Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-04-15

The question OF breaking the red clay
lands OF the Piedmont region thoroughly
ard deeply is one OF paramount impor-
tance In 10 this time the majority OF
our farmers have been scratching over
IRE surface Of the land. but not cultivat-
fun IL AS a matter OF fact. shallow
blowing IS responsible in large measure
FOR the fearful destruction wrought oy
erosion on these soils Various methods
az deem tIIlfng have been suggested. but
IN general the idea has been TO plow the
lard deeply in the fall and then follow
viii, a subsoiler In this connection II
should be stated that the gradual deep
enfnr OF soils previously plowed not over
three or four inches deep Is always ao-
vfsable. Where the work can be done
an the fan there is not half so much OBJ
lection TO bringing the subsoil to the
surface as many have supposed. rms
question has been tested with good deal
Of care on the college farm in the past
few wears. and the minimizing influence
which many were certain would foliow
have failed TO u1aterialiZe- The methods
OF deep breaking employed up 10 inns
time have necessitated the use or Two
teens. two implements and two men
The xubsoil plows have seldom worked
Enthusiastically. and this f. particularly true
where the red clay soils have predominant
"a and the sub-soil has therefore been
usrticularfy tenacious and din1cut 10
break up. 1t is not an uncommon expe-
rierce to twist of the shank OF the SUD
sosier where these conditions prevail and
the work Is so slow and laoorlous tnat
n has been abandoned in many in
stances. or done so inefficiently that no
apuarent benefit followed subsoling- For
mis- reason deep blowing and subscribing
40 as 10 stir the soil to depth or il 70
e inches inches has not made as much
rrogress as experiments indicate as de-
sifrbie.
FOR many years the writer has been adj
roraffng the necessity Of deep plowing
ara has tried every form OF implement
put on the market which IL was claimed
would enable the work to be done sat
sx<artoriIv At the Tennessee Expert
r-ert station one Of the most successful
ssrnplenents there tested was what Is
known as the Secretary plow. This had
ar extraordinarily large disk and sub
sogl attachment II required from three
10 four mules to handle II but 1t would
mt down any kind OF trash. cut deeper
and wider furrow than any other imple-
rnrnt which had been tested up TO that
ffrre. and broke up the subsoil to con-
siderable extent The draft was so great
however. as to discourage its use on the
average farm For this reason we pre-
srnte the making of this implement was
discontinued Tor the ERtflE 0NAn- al AN~aSN-
IN the last few years the sentiment In
favor OF deep blowing has grown apace.
hera.rSe wherever Il has been thoroughly
tested. II has given better results than
!. It's most ardent advocates ever anticlpat-
ed As n result the advent OF the disk
Nov was hailed with delight by the adj
vaeafes Of deep blowing. and it undoubt-
ediy has made good wherever tested un-
der fair conditions. IL not only cuts
~wsre slice but It puIverizes the soil well.
sburies trash 10 good advantage. and cuts
n deer furrow Deep and rapid breaking
was also secured with riding gang plows
: Of various models. but all these irnple-
merits failed 10 mix the top soil and the
bottom soil, and moreover. IL was I'M
possible TO get the depth OF cultivation
and completeness OF puiverization which
. - essential to prevent erosion in lands
7 cr IRE Piedmont section. and give 10 the
xcsifh new and complete soil equal. and
~ssrprso~ In many respects. TO that which
wps originally found when the country
~rp@ FIRST settled Some VIII TO doubt think
fhf~ f. en- extrave-aut wav OF stating the
case but nevertheless. II the top and
xuhaofr can be Thoroughly MIXED and put
--e-s~as ~ a depth OF rs inches the air
allowed 20 enter the soil freely. the mois-
fs1rn which falls rs rain absorbed and
held the roots OF TiautS given an onpor-
ttrftv to develop w-'for-nlv I'm all direc-
tfo-s and to a great denth. and other
rnsterfaI advantages which need not De
enumerated here secured. transforma-
tSor IN practice. an increased yield OF
crer- and the reorganization Of our agri-
culfl.rA IN a basis which viii insure the
pre~~rvstion OF soil fertility for an In
definite period VIII certainly follow.
In view Of the many obstacles met with
IN securing a type OF implement that
would sffectuaIIy pIow and pulverize the
soil deeply. II was pleasure TO nave
an opportunity of testing thoroughly and
70 orr entire satisfaction the Spalding
deep tiIIing machine. This is piow con-
sfrscted on the principle of the disk. ex-
eept that It is built for service. good ma
terfaIs being used and sufficient weight
secured 70 insure it's keeping its hold or