Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1909-02-25

= 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 10
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 a crop as 4 smooth
one, # is true, bur the farmer who is
careless in his blowing is likely TO BE-
careless in everything else.
II the blowing IS done in the fall II
does not matter SO much whether II
turns up cloddy or not. The hard
freezes OF winter are the best pulver.
iZers that ever tore q clOd 10 pieces.
This is one Of the advantages OF fall
blowing. One OF the disadvantages is
that in an open winter the soil Is liza
bic TO wash badly. This can be pre-
vented 10 some extent. however. by
planting catch crop. such as oats or
millet, on the field after plowing.
The depth Of plowing will vary with
the conditions. 4 light, sandy soil
does not need 10 be plowed as deeply
rs heavier one. II the ground is
plowed the same depth every year the
bottom Of the furrow will become hard
and the roots will have difficulty In
;etttng through II readily. A good plan
s 10 begin ar, say four inches, and
llow one-half inch deeper each year
Until depth OF seven or eight inches
is reached. Then 90 back to four
inches and begin over again. In this
way little new soil is turned up
very season and the layer Of surface
soil Pradually deepened.
Spring plowing should be shaIIower
han that done in the fall. The soil is
-ull OF thy pores. its structure being
much the same as that OF light bread
4 you will put one corner of a slice
Z bread In dish Of water You will
lotice that it becomes wet fer O coz
siderable distance above the surface
u 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 a small
tube is called capillarity. II is this
:apilIarity that makes the water rise
ron the subson up to the surface
where the roots can use il. The
mailer the capillary tubes the faster
md higher the water will rise.
When the ground is pIowed these
apillary tubes are broken up. and the
1se of water is checked. To start il
gain the soil must be allowed to settle
or a long time or else De worked down
With the disk. harrow or roller. In the
AL the depth OF plowing does not mat.
er. since the furrOw slice Will have all
Finter in which to settle. But in the
ipring this capillarity must be restored
Utmost al once or the surface layer
VIII become so dry that termination
and later growth win be checked
Hence the importance OF shallow uIov-
lns, SO as to reduce the labor Of disk
ne and narrowing II the surface Of
ne ground is crusted or II there is
much trash to be turned under the
ield should be dIsked before It is
olOwed- This viii provide for a layer
u fine dit in the bottom Of the fur
-ov. which viii pack down closely
md help TO restore capiIlarity.
II the furrUv turns mp shiny OF
inows any tendency to bake into clods
Z should Be narrowed every half day.
r every DAY at least This seems Ike
great deal Of extra work. but II
1arrow Is kept in the field lt does not
axe lons to-hitch on to II and go over
ne newly piowed strip Just before
Iuirrtng for noon or night. A few
1inutss spept IN narrowing at such