The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1912-08-08
Tas dairy masi'c friend
A VALUABLE FARM IMPLEMENT
The Disk Harrow Leads Other imp!e-
nnents In Usefulness.

The Disk Harrow Leads Other imp!e-
nents In Usefulness.
George NJ. Logan. Indianapolis, Ind.
II properly understood and used. no
Better implement can be used on the
sarm than a good disk harrow This
Information has been gained by actual
experience in the field and from ex-
porience Of the best farmers.
For sowing oats broadcast there Is
30 better way than to disk the ground.
then sow the oats and disk the ground
again ''The better the seed bed, the
better the CROP" is an old adage and
that is why it pays any farmer to disk
his. ground before sowing the oats.
All good farmers know that If they
properly prepare their corn ground
before planting, they not only raise
better crop, but less. cultivation is re-
ouired after the crop is planted. Disk
che ground before plowing. is good
plan to follow with any condition OF
soil. Suppose the ground is corn stub
- the disk successfully cuts the
staTs. leaving them on the ground
an a fertilizer as well as serving the
purpose Of keeping the ground loose.
) When piowed, this loose dirt is turn
Cd under, and when dlsked again,
good seed bed as deep as the furrow
IS procured.
Suppose the ground is heavy blue
grass or timothy sod; if disked we'll
before plowing. it will plow better, the
sod will lie fat and not stand up on
elge causing dry spots on which the
corn will not grow or be bother in
after-cuitivation. A meadow OF blue
grass, timothy, or alfalfa that has
become "sod-beund" can he placed in
proper condition better by the use OF
the disk harrow than by the use Of any
other implement.
Very often the ground is dry enough
to allow the top to be worried one or
two inches, but is too wet to be plow-
ed: by disking this ground can be put
In proper condition for plowing much
sooner and the seed bed will also be
improved. A seed bed which has
been prepared, but which has since
been packed down by heavy rains,
can be put in better condition, with
less expense and time, with the disk
harrow than with any other imple-
ment.
The question OF size Is important.
Whether it should be four, ave, six.
seven, or an eight-foot harrow depends
entirely upon the condition Of the soil
and the amount Of horse power at the
farmers command Whether the disk
blades should be sixteen, eighteen, or
twenty inches in diameter is another
matter. o. these three, the 16-inch is
the-pro2er size, for it will disk the
around Eve and one-half or six inches.
which is as deep as practical, and it
Will cut the ground better and easier
ana has less draught than the larger
sizes. A disk is not wheel running
over the ground and carrying load
like wagon: it is plow, or spade.
cutting and turning the soil.
To better illustrate, draw three cir
cles. one sixteen inches, one eighteen,
and one twenty inches In diameter;
then draw straight line across each
OF them.-say four inches from the
edge: which one Of these three circles
will require the most weight to put it
in the ground up to the line? Which
one will have the largest body Of dirt
20 move at one revolution? Which one
will stir the ground best on account Of
speed? Then consider that on the dish
harrow there are eight. ten, twelve
fourteen or sixteen OF these circles
I,ookfat it from another standpoint
Does not the front wheel of wagon
when loaded equally, cut depper in the
ground than the hind wheel. and does
II not break or cut a rail in two that
ene hind wheel will almost jump over
without marking?
The 2o-inch disk harrow is some
times unsatisfactory and the farmer
who has made the mistake OF investing
IN harrow not adapted to his soil gets
an entirely wrong opinion of its use
fulness. The owner of a good disk
harrow finds it the best implement
49, ,,, no need on the farm