of
western farming, / propose giving a few
hints on the subject, in hopes that we may
mot have to witness 50 many partial fail
ures in the business as were visible last
season. Should 1 be successful in giving
to some single individual an idea in re-
gard to this matter, which will enable
him to break a few more acres, or do
what he does, less laboriously, / will be
amply repaid for the effort.
First then, procure good plow. Do
not buy one because it is cheap; you will
soon lose the cost of several good ones by
using a poor one. A good one need not
cost over $25. One that will cut sixteen
inches is a good size. The reasons for
using a small plow are: : the sward will
decompose as quick is in better condition
for after culture; the furrow slice will be
easier inverted; and you require less
teams to do a given amount of work.
The main difficulty in arranging the
plow, arises from the manner in which it
is necessary to apply the power. Could
we attach the draught directly from the
centre of resistance, we would find no
difficulty in getting the plow to follow as
required. To do good work with the
least amount Of power, it is necessary for
the plow to be so arranged that it will
pass in straight line forward, with no
tendency to deviale therefrom; presery-
ing a uniform depth and width Of furrow
slice. To accomplish this, it is we'll to
lengthen that portion of the plow which
presses on the ground. This is best done
by afixing pair Of wheels and axle to
the forward end Of the beam, having the
semi'diameter Of the wheel which is to
run in the furrow, the depth of the furrow
/ greather than that of the otker wheel
and the landslide of the ;furrow to act a:
fange along which the large wheel
should pass. AS it is impossible to move
the beam of the plow up or down by act
ing on the handles, it is requisite to have
a lever attached TO the forward end o.
the beam; for that purpose this lever
should be so arranged as to give grea
purchase, 50 thai it might be adjusted
with ease, rapidity and accuracy. To an
, sure straight burrows, and consequently
good work, it is best to have each team o
r cattle, or span of horses, attached directl!
to the clevis of the plow, and not to thu
team behind them, This prevents you
plow from being thrown aside by the wa
vering of the wheel team.
; For clean prairie, the rolling cutie
does the work better, easier and cheape
than any other. Better, because it leave
the point of the share clear. Easier, be
cause it makes a sliding cut; and cheaper
because it requires little or no repairing
and never requires to be taken from til
: plow. The one l worked with the pas
9 season has been on the plow while break
: ing 100 acres, and never been sharpened
; The rolling cutter will not clog or chok
;, like the common Golfer or cutter.
. AS regards the comparative merits 0
II horses and cattle for breaking, my expe
rience has taught me that cattle are pre-
ferablein as new a country as this, fo
several reasons, which are: They requir
4 less capital invested-there are fewe
risks-they are much easier cared fo
than horses, and give constant but health
: full exercise to your lungs while driving
which in this pure atmosphere is proc
against consumption.
To insurethe rotting of the grass roots
it is only necessary to prevent thei
. growth during the growing season, invert
} ing them after the season of rest ha
arrived, will not accomplish this Objec
Let no one suppose that to become
proficient plowman is but the work of
:, few days. 1t requires long and persevel
ing effort, and no small amount of ingt
nuity to become master of this simpl
: looking instrument, which although it
ii one of the oldest of the farmers tools
3 still improving.
= H. o. MINIcK.
Hermitage, April 6th, 1853.
New GRArT1NG WAx.-Take tW
ounces Of common rosin, neltit slow owe