Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-07-07
Tillage. ---No. 3.

The third consideration in tillage is the
preparation of the seed bed for the crop we
wish to grow. The spike-tooth harrow has
been used since the dark ages as the best
available implement to pulverize the in
verted earth. Various shaped frames have
been tried to give greater force to the same
old tooth. The A harrow, made of the nat
ural branching of some tough tree, was the
primitive style, and the same shape is COM
mon, with more art in the manufacture. The
square, round and sectional shapes have been
tried. If we must use this ancient style we
should have the teeth sharp, the team in
strength proportionate to the weight of the
harrow, and a driver that will keep at it I'M
til the ground is thoroughly pulverized
There are, however, several harrows that ex-
eel the spike tooth harrow in the amount
and quality of the work performed. The
manner of depositing the seed in the earth
need not be dwelt upon in this connection.
But in covering it is advisable to make the
soil snug, compact, or firm around the seed.
With this object nearly every farmer as he
finishes the hill of potatoes, corn or beans,
gives it a farewell pat with his hoe which
presses the earth upon the seed. Upon grain
crops the roller or drag can generally be
used to advantage as finishing operation.
With garden seeds the pressure of the foot
of the planter is now recommended by Peter
Henderson as advisable, and often necessary,
in order to insure the growth of the seed.
The fourth consideration is the destruc-
ton of weeds and the cultivation of those
crops that are planted in hills and drills.
1t is a question with some whether it would
be of advantage to cultivate and hoe for the
purpose only of breaking the crust that the
rains and dews form on earth. 1t is quite GER
tain that with the majority the destruction of
weeds prompts them to this labor. Some
hoe for the purpose of killing up the pota-
toes and corn. A member of the state
grange said, GA man that don't know
enough to teach his boys agriculter ought
not to have any children, like to show my
sions are that if the land was clean and no
weeds started, it would still be beneficial to
stir the SOIL But where weeds of various
kinds start in a luxuriant growth then con-
tinued tillage is the salvation of the CROP
Weeds are great robbers. There is no mod.
esty or bashfulness about them. While the
corn, turnips or onions need petting and en-
couraging, the weeds with luxuriant leaf
nd ole 10
Their destruction should be by the aid of
the horse hoe as far as possible. Its use every
week is none too often, and should only
cease when the crop is near maturity Thor
ough tillage while the crop is growing en-
sures to it all the available plant food and
all possible benefit from dews and showers.
Another result of tillage seems to be the
creation of fertility. Professor Atwater
says: d" The infertility of many soils is due
more to their mechanical condition, their
texture, and relations to heat and moisture,
than to lack of plant food Such soils want
amendment first and manures afterward."
Is it true, that in many cases the farmer can
cast aside the teachings of writer's who say
"Plow no more land than you can manure ?"
Can he reasonably expect to amend the field
that is in weeds and June grass by the use
of the plow, harrow and cultivator so as to
produce, with reseeding, bountiful crop of
clover and timothy and perhaps the inter
vening crop of potatoes and oats Can the
young farmer reasonably expect to get re-
munerative crops if he tries to begin farm.
ing upon a neglected New England farm
If tits good tillage land, he may expect good
crops will follow thorough tillage. One of
the earliest English writers upon farming,
Jethro Tull, taught that tillage is manure"
Repeated plowings may be necessary before
the first crop is taken. The frost aids us
upon the fall plowed land The rain and
air break down the mineral particles in
summer. Their changed position in rela-
ton to each other causes new combinations
If the polished sword and musket left upon
the battle field are eaten by rust, how much
more will moisture and air act chemically
upon the grains of minerals in the earth if
they are loosened up by the farmer so that
air will permeate the mass. Without doubt
plant food is made available by tillage and
the crops increased thereby. All the opera
tions of tillage must be directed by discre-
ton. soil that is wet permanently or
temporarily cannot be proftably titled in
that condition. A clayey soil is easily ru-
ined and loamy one badly injured by I'M
timely tillage. Two instances would men
ton. gentleman sowed two acres of oats
and while narrowing them in it rained. He
continued his work in the rain, and, although
the land waS well enriched, the crop was
poor, the grass from seeding at that time
was poor, and the land was Improbable I'M
til it was plowed and worked over again.
Men were once hoeing corn, and, in shower,
hoed the last three or four rows. All the piece
was good excepting the rows hoed in the
rain. These suggestions upon tillage do not
exhaust the subject, but, fear, are too long
when 80 many other subjects must be
treated. Z.E.J.
Jerseys for Reef