Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-09-23

Now is the time 10 prepare the land
for the fall planting. There is ten
dency to put OF the preparation of the
land until later in the season. which
Is unfortunate and frequently leads TO
the harvesting OF a very small crop Of
grain next spring. II is unnecessary. In
fact. II is inadvisabIe TO plant some
crops too early in the fall. but the
ground should be prepared with the ut
most expedition and given a chance to
absorb such moisture as falls and to be-
come mellow and I'm good condition to
insure a quick termination OF the seed
when IL is sOwn- No matter what crop
Is to be planted this fall. the careful
preparation of the land is the most i'm
portant consideration in its production.
Just how the preparation should be
done win depend somewhat on the char
acter OF the soil, the crop to be grown
and the size OF the farm The size OF
the farm will determine very likely the
mule power available and the efficiency
with which the land can be prepared. II
Is less necessary TO plow sandy soils
deep than clay soils. Land that will be
benefited by subsoiling should be treated
at this season Of the year. as there is
now much less danger OF pudding than
I'm the spring. and by deep blowing and
subsoiling in the fall the water-holding
capacity Of the land Is increased and
its ability 10 resist drought next summer
greatly enhanced thereby. The impor-
lance OF moisture is not always appre-
ciated as it-shouId be. or else more thor
ough prepared Of the red clay lands OF
the state IN particular would be observ-
ed.
II is safe TO say that there are few
II any farms I'm the state where more
mule power is available than Is needed
in fact, the reverse viii be almost uni
formly true, since many OF our mules
are comparatively light for the large
breaking implements which the expert
snce OF the farmer and the scientist
alike has demonstrated to be the most
servicesble and economical In preparing
land All land intended for grain this
fall should at least be broken with a
two-horse turning pillow. There may be
some exceptions to this in the case of
land on which peas or other legumes
have been grown. II il was broken in
the early spring or summer and sown
20 cowpeas. IL may not need to be again
turned this fall. Personally. we would
always prefer TO turn pea land In the
fan. however. II will cover up the stalks
and roots and more nitrogen will be
retained than where exposed 10 the
washes OF winter. Besides that. il tends
TO tighten the land TO some depth down
IN the soil and a new surface can be
brought Up TO be acted on by the winter
freezes. These things all thoughtful
farmers viii appreciate are important
considerations.
On large plantations the gang pillow.
say with three mold boards attached. can
be used 10 advantage for q part Of the
fall breaking. These plows may be
made to cut a furrow at least eight
A. - k1n al wwfe
four good mules Comparatively large
areas can be plowed in this way at a
relatively small cost. On very heavy
lands and where there Is much trash
TO bury, the disk plow can be used ad-
vantageously. Three mules will be re-
quired TO pull ii IL eIncient work is
done on the heaviest Of our clay lands,
and where deep tilling implements like
the spalding pillow are available. four
mules viii be required, but the land can
be broken TO a depth of Is TO Is inches.
The importance Of deep cultivation
was demonstrated on the college farm
this year where tremendous crops OF
corn and sorghum were raised on land
broken TO a depth OF is inches. That
deep blowing IS advisable is now being
demonstrated BY certain breaking which
fs in progress on a field that has been
cultivated for many years. how long the
writer can not say, but certainly there
was no evidence OF stumps having been
IN the field in many years until the deep
filling implement was put on the land.
Now. with four mules the soil Is being
turned up in two distinct layers little
shallow layer representing previous cul-
tfvations and a much deeper layer repre-
senting the new soil stirred apparently
for the first time. It may be surpris-
ing to many to know that hundreds Of
roots Of a good size have been cut in two
and brought up through this deep stir
ring A gentleman whose practical
knowledge and general training make his
opinion well worthy of consideration. af-
ter witnessing the work being done in
the field In question stated that he
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