Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1912-01-05
DEEPEN THE SOIL GRADUALLY
Depth of Flowing Must Be Determined
by Farmer Himself as He Knows
Existing Conditions.
(By the late S. A. KNAPPo

(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 pillow, so
set that it will not bring the subsoil
to the surface. Generally it may be
sent down s, 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 narrow plow or scooter and
go down as deep as desired-is better
than shallow blowing, though a little
more expensive plan than the use OF
trials made on 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 a 10-inch depth Of blowing has
become the rule upon given field.
There is no question that breaking and
pulverjzing to depth OF to 10 or ~
inchee 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 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,
if dore in the fall it undoubtedly pays
to suhroil is or 20 inches. This has
been p~0ved by some of the best farm
ers and experimenters in the world.
Some srhsoils 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 SUBJ
soiling until after two or more years
No principle in agriculture has been
the value of deep. thoroughly pull
verified seed bed.
The RomaEs plowed on an average
nine inches deep-always three times
for crop. and in stiff lands nine
times. They did not call three inches
blowing; it was only "scarifying."
The Flemish farmers were the first
ho Of io,il.
ture after the dark ages. They de-
voted their efforts to three main
points: ID The frequent and deep
pulverization of the soil, (2) the ac-
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 tive-fold
A late letter from Hon. William
Saunders, director of the Central Ex-
perimental Farm, Ottawa, Canada,
states LHdJ ldTlu0IS usually plOW Sudl-
lowly immediately after harvest eau
gust ito preserve moisture and de-
stroy weeds"
Bulletin No. SO of the Georgia ex-
pertinent station, on Cotton" stated
that fourteen years of experiments
ton have justified certain conclusions
that may be accepted as practically
final" The following is one OF them:
Thorough breaking and comming-
ling OF the upper soil, gradually in
creasing the depth to eight or ten
inches, using plow and harrow, is
more effective than deeper but less
thorough pulverizing."
The North Carolina bulletin issued
February, 1905, states: 1T unques-
tionably pays well to thoroughly break
and broadcast-harrow land for corn.
Using two-horse pillow ard running
it 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 IL
to is inches in depth.