Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1872-01-11
Flowing.

''Plow deep while sluggards sleep has
been impressed on the public mind in
season and out of season. If all our
soils were alike; if they presented the
same geological and mechanical condition
this formula, deep blowing, would be
either right or wrong. That is, if the
conditions required deep stirring of the
soil on our farm, the same practice would
be correct on all other farms. But suchIs
not the case; for soils are of almost end
less variety as regards their geology and
mechanical conditions. Then climatehas
its effects,an that plays an important
part in this regard We find that in break
ing up meadow land, the plan now be-
coming popular-that is, to trench-plow,
having the two plows cut the furrow six
to seven inches in depths well adapted
to nearly if not all of our prairie-soil
This is doubtless due, in great measure,
to the mass of fibrous roots that penetrate
to that or a greater depth; for, after the
turf has been fully reduced by two or
three years cropping, the conditions BE-
come changed, when some of these SOILS
will produce better crops by shallow than
by deep blowing And this result ma.
follow even when the soil is cOmposedd
the same material to great depth, the
difference resulting from the condition o.
certain elements, more especially that o.
potash in a fixed or free condition. II
will not do to turn the soil so deeply that
the free potash, that is only found
near the surface, is buried beyond
reach and soon becomes fixed, and, o.
course, neutral, so far as plant
growing is interested, and the pam
must wait until the fixed potash, that
brought up from below, can have time 70
be assimilated for plant-growth BY lne
action of heat, air, and moisture. lnen,
again, some crops can better AFFORD "
await this new development than Others
wheat and corn are fair samples in pOlnI
The stem of the wheat needs large SUP
plies of sllicate of potash in the eau!
stages of its growth while corn IS Id "
hurry, and lays in its supply at musn
later period. We can, therefore, draWlhs
conclusion that wheat sown in the SPINE
will do best with shallow blowing WILLY
for corn on the same soil greater dep.n
should be turned up. / intend to ds ns
the attention of the farmer to the Vaus
of the study of chemistry, geology, mu
the growth Of plants, in order to 1uI ds, a.
derstand the science of blowing ln' md
sciences should be taught, not in res%'
to their value for the lawyer, the pals'st
the doctor, or the mere scholar, a .ssr
present taught in our colleges, but as W. ~
should be applied to the culture oi y.
soil. The reason why one farmer p
duces better crops than his nelghp@, IN
similar soil, is often due to the a'lenn.-
that he gives to the depth OF his iurlV"
not that he plows deeper on all occ :oar'
but that he plows to suit the peculiar an az
dition of the soil at the time. 1neie an,
plenty of farmers who pillow iilf i lssa
depth year after year without tlie a
regard to conditions; but these s-ad
produce anything but uniform
crops ..,o.
The time for blowing is another mp 4
tant subject, or, rather, the conuin a. 81
regards moisture. Sward Glands area NJ
ception to this rule ; for they nig .,g
plowed when fully saturated win S~$
as well as when in the most frlapie ~
ton. For this reason, the farmer ma;
gin to break up his Swaziland as : hsps
the spring as frost will permit. vie
often turned the burrows that lne por
followed, even on the best dram anf
tons, and yet the crops have pes r;rr %
formly good. There is a great SAL 'spt
horsepower in breaking up sNoanShts
when quite wet, as every farmer O'
know. ,h.t Is
On the blowing of old land..n4s
land cropped for two or three YEA" 10
must be had not to pillow when sr m O.
then the fertility becomes iocAssuh 1aldt
at least, the soil is incapable Oh 5n5sa
plant. food. -"RuTal," in Chscd9V
"A Boston man has thirty-slA