The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-04-02
A PRIZE ESSAY ON FLOWING.
BY J. c. sTRIBLING.

BY ]. c. sTRIBLING.
When we consider that the prepara.
ton of the soil by blowing is the first
and most important part of the cultiva.
ton of crops, upon which all civilized
nations are directly or indirectly depen-
dant for both food and raiment, we can
appreciate the wisdom of the Western
P'o'0man, in offering valuable prize for
the best essay on this, perhaps the oldest
subject upon agriculture that has engaged
the mind of man. Cato, two thousand
years ago, said, "If 1 am asked what is
the first point in good husbandry, 1 an
swer good blowing; what the second ?
good plowing of any kind" Flowing
may be properly called mechanical
preparation of the soil, and the plow the
key by which the treasures in plant food,
contained in the land, may be unlocked.
The character and depth of the soil the
kind of crops to follow; the climate, and
the amount and kind of manure to be
used, are all factors which should determ-
inc whether turning should be deep or
shallow; but as rule, all drained lands
having stiff clay or hard-pan subsoil are
benefited by deep breaking (not turniDg)
with some kind of plow that does not
turn up more than one or two inches of
subsoil during the season, though the
subsoil may be broken to any depth (if
there be drainage either natural or arti.
6cial without injury to the fertility of
such lands.
The depth to which plowipg may prof
itably be done, depends upon the depth
of the soil, or the amount of manure to
be used; the deeper the plow runs the
more power required, and consequently
more expensive. Therefore, it is evident
that it will not pay to plow land having
thin soil very deep without manuring.
Deep plowing on inclined or rolling lands
drains as well as pulverizes the soil, and
counteracts the evil effects Of both ex.
cessive rains and drought. Deep plow.
ing on FAT lands having under drainage
or porous subsoil, accomplishes the same
results as the above.
Deep blowing on fat lands, without
drainage, is q questionable operation as
TO economy; heavy rains flooding the
land with water that can escape only by
evaporation is sure to leave the land hard
and inert as before. All stiff lands, that
are intended for Spring planting, should
be turned during the Fall previous to
planting; the furrows should lap on
each other at an angle of forty five
degrees, for the purpose of exposing as
much surface to the action of frost and
air as possible. In order to make this
angle, the plow should run about two
thirds as deep as the cut is wide. In
blowing sod or other land having growth
on it, for immediate planting, the furrow
slice should be completely inverted,
which will hide all filth and leave good
seed bed. The pillow, to do this nicely,
should cut the full width of share, and
from three and half to four times as
wide as the furrow is deep; in such land,
free from stone, the wheel coulter is in.
valuable. 1t is presumed that no one
having any forethought will plow land
too wet. Plow sandy or porous land
shallow, and just before planting.
Next to the thorough understanding
and knowledge of the foregoing princi.
Piles, which underl:e good pIowing, is the
practical and economical application of
the same. Here the selection of the
plow is first in Importance uDquestion-
ably, the plow that accomplishes the
most and best work, with the least cost,
pivinp due consideration to draft and
durability, is the pillow to select. Princi-
pie of construction and material, embody
the many features of plow; ifeither Of
these are deficient, the whole plow is
proportionately deficient; the draft being
brought into use at every step OF the
team, makes this feature the more i'm
portaut, though the efficiency and
amount of work done in given time,
durability, ease to team and driver. all
contribute to their respective proportions
in making up good plow.
The properly constructed wheel plow
is as far ahead of plow without wheels,
as the wheeled wagons are ahead of the
old sled, in respect to draft. The good
sulky plow enables one operator to per-
form the toilsome labor of from two to
four hands lowing to capacity of plow(,
with ease and comfort, and the work
done is better. Sulky plows, having
three wheels one at the end of beam,
and the other two behind the plow), have
their advantages; First, the work of
both team and piow can be seen at once;
the third wheel insures uniform depth
and width of cut, and considerably re-
duces the draft. These are three telling
points in favor of an economical days
work, and will amount to the price of a
good plow in short while.
The more mastery horse of team
should walk in furrow, and he will
materially assist the driver in controlling
the team. In plowing fields ION paper(?)
there are but few comprehensive plans
that are applicable to their average shape
and conditions one is to line off with a
plow strip, say ten feet wide, all around
the field, for the purpose of turning on.
Next mark off uniform strips, say ten to
fifteen feet wide, running in the desired
direction from furrow to furrow, until
the field is lined off, then start right
hand plows on the outside of strip mum.
ber one, and return on the right hand
side of strip number three, and continue
on these strips, swinging the team
smoothly around at ends without stop
ping, throwing the plow out of the
HEAD LANDS,