Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-04-20
cultivating Moist Soil.

The different soils each need a
certain style of cultivation peculiar
to its nature. This has been demon
strated by the best farmers and
well they all know that heavy, over
moist land requires deep cultivation
to air it and thus evaporate the sur
plus moisture, in order to make the
ground loose and warm for the grow
ing crop, and to give plant food for
rapid growth.
In cultivating such land it must
be remembered that the crop obtains
its nourishment from near the sur
face, therefore those roots should
not be disturbed. But we are more
impressed with the Importance of
this fact when we compare the ad-
verse conditions by which crops are
raised in Northern Siberia. There
the ground is frozen to the depth
of six feet, the surface thawing in
spring for two feet. In this two
feet of soil, upon four feet of frost,
the Siberians raise their crops,
From the above we learn that if
we take good care Of the surface soil,
the subsoil will take care of itself.
Yet it must not be too loose nor too
hard, but left the same as it is
after good plowing and thorough
narrowing.
The following is my plan of cul-
tivation. Plow the ground six inches
deep or more, according to the hard
ness of both surface and subsoil.
The firmer it is, the deeper it should
be plowed. Iwant plow to turn
and cover all the stubble fiat in the
furrow, leaving the surface perfectly
even. When the plowing becomes
dry enough, SO the harrow teeth
will not clog, drag it with a three
quarters or one-inch square tooth
ed harrow, adjusting the teeth to
the depth of the plowing, that is,
six or eight inches deep, with one
corner of each tooth set to run ahead,
SO as to throw the earth in burrows
on each side. With this implement
| sometimes drag grass spots, at in
tervals, twenty or thirty times, OF
until the soil is pulverized to about
the depth Of the plowing, which
forms a good bed as we'll as destroy
ing perennial roots and large
amount of insects, if properly done
Then small grain is sown, with
q drill, from one-half to two inches
deep, being sure it is covered with
one-half inch of moist earth, and
finishing by crossing with a light
/ fine toothed harrow that will level
drill marks and not disturb the
seed.
To prepare corn ground is the
same as given above, planting the
rows three Or four feet apart acord,
ing to variety, waiting till corn is
up so that loose earth from the
cultivator will not cover it. THAI
lis, unless the land is very foul. In
such case / cultivate Immediately
! after planting, throwing the eartt
over the wheel tracks Of the plant
er, and when aired cross drag il
level with a light, fine toothed har
row. If this is done at proper
time it will hold the weeds il
check until the corn is few inches
high. Then plow the ground agai1
with large shovels, repeating, wher
properly aired, with harrow teetl
or fine shovels. Never disturb
growing roots and when the corn il
large enough to shade the grount
J. cultivation may cease. The abov'
], is for moist land only. My methot
of cultivating dry, sandy soil vii
be furnished the readers of tn,
Northwestern Agriculturist in tn
future. A. j. Marlette.