The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1911-12-23
DEEPEN THE SOIL GRADUALLY
Depth of Flowing Must Be Determined
by Farmer Himself as He Knows
Existing Conditions.
(By the late S. A. KNAPP)

By the late s. A. KNAPP)
The advice to go down gradually is
given solely because the inexperi-
enced farmer may try to pillow too
deeply the first time and bring to the
surface too much of the subsoil. The
best plan is to use the disk plow, so
set that it will not bring the subsoiI
to the surface. Generally it may be
sent down 8. 10 or IL inches with i'm
punity, and, If done in the late fall,
with slight addition to the cost Of
shallower breaking. Double blowing
that is, to break at the usual depth
and then follow In the same furrow
with a narrow pillow or scooter and
go down as deep as desired-is better
than shallow blowing. though little
more expensive plan than the use OF
disk plow and not so effective. Many
trials made on a great variety OF
soils show that the cost OF blowing
ten inches deep with a disk pillow is
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 per
acre. These costs are somewhat less
when q 10-inch depth OF blowing has
become the rule upon given field.
There is no question that breaking and
pulverizing to depth of to 10 or IL
inches and adding plenty Of humus is
economical. Whether a plant has
plenty of food all the time or only
part of the time makes the difference
between a good crop and 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
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 two or more years
No principle in agriculture has been
more thoroughly demonstrated than
the value of 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
blowing; 1t 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: ID The frequent and deer
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 fol
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 Elk
| perimental Farm, Ottawa, Canada
states that farmers usually pillow shall
lowly Immediately after harvest TAU
gust ito preserve moisture and de
stroy weeds"
Bulletin No. SO of the Georgia ex
pertinent station. on Cotton" statet
that fourteen years of experimental
ton have justified certain conclusion!
that may be accepted as PRACTICAL!
| final" The following is one of them
Thorough breaking and comming
ling of the upper soil, gradually In
| creasing the depth to eight or tel
inches. using pillow and harrow, Il
more effective than deeper but les
thorough pulverizing."
The North Carolina bulletin issue,
February, 1905, states: 1T unques
tionably pays well to thoroughly breal
and broadcast-harrow land for corn
Using a two-horse pillow and running
1t eight to ten inches deep and after
wards narrowing with large smooth
ing harrow puts the land in nice con
dition."
On the sugar plantations of Louis
lana the tillage for cane averages I
to IL inches In depth.