Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1909-02-11

~ attachments. By using them all 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 pay enough attention to
looks. A ragged looking field may
raise just as large crop as smooth
one. it is true. but the farmer who is
careless in his blowing Il likely to be
careless In everything else.
II the blowing IN done In tho fall It
does not matter 20 much whether it
tnrns up cloddy or not The hard
freezes OF winter are the best pulyer.
tiers that ever tore a clod to pieces.
This Is one Of the advantages Of fall
blowing. One Of the disadvantages Is
that In an open winter the soil is liza
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 soil
does not need to be plowed as deeply
as heavier one. If the ground is
plowed the same depth every year the
bottom Of the furrow will become hard
and the roots will have difficulty In
getting through it readily A good plan
is to begin at. say four inches, and
pillow one-half inch deeper each year
until depth of seven or eight inches
Is reached. Then go back to four
inches and begin over again. In this
way a little new soil Is turned up
every season and the layer Of surface
soil gradually deepened.
Spring blowing should be shallower
than that done in the fall. The soil is
full of TRY pores, its structure being
much the same as that Of light bread
If you will put one corner of slice
of bread in dish of water you will
notice that 1t 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
that causes water to rise in small
tube is called capillarity It is this
capillarity that makes the water rise
from the subsoil up to the surface
where the roots can use 1t. The
smaller the capillary tubes the faster
and higher the water will rise.
When the ground is plowed these
capillary tubes are broken up, and the
rise Of water is checked. To start it
again the soil must be allowed to settle
for a long time or else be worked down
with the disk, harrow or roller. In the
fall the depth OF blowing does not mat
ter. since the furrow slice will have all
winter in which to settle. But in the
spring this capillarity must be restored
almost at once or the surface layer
4 viii become so dry that termination
and later growth will be checked.
Hence the Importance of shallow plOw-
! ing, so as to reduce the labor of disk
ing and narrowing. II the surface Of
\ the ground Is crusted or Il there Is
much trash to be turned under the
Held should be disked before It is
plowed. This win provide for layer
Of fine dirt In the bottom Of the fur
row, which viii pack down closely
and help to restore capillarity "
II the furrow. turns up shiny Or
shows any tendency to bake into clods
Il should be narrowed every half day,
of every day at least. This seems like
great deal Of extra work, but n q
harrow Is kept n the field It does not
take long Ito hitch on 10 Il and 80 over
the newly aplowed strip inst before
!, Ax.ss = $50. - sNffplsk &c.,