The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-03-02
Experiments in Flowing.

Mr.. Knox, a veteran plow maker, has
called our attention to the effect of
deep plowing or some soils to offset
the danger from lack of rains in dry
seasons. Some years ago an expert
ment was made by n western Massa-
chusetts farmer in plowing portions of
a large field at varying depths. One
part was turned over seven inches
deep, another ten inches, and third,
after being plowed ten inches, was
subsoiled to the depth of ten inches
more, making a soil comparatively loose
to the depth of twenty inches. The
next year, which was dry one during
the summer, corn was grown upon the
whole field, which was treated uni
formly throughout, and the yield Of
the three divisions carefully measured.
The sevcn-inch plowing yielded as well
as the ordinary fields in the vicinity.
That part plowed ten inches deep was
greener all through the season, and
gave decidedly better yield, but that
which was plowed ten inches and sub
soiled ten inches in addition produced
Just one-third more corn than that
plowed in the usual way, seven inches
deep. The next year the whole field
was by agreement sowed to oats, as n
continuation of the experiment, the
season proving even dIier than the pre-
ceding one, when corn was grown.
When the oats were about ready to
cut Mr.. Knox being in the neighbor-
hood, called to see them. Before reach
ing the farm the field came in view
from the car windows, and Mr.. Knox,
who was on the lookout, said to Il COM
panion that the gentleman had not
done as he agreed, for he could see
that he had sown different kinds of
grain upon the different plots, the size
and color of the growth both marking
the lines, dividing the land plowed at
three different depths. But on arriving
at the field he found nothing but oats,
and as stated by the owner all sown
on the same day, and treated precisely
alike in every respect.
On the shallow plowed section the
growth was short and the straw vel
low; on the ten-inch plowing the oats
We're taller and less yellow, while on
the sub-soiled portion they were green
and very heavy. The final tests show,
ed full one-thrd more grain on the sub,
soiled part than on that which was
plowed only seven inches deep.
Now, it will not do for farmers to
calculate that deeply stirring every
kind of soils would alone add 80 per
cent. in the yield of crops grown upon
them the following two years, for they
would doubtless be disappointed in
very many cases. Yet, as rule, Il
deep mellow soil from which surplus
water can readily settle without max
ing the land into mortar, and through
which the same moisture can again
freely rise by capillary attraction
other things being equal will always
bring n farmer the better results.
There are soils which naturally are
never too wet, and rarely too dry, and
it will usually be found on examina
ton that they are in the same mechani
cal condition for considerable depth
say two feet or more, that one likes Il
have his surface soil light, fliablc un(
containing a due proportion of vege
table matter They will also be found
to contain sand and clay in about III,
right proportion to keep the soil botl
mellow and moist through the varying
climatic conditions. Deep plowing O,
stiff clays Is often dangerous mt first
but a good dry soil suits all kinds o
crops in all kinds of weather. DeeI
plowng tends to make such a soil, bu
this alone will not always be sufficient
Draining and manuring must accom-
pany deep plowing.