Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-07-12
LEVEL CULTIVATION.

Thirty to forty years ago corn was
plowed the first time with one-horse
bar piow. The soil was thrown away
from the row on both sides, leaving 4
narrow. elevated slice of soil exposed
on three sides for the young corn to
grow on and In. This left a large
ridge of soil between rows. 20 the
next time the corn was plowed this
ridge was thrown back to the rows,
resulting in two burrows with a small
ridge between rows, or simply 4
trench, according to the width of the
rows and the size OF plow used. This
cultivation OF the corn was followed by
the single-shovel or double-shovel cul.
tivator. At the last cultivation of the
crop the bar plow was again used for
ndging UP the rows as high as they
could be ridged.
But the old-fashioned way Of plow-
ing corn has gradually given way to a
newer and better fashion. The two
horse cultivator followed the single
shovel and double-shovel cultivators.
This was simply two ble-shovel Gull
ttvators on wheels. drawn by two
horses and operated by one man, a saw.
Ing Of one mans time in working tho
crop.
The first two-horse cultivator had
two shovels 70 the gang, and the ma
3orty Of farmers use such, believing
they are tho acme Of perfection. In
some cases they may be a. good as
other kinds. yet In tho majority OF
cases they leave the soil too uneven
and full Of hollows and ridges for
quick drying out. During q very wet
season when the soil really contains q
surplus Of moisture. the cultivator
with large shovels is perhaps the best
that can be used. But the average
season 10 not yet In most cases every
pound a. water In the soil In summer
should be conserved for the growing
plants. Cultivating corn and other
crops with large-shoveled cultivator
dips deep trenches and throws up
ridges for rapid evaporation of soil
moisture. which is a detriment to the
growing crop. 1t Is an old saying that
poor land will grow large crop dur.
mig: a wet summer, and the reason is
that the water In the soil dissolves
mineral plant foods In abundance for
feeding the growing plants. II during
the average summer in humid climates
the soil Is cultivated as level and fine
40 possible. enough moisture will be
retained In the soil for growing bet
ter crops than are usually grown. Wa.
ter In the soil IL the greatest factor
to be considered. yet it Is Impossible
for the soil to hold Its moisture during
the long. hot days Of summer II the
surface Is plowed deep and left un!
even with large shovels. The more
surface exposed to the action of sun
and air the greater Is the evaporation
Of soil moisture at, the surface.
The best ,cultivator is one with at
least three rather small shovels to the
gang. Four or five shovels to the gang
are better for midsummer, dry sur
face working. The cultivator with
three shovels to the gang leaves the
surface soil fully so per cent smoother
and finer than the cultivator with two
large shovels to the gang. The diff
ference in loss of soil moisture in the
use Of the different kinds can easily
be realized. The cultivator with three
or more shovels to the gang has q
tendency to make the space between
the rows level In all directions. De.
pressions are filled more perfectly and
large clods and humps in the field are
reduced and spread out. The few
large shovels working between rows
might be compared to dump scraper
In road work, while the cultivator with
three or more shovels Is comparable
to the road grader or modern road
drag, which smooths and levels at the
same time.
Level cultivation with small-shov.
eled cultivator gives better general re.
suits In every way. both as to killing
weeds and stirring the soil. The crops
are cultivated the first time and the
last time with the same-sized shovels,
There IL no ndging either way in the
beginning or in the end. The weeds
are effectively killed, the soil is we'll.
stirred for perfect aeration. the soil
moisture is conserved for feeding the
growing plants. and the entire field is
level for easy harvesting Of the crop
and for subsequent blowing. The only
way to learn the actual good qualities
of a cultivator with many shovels to
the gang Is to use one. After using
one, you will wish to use no other
kind.