The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1911-02-09
Flowing the
Virgin Soil.
BY II. F. Patterson, Montana
Agricultural College.

+ + ]. j. !. !. !. !. j. i. !. = i. :. !. j. :.
The farmers in the new sections of
the country very often ask the ques-
ton, How deep shall l plow my sod
land?" 1t is not possible to answer
this inquiry directly, since circum-
stances and conditions vary with the
locality and with the season. 1t is a
question that must be determined by
the farmer himself However, in or
der to best understand the question,
the farmer must know something re-
garding the object Of blowing and the
effect that blowing has upon the sub
sequent condition of the soil. 1t is
generally understood by all that the
main object of blowing is to prepare a
seed bed. Manure and other organic
material is turned under and the soil
Is mellowed that the roots may easily
penetrate in all directions in search of
plant food and moisture.
1t is necessary that we have plenty
of plant food and plenty of moisture
II we are to secure the best results
VAIN stAS VI Jul SlOpo III llOSC Ol OuI
soils in Montana we find plenty of
plant food and very often we find a
sufficient amount of moisture, the lat
ter factor, however, is controlled al
most entirely by the methods of op-
Grating the land. 1t is generally I'm.
derstood that the deeper the farmer
plows the more moisture he will save
However, the length of time between
the blowing and seeding is very i'm
portant.
New land should be plowed long
enough before seeding that it will
have time to settle and exclude the
unnecessary amount Of air before a
crop is put in. From this we can see
that in blowing new land it is wise to
do our work early in the spring while
there is plenty of moisture in the soil.
The pillow should be followed with a
disc and harrow in order that the soil
may be packed down and a dust
mulch established over the surface
The packing down will exclude a
large amount of the air and the har.
rowing will put a dust mulch over the
surface and thus prevent the evapora-
ton of moisture. If we intend to pillow
in the fall the operation will differ
but little from the method used in the
spring. If we plow very late in the
fall it is not necessary to disc and
harrow Immediately after blowing.
However. it is necessary to get on in
the spring as early as possible and
harrow the soil in order that no mois.
ture will be lost In all semi-arid re.
gions it is wise to pillow deep enough
that the seeds can be placed in the
moist soil. By blowing deep in the
spring and covering the soil with a
dust mulch we may be able to store
large amount of moisture during the
season. This moisture will be drawn
upon by the crop that is grown the
next year. Then again if we plow
late in the fall we must pillow deep in
order that the soil will be open and
porous that it may very easily absorb
the rains and SHOWS of winter. Then
in the spring we must put a covering
over this soil in order that the mois
ture will not escape. Also if the land
has been plowed deep the roots will
have better place in which to grow
and consequently they will penetrate
to greater depth. so that when the
hot, dry months of July and August
come the plants will be prepared.
The land should not be plowed as
deeply in the spring as in the fall,
because there will not be sufficient
time for the soil to settle and pack
firmly that capillary attraction will
work to the best advantage. In every
case it is advisable to follow spring
blowing with disc and harrow. This
will place dust mulch over the sur
face and will materially stop evapora-
ton from the surface SOIL It will also
prevent the formation of chunks or
clods on the field. The thing to be
then, is to plow as deep
ly as possible and then to cover our
soil with a dust mulch In order that
We can save the valuable moisture.