The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1911-12-08
DEEPEN THE SOIL GRADUALLY
Depth Of Flowing Must Be Determined
by Farmer Himself as He Knows
Existing Conditions.

Depth OF Flowing Must Be Determined
by Farmer Himself as He Knows
Existing Conditions.
(By the late s.. A. knapp
The advice to go down gradually Is
given solely because the inexpert-
enced farmer may try to plow too
deeply the first time and bring to the
surface too much of the subsOil. The
best plan is to use the disk pillow. SO
set that 1t will not bring the subsoil
to the surface. Generally it may be
sent down 8, 10 or IL inches with I'M
punity, and, II done in the late fall,
with slight addition to the cost OF
shallower breaking. Double blowing
that Is. to break q the usual depth
with a narrow pillow o. scooter aud
go down as deep as desired-is better
than shallow blowing. though . little
more expensive plan than the use OF
a disk pillow and not SO effective. Many
trials made on q great variety OF
soils show that the cost OF plow1ng
ten inches deep with q disk pillow II
on an average about so cents per
acre more than ordinary breaking. and
In double blowing. as above described.
the additional cost averages $1.25 pei
acre. These costs are somewhat less
when a 1O-inch depth of plowing has
There is no question that breaking and
pulverizing to a depth Of 8 to 10 or IL
inches and adding plenty OF humus Is
economical. Whether q plant has
plenty of food all the time or only
part of the time makes the difference
between a good crop and a poor crop.
The depth OF blowing must be de-
termined by the farmer himself. He
knows the conditions and Is the best
Judge of the cost. In many sections,
II done In the fall 1t undoubtedly pays
to subsoil Is or 20 inches. This has
been proved by some of the best farm
ers and experimenters in the world.
Some subsoils in humid climates have
been made so close and compact by
the abundant rainfall that air does
not penetrate them to aid in prepar-
ing plant food. Such fields, therefore,
may not show any benefits of sub
soiling until after W or more years.
It rarely pays to subsoil land in the
spring, and 1t Is never advisable to
use the subsoil pillow when the sub
soil is fully saturated with water,
even though the surface be fairly
dry. Under such conditions of plow-
ing the clay subsoil is pressed and
packed, when the object is to pulver-
lie it and allow the air to act upon 1t.
No principle in agriculture a been
more thoroughly demonstrated than
the value of a deep, thoroughly pull
verified seed bed.
The Romans plowed on an average
nine inches deep-always three times
for a crop, and in stiff lands nine
times. They did not call three Inches
"plowing"; it was only "scarifying."
The Flemish farmers were the first
to follow the better lines Of agricul-
ture after the dark ages. They de-
voted their efforts to three main
points: ~ The frequent and deep
pulverization of the soil. (2) the &C
emulation of manure. and (3) the
destruction of weeds.
A deeper and more thoroughly pull
verified seed bed was the foundation
upon which England built an i'm
proved agriculture. and this principle
has been generally accepted there for
more than one hundred and sixty
years. until the average production
has increased nearly five-fold.
A late letter from Hon. William
Saunders, director of the Central Ex-
detrimental Farm. Ottawa, Canada,
states that farmers usually pillow shat.
lowly Immediately after harvest (Au.
gust ito preserve moisture and de-.
stroy weeds"
In October they commonly pillow
eight inches deep. Any blowing done
In the spring months is usually shall.
low, not more than six inches deep.
Eight inches of breaking in October
IN Canada. where frosts penetrate
three or foul feet deep, is better for
| moisture storage than blowing to q
| depth OF Is inches in the southern
states.
The writer has visited a number OF
southern agricultural colleges this
year. In every case the directors OF
their experiment stations favored q
deep and thoroughly prepared seed
bed.
The Georgia experiment station bull.
letins repeatedly urge a deep. mellow,
and rich seed bed for corn; and they
insist that II the soil is not naturally
such, 1t should be made 80 by tillage
and the addition of humus.
Bulletin No. So Of the Georgia ex.
pertinent station, on Cotton" stated
| that fourteen year Of experiments
ton have justified certain conclusions
that may be accepted as practically
final" The following IL one OF them:
Thorough breaking and comming.
nng Of the upper soil. gradually in.
ereasinx the depth 70 eight O. ten