Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-10-09

There are three principal things
accessory to good blowing; first, the
sbility to properly guide team; sec
ond, knowledge and tact to arrange
the pillow to the work in hand; and
bird, an intelligence in gauging the
urrow slice and properly turning the
|mrrow. These being learned, the
'est is easy.
The greatest difficulty with plow-
men is in laying out and finishing
'hc lands. This being properly I'M
lerstood, the act of blowing becomes
simple enough. Let us give one
Easy, efficient and ordinary plan:
Set Il line of light stakes across the
field; gauge the rcins SO that, when
placed on the beam handle Of the
plow, and at the point whore it is
graspcd by the hand, the team he
ing in motion. they will jus, bear
kindly on the bits of the horses.
Place the team so that the line of
vision will be over the rold-board Of
the pillow and between the horses, to
the stakes. Set the pillow so that it
will turn fllrrow from onc-halt' to
thrcc-Gulrters the depth the land is
to be plowcd; grasp the lines with
two fingers of the left hand, at the
near or left side of the handle, SO
that, when the rein is pulled straight
back, there will be leverage enough
against the handle with The otf.rcin
to draw both alike. Thus, pulling
slightly to the left will swcrve the
team to the right, and easing Oh the
rein will bring them to the left. A
steady rein will keep them straight;
and, however fresh the team may be,
If steady, no trouble will be expert
cnced in keeping them in y direct
line to do good work. There is no
other plan that we have ever tried
by which team is under so good
control. Some practice is required
by the plowman to do good work,
but less than by any other plan, not
even excepting the Irish way Of
grasping a rein in each hand while
holding the pillow.
Keeping the eye directly along the
stakes, seek to SO pillow them down
that they shall fall sideways. Upon
reaching Il stake do not stop, but
continue to the cud of the furrow.
Bringing the team directly about,
gauge the pillow to cut the full depth
you wish to work. Turn the next
slice and the previous one into the
furrow already opened, stopping at
each stake to place them for the next
land; and thus proceed until you
have reached The starting point.
Then 60 once more about, drawing
two more burrows. An ordinary
plowman may then be trusted to fin
ish two-thirds or tlrcc-quarters of
the land.
In blowing the lands after they
are laid out, the lines, without any
dctrimcnt to the work, may be car
ried around the hips of the plowrnan;
but if the team be fairly trained,
they may be tightly held with two
fingers Of the left hand, or even be
to rest upon the handle,
which leaves the body entirely free;
and it is the motion Of the body as
much as anything else that assists in
doing perfect work.
Each bolt above the pillow should
fill the holes and every nut should be
dr.wn tight. The team should be
i'll direct line of draught, SO that,
when the team is going forward, the
plow will cut its ordinary fi,rrow
with the guide pin in the center
hole of the beam, and when the side
of the pillow is running level, the
furrow slice shall be turned naturally
and perfectly in the preceding fur
row. If this be carefully attended
to, any intelligent man can be taught
ia half a day on clear land, to do fair
work in blowing by instructing him
in holding the pillow, gauging and
turning the furrow, and in bringing
the team and pillow about ut the ends.
1t is even more difficult to finish a
land neatly and well, than to lay it
out. In laying out, the principal
t. ing is to see that the team draws
even and walks directly forward.
Not only must this be observed, but,
having strip equal to two furrow
slices, the pillow should be gagged to
take filrrow only two-tlirds the
usual depth. Having turned one of
the burrows thus, readjust the pillow
to the ordinary gauge, and turn the
last furrow, making 10 ba!ks. If it
be necessary to clean the furrow for
drainage the plow may be passed
again back and forth, leaving the
center full of mellow earth, through
which the water will pcrcolatc read
lily.
Excellence in blowing consists in
laying out the lands, and thereafter
Keeping the burrows perfectly
straight; in having them Of uniform
aud in laying them in
such manner that they may best con-
tinue permcable to the air; in per-
fectly covering weeds aud trash, SO
that they may not interfere with the
subsequent working Of the crops; in
SO varying the implements that they
may do as perfect work as possible,
in mellow soil, in stiff clays,
AN, ng rubbish and weeds, in stiff
90. or ordinary sward. All these
must be reached by study-not only
Of the proper shape Of the pillow used,
but also of the nature of the soil to
be worked.
All this the farmer should under
stand. TO the mere plowman it is
not essential. 1t is, however, essen
tial that he be able to take q team
alone, stake and strike out the lands;
apjust and readjust the pillow to suit
the various contingencies that may
arise, and to perform his work in
uniform and workmanlikc manner.
This constitutes good blowing, and
the performer is good plowman.
The perfect plowman is he who can