Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-05-10
ON DEEP FLOWING.

Mr. VERNON commenced farming
ith the determination TO do something
smart. Nv first effort WAS to get the
stones of the tillsge. That WAS proved
10 be all right. The next thing was In
plow deep. This follow wed for several
years being told by sgriculturalists that
| had another farm underneath the one
used that WAS ~ valuable IA the one cul-
tivsted, so | bought an Eagle plow, No.
%, snd plo~ed nv land eleven inches
deep setting the burrows edgewise MS
hen they got so far they were on the
largest base and refused TO 90 sny fur
ther. Then swxpped my Eagle for n
Narney, No. u, aud this turned the fur
rows completely when | soon learned
that my underneath farm had best be
left right where the Lord placed IL. For
the last thirty Years and more have en-
dcavored To plow nv land for planting
six inches deep; turn II well, have II
smooth; harrow il well lengthwise aud
then crosswise putting on the manure
D. fore harro ~inx and narrowing AS long
as can see the manure. By the way, II
there is any one thing that lieve in
more than anything else II Is In harrow
ing. After the land is we'll narrowed 90
over Il again thoroughly. Harrow till
the earth 10 fine ss a garden. | always
break my land In the fall MS l like TO
have the work out Of the way and also
10 have the benefit Of the freezing. II
works up better with the harrow. Then
again it seems to hold the crop better,
especially oats which are sown on broken
up land fr, quently. They stand up bet
ter; IL on spring plowed land they lay
over or cripple down much worse. Also
we have shortage Of rain much oftener
than an excess, and the spring plowiug
does not stand the drouth nearly as well
as the fall plOwing. As TO deep or shosl
blowing, want dirt enough TO hoe the
crop we'll and cover the swards and grass
and let the crop have the benefit OF the
sward as it rOts. ID. n. Thing.
HowE's CoRNER.-the character and
condition Of the land would have some
thing TO DO with Ii. For smooth and
well-kept fields prefer medium depth.
For hOed crop would plOw about
seven inches. II the ground were to be
re-seeded, would plow about five
inches. Why prefer medium or shall
low plowing is, l like to have the sod as
near the surface as possible and give
good culture. prefer late fall plowing
TO spring. Usually there is more time,
and the team Is In better condition to
work. II the ground Is full Of wild rye
AS most fields sre-many Of the roots
will be killed by freezing. II 1t becomes
necessary TO plOw when the land Is toe
vet, fall plowing will not injure the
ground rs much AS spring plowing, al
the frost will keep the ground from
packing. X. ID. LEAvlrT.
EAST SUMNER.-I consider that the
character OF the soil and the crop to be
cultivated should govern the matter OF
deep or shallow plowing. Some soils
are SO shallow that to plow deeply 10 to
bring the unfertile subsOil to the surface
| aud bury the best soil where IL ID les,
ivsilsble for the majority Of crops. But
IL heavily msnured there IL less objection
than otherwise, and there is thereby
tendency 70 improve the soil for future
years. Again, the roots Of some plants
spread out naturally near the surface
where they get the benefit Of the warm
rays Of the sun, while other plants sent
their roots deeper, and thrive best whel
they can feed 10 the cooler sub-strata o.
soil. II Ii difficult to lay down rule
where each case is to be studied from
the double standpoint Of soil and plant
but perhaps 10 may be safe to apply thi
rule In most cases. Do not pl0w th'
soil deeper than you can thorough!
fertilize Ii. w. II. EASTMAN.
-Maine Farmer.