Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-05-02
Depth of Flowing Must Be Determined
by Farmer Himself az He Knows
Existing Conditions.

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The advice to go down gradually Ii
given solely because the inexpsri-
enced farmer may try to pillow too
deeply the lrst time and bring TO the
surface too much OF the suhsoil The
best plan lie to use the disk pillow. so
set that it will not bring the .ubsoiI
to the surface. Generally It may be
sent down s. 10 or 12 inches with i'm
punity, and. II 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 pillow or scooter and
go down as deep as desired-is better
than shallow blowing, though a little
more expensive plan than the use OF
disk pillow and not go effective Many
trials made on q great variety of
soils show that the cost OF blowing
ten inches deep with a dish pillow is
on an average about 80 cents DER
acre more than ordinary breaking, and
In double blowing. as above described,
the additional cost averages SIPS per
acre. These costs are somewhat less
become the rule upon a given field.
There is no question that breaking and
pulverizing to a 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 good crop and poor crop.
The depth of blowing must be de-
termined by the farmer himself He
knows the conditions and is the bost
Judge OF the cost. In many sections.
If done IN the fall It undoubtedly pays
to subSoil 10 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
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 sub
soiling until after two or more years.
No principle in agriculture has been
more thoroughly demonstrated than
the value OF a deep. thoroughly pull
verified seed bed
nine inches deep-elways three times
for crop, and in stiff lands nine
tfmes. 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: ~ The frequent and deep
pulverization OF the soil, ~ the ac-
emulation OF manure, and (3) the
destruction of weeds.
A deeper and more thoroughly pub
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 tve-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 (Au-
gusD ito preserve moisture and de-
stroy weeds"
NJ 20 VI Tue GSOTkld 00-
pertinent station. on Cotton" stated
that fourteen years OF experimental
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 pillow and harrow, is
more effective than deeper but less
thorough pulverizing."
The North Carolina bulletin issued
February, 1906, states: TT unQues-
tiOnably pays well to thoroughly break
and broadcast-harTow land for corn.
Using a two-horse pillow and 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.