The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1911-01-19
USE OF DISK HARROW
Numbered Among Most Impor-
tant OF Farm implements.
Performs important Service In Con-
serving Moisture In Ground to BE
Broken and Preventing II From
Becoming Hard.

Broken and Preventing II From
Becoming Hard.
Tho disk harrow and pulverlzer has
long been numbered among the most
valued Of farm implements II In an
Indispensable auxiliary TO every farm.
er who uHos plow. but modern
scIenco is fast widening the scope OF
tta activities beyond the reduction OF
the plowed field. writes l.. X. Johnson
OF Cape Girardoau county Missouri, In
Farmers Gazette. Invented more than
generation ago. II has remained for
aagaclous minds during the last few
years TO discover now uses Of great
Importance for lts we'll known capacity
m a pulveri1er. One OF these In the
principle that thoroughly TO fine the
surface BUil In advance OF the plow
~ of great value 60 the coming crop,
whatever Il may be. and the argument
~ 40 simple and convincing that there
can be no dispute.
Under former methods the soil was
set on edge or turned over In rolls.
chunks clods and sods and the raw
rough upper surface. for the depth OF
fow inches. rolled. narrowed and
dragged until smooth and lne This
treatment left field looking beauti-
ful on the surface but Just below there
was tho medley Of chunks, clods and
sods, compressed no doubt 10 some ex.
cent but stIll labyrinth OF air cham.
bers In crude chaos or weeds. grass
and unoompaCted soil particles, Now
when the grain was sown or planted
on tho fine upper stratum II would
some mp promptly but when the grow.
,ng roots began 60 make their way
downward IN search OF water and
food. they found themselves frustrated
by tho mir spaces which prevented the
necessary contact with the soil par.
tcles from which water and food are
derived, They were also checked by
the lack OF moisture which was dried
up by the free circulation OF the air
In these cavities and assures.
Compare this with the condition for
roots In the soll-bod when the disk pre-
cedos the plow and the surface Ia well
pulverized before being turned under
and forms n stratum OF fine soil that IL
readily compactod by the pressure
from above az well Rs by the action OF
rains Another value OF this pre-
llmlnary dlsiSIng is Its breaking down
aud cutting 10 pieces the weeds and
trash left by preceding crops. II is
quite common TO see farmers turning
under waving masses of weeds when
plowing for whoat although fow OF
them are unaware OF their very lnjuri.
ous action ON the coming crop. The
disk would az least chop these up and
thereby reduce materially their ca.
pacity FOR damage
A moro Important service and one
but little related 90 this is the employ.
ment OF the disk In conserving mols.
ture In the ground TO be broken and
preventing it from becoming too hard,
as often happens In July and August.
Heretolorn the farmer who on anoa,,nt
OF the press ot other duties entered
late upOn the breaking OF wheat land.
frequently found II 40 hard that Il was
only with great suffering to his teams
that the work could be accomplished.
aud even then with tho result that the
0eld was mass OF buge clods akin 20
bouldors. u was either this alterna.
tive or the moro uncomfortable one OF
waiting for the rain that was 60 come
the next few days but did not.
Under the now dlsponsation he can
early I'm the season put a boy on tho
his disk aud while he himself is en-.
gagged with imperative work, the sur.
ssce OF the dvld viii be cut TO pieces
In such a manner as effectually TO baf.
de sun and winds In their attempts
60 steal a barrel OF water from the un.
derground reservoir. Then the soil
PARTICLES win not solidity into rock.
like masses Tor horse or mule with
aching shoulders to toll over and
oeither viii there be forest OF weeds
With each Individual stem acting as
pump to dissipatc the precious water.
There viii iio the field Whiting pa.
ueauy the coming OF the master with
the plow. It's pulveriEod surface pre-
scouting an lmpcnetrahle barrier TO the
m,terers of the water Il holds In It's
deptas and ready to be easily trans.
formed from surface 10 an under.
ground root he'd. there 10 facilitate
with its storo of humus and Its com.
pact soil particles the growth OF those
myriaGS cf farNglng whito rootlets
upon whose continued energy tho for.
tunc OF their human master Ia do.
pendent.