The Raymer enterprise., 1912-07-18
FLOWING ON DRY FARM.
Prepares seedbed by Cleaning
Land and Admitting Air.
Depth Depends In Part on Nature Of
soil-Doubtful II Deep Work In.
creases Yield In Proportion
to the Expense.

Deep, thorough plowing minimizes
supplementary cultivation and aug
ments the yield; poor. shallow plow'
ing augments supplementary cultiva'
ton and minimizes the yield. II the
purposes Of stirring the soil were bet
ter understood, less diversity of opin-
lon as to how 1t should be done would
exist. Flowing prepares the seedbed
by cleaning the land and admitting
air, warmth and moisture into the soil.
This accelerates certain physical and
chemical changes which are conducive
to plant growth. In dry farming the
admission of water into the soil Is
paramount.
Now thinly plowed slice will not
hold as much water as a, deeply
plowed one. Hence, much Of the rain
that falls on shallowly plowed land Is
lost to evaporation before It can seek
Its course downward into the subsoil.
Then, too. during the hot summer
months deeply plowed land in good
tilth admits of by far less evaporation
from below than does that which is
shallowly plowed. Add to this the
excellent seed bed afforded the young
plants by deeply stirring the soil and
little remains to be said in favor OF
shallow blowing.
The depth to plow depends IN part
upon the nature of the soil. Most dry
farm soils, however, are uniform to
great depths and little fear need be
entertained OF throwing up lifeless.
inert masses Of subsoil. In those few
sections where the latter condition
does obtain. care should be exercised
by gradually increasing the depth OF
the plowed area. Seven or eight-inch
plowing. II honestly done, Is deep
plowing. 1t furnishes an ample reser-
voir for the temporary storage OF wa
ter; 1t forms a mulch deep enough to
prevent evaporation from below; 1t
affords a seed bed adequate to the
needs of the young plant.
After deep plowing the soil should
be given ample time to compact and
settle The heavy soils tend to pack
quickly. Special care must be given
to sandy soils. since when deeply
plowed. they require considerable
time and work to become firm. II the
necessary preparation cannot be given
them relatively shallow plowing Is ad
visable This holds especially true In
the case Of spring plowing.
Very deep plowing and subsoillne
as advocated by some may slightly
increase the yield. but 1t is doubtful II
the increase is proportionate to the
added expense. The law Of diminish
ing returns applies to farming as vel!
as to any other activity. Such plow
ing once in series Of years woult
no doubt be profitable. 1t will be re
called here. too. that the deep and ex
tensive root systems Of most dry
farmed crops render great service
to that part Of the soil beyond which
the plowshare cannot reach.
Plow when the land Is moist Wher
the fall is favorable. 1t Is general,
the best time to plow. Leave the
ground rough during the winter ant
work 1t down early In the spring witt
the disk and harrow. Fall plowinl
puts the farmer ahead with his work
releases plant food, leaves the land il
shape to take water, and gives the sol
time to settle.
In areas where the wind blows con
siderably, lifting both the snow ant
the soil, 1t is good practice to leave
the stubble over the winter and t.
turn 1t in the spring 1t should be re
membered, however. that It is alway'
more difficult to secure good com
pact seed bed for spring sowing OF
land that Is plowed In the spring thar
on that which is plowed In the fall
In fact, many failure has been du'
to planting seed on loose spring
plowed land. Where the ground Is t.
be fallowed during the following sum
mer. there is but little preference be
tween spring and fall plowing. espe
cially II the fall is dry.
In dry and heavy soils the disk plov
may be more serviceable than th'
moldboard: but the latter has NOR
general use and does most satisfac
tory work,