Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-11-08
Agriealtntal.
Ploughing.
BY d. @. EDWARDS.

IIOuGnlIlS, ike naVl5aJlOu, mas It's Ll6-
ory, as we'll as its practical part and the
better both are understood, the more prof
table, and easier the plough-man can per-
form his work. The theory of ploughing
differs much in different soils, and in diffe +
ent seasons of the year, and for different
kinds Of crops for instance,i greensward,
we'll manured, is turned over for corn in the
spring, it should not be ploughed so deep
as the same ground ploughed at the same
time without manure, for summer-fa low, or
buckwheat ground, should be. Also spring
wheat ground ,ploughed in the spring, should
not be ploughed too deep, q speak Of our
red-shale soil); with few such exceptions,
deep ploughing suits me the best And
deep ploughiLg have practiced, both on
this and on the other side of the "briny
ocean.
Mr.. President, before leave what l think
is in connection with the theory of plough
ing, I,beg permission to condemn one habit
that have seen in this country, and which
is still more or less practiced, without any
earthly reason for so doing, and only the
same as the man going to mill with grain
in one end of the bag and stone in the
other because his father and grandfather
every other year. 1t never was practiced
in the school that have been to, excepting
summer-fallow or barley ground and in
both those cases it is ploughed in very
large lands,in order not to make it uneven !;
for when the lands are ploughed six or eight
PAGES wide, (Which is the ordinary width
OF lands i'll dry ground,) the whole field is
thus made uneven. Wherever the back
burrows cross, it raises the ground, and
wherever the dead-furrows cross, it forms a
wide low spot, from which spots the surface
water can never be drained off and after
heavy rain water remains on such spots,
until the infant sprout catches cold on its
mothers lap, and it never comes to maturi-
ty Besides loss Of several bushels of
grain per acre, it makes the ground unfit
for both mower and roller, when seeded
down for meadow.
If such practice is considered profitable
among the stumps on new land, then the
stump machine itself certainly ought to be
considered a sufficient sign that it is out OF
date for such fields as the stump machine
is used upon.
Much more could be said on the theory
of ploughing, but hasten, for expect 9th
ers to speak, who know are full as capa
bic of handling both the subject and the
plough.
Next the practical part Having noticed
much negligence in performing this import
ant part of our occupation, have for many
years considered it necessary for some one
to make public notice, and correct the
negligent, and teach boys better style
And while | am at that. the scientific an(
practical ploughman will be considered al
the well man, who needs no medicine
The first neglect l notice, is, not to com
mence in the right place and that is, tt
plough shallow furrow to form a headland
the width of which should be in proportion
to the teamS-if single team, the length
of the team, harness and plough will suf
fee if double, so much wider which fur
row will serve as mark to keep the fur
rows uniform in length
The headland should be ploughed last, il
the same manner as the other lands, ,revers
ing it every other year by backfurrowing
it, in order to keep it even.
Nothing l despise more than to see &
man ploughing without headlands; for, by
ploughing round, (or squarei if you please,
the team must be driven on the ploughec
ground, in every corner, trampling the fur
rows, until it looks more like a road o.
brickyard than ground turned over OF
which to produce crop.
The second negligence, which is not tht
least, is not to measure every land before
it is struck out, for it should be uniform il
width, and straight, in order that the las
furrow may be whole and avoid turning
back in the middle of the land.
hope none of the boys will ever under
take to strike out land without mark
for even our Bible teaches us to look on tht
mark, and not turn back but hold our hands
fast on the plough straight to the end
| hope you will have pride enough to plough
straight, if nothing else. Show me plough
man who has no PRIDE and / will show yeI
one that don't want to employ to plough
for me for follow my occupation for plea
sure as much as profit
The householder, and the wheelright
&c, have their chalk-line and square t
use and it is right they should use then
for without they would waste both time
and lumber.
Why not plough by rule !? Business mel
have their detectors farmers ought t.
know how to detect poor ploughmen fo
there are many worthy capitalists who in
vest in agricultural pursuits, who are no
judges themselves and also widows, hav
ing lost their life-mates, and are dependen
on others to do their ploughing, &c.
First, they can be detected generally by
their voice but most always, like hog
shearing, more noise than wool Next they
curse, and whip or stone the team, sending
the plough to warmer climate, and hin
that made it, when in fact the fault lies al
behind the plough.
| beg leave to address myself once more
to you, boys. Never keep much noise whel
ploughing, nor allow yourselves to curs
nor swear.
have no doubt if the loughing-match
once existing under the influence of ou
county Fair, had been continued, that
would have done much good ere this.
propose that another shall be organized :
One sub-district is enough in which to hol,
ploughing match. By so doing, we woulC
raise spirit Of pride and competition, with
out which we shall never have the pleasur
of seeing much reform