The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-05-23
Ploughing. and Narrowing.

been stated, but individual plows have
been greatly improved, 80 that the
draft Ia much less and the labor for
the operator greatly reduced. Scien-
tific principles have been studied, and
the plow has been so constructed that
the resistance is reduced 10 a mini
mum, while doing the work most
effectively. The most recent improve
ment is the self-sharpening pillow point,
consisting of layers Of edges, so that
40 one wears off new aud sharp edge
is presented instead of duh surface.
This makes the draft much easier and
saves the bother and expense of re-
sharpening. A great variety Of inn
plements have been tried as substi-
tutes for the piow, but they have not
proven satisfactory under II condi-
| tiOns.
The depth OF ploughing has been
! the cause of almost endless controversy.
In the corn belt, as rule, moderately
deep ploughing has given most satis-
factory results, all things considered.
1t is obviously unwise 10 make any
great variation in the depth Of which
any one field ia ploughed during one
season, for by suddenly lowering the
plow two or three inches cold, raw
earth is thrown out on top. This is
unsuited TO the best development Of
the plant, and until the air and sun
have affected it for couple of years il
will not DO in the beat condition.
The object of plougaing is to get the
upper layers thoroughly loosened and
pulverized, so that the plant roots eau
| readily penetrate them. The loosened
surface acts as sponge for absorbing
and retaining moisture until needed
by the growing crops. 1t does not
matter whether the upper surface be
turned or not, nor does il make much
difference by what means this break
ing or loosening up is accomplished.
If shallow ploughing and subsoiling
will answer the purpose, follow that
practice. If. however, this condition
can not be secured except by deep
ploughing, it usually will pay to
plough deep. On very wet low
grounds, deep p!oughing is obviously
unnecessary, as the retention of mois-
ture does not have TO be looked after
80 carefully. In sandy or very loose
soils deep ploughing is not 80 eesen-
| tial, as the roots can easily find pass
age anL the land is in a condition TO
retain large quantities of water. The
above applies more particularly to the
preparation of land for wheat and
corn. Shallower ploughing will an
swer for oats and grass seeds. Three
inches is usually sufficient for these
later crops, while for corn and wheat
six or seven give best result.
| At one time the various riding aud
wheeled plows were not universally
liked, as they were considered horse
killers. This heavy draft feature has
been eliminated somewhat, and as the
work is done better and as horses are
so cheap it is certainly advisable to
buy them. Human strength is 80
much more valuable than that Of the
horse that it would pay to have an
extra animal or two rather than ex-
haust the farmer or his hired man.
The preparation of the land just be-
fore planting demands more and more
attention, as the soil becomes less pro-
ductive and droughts more frequent
and severe. Ordinarily the corn field
| is narrowed until the surface is level
little attention being given TO the cou-
dition of the soil more than two inches
below the surface. With several sea-
SONS of severe drought, however, it
has become necessary to so pulvorize
and compact the ploughed portion
that large air spaces do not remain,
allowing the excessive penetration of
air and consequent detrimental eyapo-
ration. This thorough preparation is
best accomplished by means of disk or
acme harrowers, ordinary toothed
harrows aud drsgs. The first named
penetrate much deeper than the ordi-
nary harrow, break up clods aud eli
inmate air spaces. If the field is disked
once or twice, then narrowed with q
heavy smoothing or straightforward
harrow, it will usually be- in first-class
condition. A drag will do much to
pulverize clods on the surface and
compact the soil, but it does not pull.
verize the lower layers of the ploughed
portion. Rolling has much the same
effect and is u valuable aid when the
weather is quite dry, but during the
wet season it may do injury by com.
pacting the surface and causing the
top layer to bake. Evaporation then
takes place very rapidly and the crop
is seriously injured at the outset. AS
soon as the grain, if il be corn, appears
above the surface, cultivation must be-
gin, and the upper layers be kept in q
finely pulverized condition, SO that
they may act as mulch.
Ii has been demonstrated during the
past few years that the more complete
the preparation the better the crop
The cultivation then can be greatly
reduced, and the result more satisfac-
tory. Many farmer will say that he
can not spend so much time in pro-
pairing his soil, aud that such atten.
ton to the more scientific methods
can not be given. This is fallacy
which must be abandoned as the years
go by, for the changing conditions
damqnd mora fh0rouph work and