The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1911-03-02
OF INTEREST
TO
Some Valuable Hints and In
formation Taken From
Farm Papers
The Reasons Why

loDdhoAo L al i1V Il SCN III lSSu'
of Jan. LIST, a call for our theories.
| think every farmer should have a
theory or reason for everything he
does on the farm. | have been farm
ing about so acres in Custer Co., s.
D., for the last Is years so | will Of
fer my theories to those who are
willing to take their chances with
them.
First, | consider the ground in
good condition for seeding If it has
moisture to a depth Of II to "a inch
es and is reasonably free from weeds
The subsoil should be firm but not
hard. The ground should not be
cloddy.
| have always had the largest
yield Of small grains where | seed
on corn land. The corn shorld be
thoroughly cultivated even to the
extent of using the hoe if need be,
to subdue the weeds. If you have
used level cultivation and stock
haven't been tramping the ground
hard during the winter and spring
a good press drill is all you need to
use and 90 it early.
If you have ridged the rows Of
corn use a disk harrow straddle each
row throwing the dirt level. Cross
harrow with smoothing harrow,
then use press drill. Don't harrow
again until grain is about 3 inches
high.
Nv reason or theory why this seed
bed produces the best crops is the
land is free from weeds and there
is firm ground for the roots to
get hold of as soon as the seed gere
inmates,
A seed bed prepared on plowed
land is a different proposition. AT
ter watching the failures of those
who pillow in the spring for small
grain, ] never expect to try 1t.
Theory, ground too loose and sow
ing too late. Plow in July or Aug
ust, never work the land when it is
wet enough t. stick to any farm i'm
plement. Theory: You kill the life
| of the land and cause it to bake.
While SUMMER following, if the
ground is we'll plowed and in condi-
| ton to granulate well. you need not
harrow until very early spring.
G.. over the land cross wise of the
blowing very early in spring, then
sow with press drill. This is the
second best condition for seed bed.
Theory: Bv summer-fallowing you
kill the weeds, the ground has the
winter to settle in. the harrow and
Dress drill still help to make the seed
bed firm and leave the dust mulch
on top.
Seed bed for corn the same on
summer-fallowing, but don't harrow
in spring until weeds appear; then
20 over with harrow as often as
weeds appear until planting time.
Then go over with disc harrow, lap
ping half, to leave the groand level.
Then plant corn. Then harrow to
level the land. If you want fodder
drill eight to fourteen inches in the
row. single grain. lfyou want corn
plant two grains two feet apart in
row Flowing done the first half OF
June and planted at once has always
been a for fodder; land
doesn't get weedy and corr grows
rapidly.
We plOw to loosen the soil. so we
can cultivate and let the water in,
don't like the idea of turning
cold heavy subsoil out on top so
am using a narrow pointed subsoil'
err, This | am running about twelve
inches deep the first time to locser
the subsoil and let the water in.
Just straddle each corn row after
the corn is cut.
1t would take a good sized water
spout or cloud burst to run any
water off this land after using thu
subsoiler. Next spring | will use
weighted ground roller to crush
these clods, then use disc anC
smoothing harrow to prepare TIM
believe IN a greater South Dakota