Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-02-13

No inaexible rule can be laid down for
farming operations, no formula that will
overcome all difficulties alike no advice can
be given that is of much value to the thought
less and inconsiderate. Thus shallow plow-
ing is best where there is q light sandy or
gravelly land, with n thin soil because but
small quantity Of sand or gravel is required
in a cultivated field while large proportion
OF these ingredients would result in positive
injury. If the sod is turned under so that
there is loose soil enough to bury the seed
whether grass corn, grain or potatoes, and If
q small quantity Of sand or gravel is brought
TO the surface, such practice will do no harm
but rather work for good in deepening the
soil. BY blowing thcso light, thin soils a tri-
file deeper at each working, great gain may
be secured in deepening and enriching the
land. Where, at the outset three inches in
depth may be all the soil will bear, in a few
years of judicious handling six inches deep
may be q desirable point in blowing
On the other hand if the soil under consid-
GRAFTON is full Of organic matter with q heavy
clay subsoil, then deep blowing would prove
advantageous, since clay undsturbed retains
fertilizing matter without allowing it to pass
through and be made available for crops,
while If q portion of this clay is brought up
and incorporated with decayed vegetable mat
ter on the surface it is rendered fertile by the
action of the sun and air and through the
mixing of soils Again, this same operation
involves the turning portion Of the decayed
vegetable matter down into the clay subsoil
below, opening and rendering the same more
friable, also allowing the roots TO extend to
greater depth, and thus eularging the area of
plant food. Through this composing of soils
the upper and lower strata are both improved
by deep blowing, the available soil is deepen
ed, while less manure is required in securing
n hqoNyv Rafpra ,,1nu.iVf, - i i'm,
TO determine the character of the soil, TO con-
slider the crops intended for production, and
finally, to estimate the amount of manure
available for the purpose With these factors,
the problem of deep or shallow blowing may
be solved. Flowing and manuring should
not only have reference to the crops in view,
but also to the important subject Of deepen
ing and enriching the soil
There are other minor points connected
with the subject of blowing which are worthy
of careful consideration. The field should be
so arranged that long burrows may be plowed,
instead of short ones that is, if half an acre
only is to be plowed economy in labor and
time would suggest a field eighty rods in
length and one rod in width, rather than four
rods in width and twenty rods long. In the
first instance the plowman would have to
turn his team sixteen times, providing the
furrow was twelve inches in width while in
the second case slXty-SeNen turnlngs OF the
team would be necessary, occupying more
time than was employed in turning the sod.
Again the NNidth of the furrow is a serious
item in the cost Of blowing. Ia the first case
above mentioned, if the furrow turned should
be eight inches in place of twelve, not only
would twenty-four turnings Of the team be re-
quired instead of sixteen, but the team would
be forced to travel one-third further, while in
the second case previously stated, eighty nine
turnings would be necessary instead Of sixty
seven. If the length of furrow be the same
in both cases. yet by taking furrow one
third broader three acres may be plowed in
the same time occupied in blowing two acres
with the narrow furrow There are plows in
the market which will turn twelve-nch fur
row with equal ease TO the horses as other
plows give in turning eight-inch burrows.
Yet many farmers still continue working with
an old style plow difficult of draft, simply be-
cause they fancy they cannot afford to pur-
chase new and more modern Implement
that would more than save its extra cost in
single season.-im. CulGrdtor.