The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1909-04-16

~ attachments. By using them al the
trash can be turned under completely.
This not only hastenS the decay of
such matter, but also adds greatly to
the looks of the field. Too many farm
ers do not Fay enough attention to
looks. A ragged looking field may
raise just as large a crop as Il smooth
one, it is true, but the farmer who is
careless in his blowing is likely to be
careless in everything else.
If the blowing IS done in the fall it
does not matter so much whether it
turns up cloGdy or not The hard
freezes Of winter are the best pulyer-
iZers that ever tore a clCd to pieces.
This IS one Of the advantages of fail
blowing. One CT the disadvantages is
that in an open winter TIE soil is ia
Bile to wash badly. This can be pre-
vented to some extent. however, by
planting a catch crop. such as oats or
millet On the field after blowing.
The depth of blowing will vary with
the conditions. A light, sandy sell
does not need to be plowcd as deeply
as heavier one. If the ground IS
pl0wed the same depth every year tie
bottom Of the furrow will become hard
and the roots will have difficulty il
getting through it readily \ seed plan
is to begin at. say four inches. and
pillow ore-half inch deeper each year
until depth Of seven or eight inches
is reached. Then go back to fcUr
inches ard begin over again. In tits
way a little new soil is turned up
every season and the layer OF surface
Sell gradually deepened
Spring blowing should be shallCWer
than that done in the fall The soil is
luli or TRY pores. its structure being
much the same as that Of light bread
II you will put one corner of slil e
OF bread in a dish CT water you will
notice that it becomes wet for con-
SIDERABLE distance above the surface
OF the water. This is caused by the
moisture flowing upward through the
little holes in the bread. The force
mat causes water to rise in small
'uoe Is called capillarity 1t is this
capillarlty that makes the water rise
from the subsoil up to the surface
Where the roots can use it. The
smaller the capillary tubes the faster
ana higher the water will rise
"hen the ground is plowed these
capillary tubes are broken up. and the
Use of water is checked. To start il
again the soil must be allowed to settle
LOT long time or else be worked down
win the disk. harrow or roller. In the
!ai the depth of blowing does not mat
p Ter, since the furrow slice will have al
WINTER IN which to settle. But in the
spring this capillarity must be restored
almost at once or the surface layer
VIII become so dry that termination
anu later growth will be checked
,aence the Importance of shallow plow
.ns' so as to reduce the labor of disk
.us ana narrowing. If the surface OF
Tue ground IS crusted or if there is
much trash to be turned under the
Ae'u should be diSlied before it i:
powed This will provide for layer
u me dirt in the bottom of the fur
.o"' which will pack down closely
"nu help to restore capillarity
" the furrow turns up shiny" o.
sno"s any tendency to bake into clod
At should be narrowed every half day
VI every day at least This seems lik,
great deal of extra work. but if {
Aatro~ Is kept in the field 1t does no
.aAe long TO hitch on to it and go owe
ne newly plowed strip just befor
satung for noon or night A few
au1es spent In narrowing at sucl