Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1904-11-12
Cultivation of New Land.

Cultivation Of New Land.
Franklin Williams, IN a bulletin OF
the United States Department of Agrl-
culture, relative to the cultivation OF
new land, says:
The quantity of roots remaining in
the ground after it has been cleared
is always surprising. No matter what
clearing method has been pursued or
how carefully it has been done, the
plow will discover an aggravatingly
large number of roots. When stumps
are pulled out by machinery many
more roots are removed than by any
other method. But even in machin-
ery-cleared land the ground will still
be full of roots, mostly small, it is
true.
In plowing new land a good, steady,
strong span OF horses is of the first
Importance. Horses that are fast or
fractions will not answer. They will
fret the plowman, break the plow,
and bruise their shoulders. With a
spirited team, even though nothing is
broken or injured, it is hard to do
good work. If the plow is drawn rap
idly it is quite impossible to guide it
closely and avoid stumps and roots.
After the winter season of compare
tive idleness horses should not be put
to plowing new land. Their shoulders
have grown tender from disuse and
should be first gradually toughened in
old land; moreover, some of their ac-
cumulated energy should thus be
worked OFF.
Oxen preferable to horSeS.-FOr
plowing new ground oxen are prefer
able to horses. They are steadier and
stronger. Formerly in breaking new
land it was a common occurrence to
see several yoke of oxen attached to
one strong plow; and they did yoe-
man service. Now, in this age OF
hurry and rush, the slow, plodding
OK has been forced to give way to the
faster horse, and when new ground is
to be plowed- unfortunately the OK is
seldom at hand.
There are several patterns of plows
made especially for new-ground work.
These grub plows, however, while
strong and handy, are not essential.
ANY standard p1ow with good cutter
properly and securely adjusted will do
good work.
Cut roots that stop the plow.-When
plowing new land always have a mat
took conveniently fastened to the plow
handles, and cut all roots that do not
break. When the plow becomes
hung" in roots it is better to cut it
loose than to back and pull out. The
root that stops the plow will inter
fere with cultivation, and the same
root, unless severed, will occasion this
annoyance for several successive sea-
sons. In blowing new land it is well
ito make haste slowly Leave no
skips. Turn a continuous furrow. The
in h0
together with the increased harvest,
will more than pay for the pains
taken.
The second season the p1ow burrows
should be run at right angles to those
of the first. If these two plowings
are thoroughly done, the ground will
be completely broken and subdued.
If the land is very stumpy it will be
quite difficult to level down for plant
ing purposes. When the stumps are
too thick for the old-fashioned A har-
row to be used a heavy brush or cult.
vator, run opposite to the way the
land was plowed, will answer fairly
well. When the land is not too
stumpy, or the stumps are cut very
low. the spring-tooth harrow will dc
excellent work. The teeth will bound
over stumps and. roots that are fast
and comb out a great many that are
loose or broken. II the roots are plen
tiful, and they usually are, many OF
them will have to be removed. With
an improved adjustable spring-tooth
harrow, many of the loose roots may
be combed out and windrowed and
then burned or hauled of.
In bringing new land under cultiva
ton, cultivate for several successive
seasons or until all roots are thorough
ly broken and all foul vegetation com
pletely destroyed. If cultivated fol
only one year and then seeded down
or left idle any number of roots and
small bushes will revive and start into
renewed life.