The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-12-17
DEEP FLOWING AND SCRNonNt
tAtlanta ConStitutionA

tAtlanta Constitutions
1t is generally understo.. .+
deep plowlng" is such deep r.eu
as may De done with one fnrrov avis,
either OF a one or tWo-horst -
pillow. disk plOw or other impltr.tt
drawn by one, two or three hor~.-
more, at n going. Subsollng y
derstood to mean a special Eff.
break up the underlying sull. er e.s-
soil-usually clay. by means Of , p..u
especially adapted for that part.,.s,r
! work. and to follow in the fsrruw
just before made by q surfa1.
p1oW. This s~urface-soil IS usu.IG, -,
TO u but little below The dars-,oi-
ored or top soil and should uar turn
up the surface more than one 1r.N ~
any one season, of the theretof"f, ,.a-
disturbed or raw clay.
one Of the prime Conditun~ -
blowing IS that the soil shall NJ IT,
too wet, whether to the plowtd >hn-
loW or deep. 1t shoul be Of that DE-
gree of wetness that the soil 'mn.d
or moved by the pillow will br.ax sr.d
crumble and not remain solid and
showing a Slick polished s~urfa.a
his condition Of the soil applies Nth
equal if not greater force to IL, SIT
soil, with the probable 2if4rel.n
that stirring the surface soil uE.f too
wet is more damaging to the rly>I.al
condlt1on and the consequent growth
and product OF the crop tia IS ff.e
disturbing Of the subsoil, becaIs. ,he
surface soil contains the greater part
OF the available plant food ara ne
roots That rad1ate through It III s,nrol
Of food and moisture and air. Fbc
subsoil is in the nature Of q resol4er
of moisture to be drawn upon e..Ftnr
periods Of drouth.
Should Be Well Broken.
It is not only desirable thai a Sol
shall be broken deeply, but Il she..d
be thoroughly fined or disintegrat,d.
mellowed. SO that every part II i
shall be per1neable by air, water and
roots. h also applies-but with
less force-to the soil below, that y
generally left for the suhso,l plow.
The same degree Of fineness Of sor-
subsoil for obvious reasons, one Il
which Is hat 1t is beyond the reach
or the ordinary harrow. Another l~
that the subsoil Is q compact pass
and there is less room to tear j. up
tand separate It into a fine CONDITION.
ally clay, which is naturally tough or
doughty, n not inclined /" remain
open and porous.
Time to Pillow.
The soils covered with the remains
OF the preceding crop, with grass aLd
weeds and corn stalks. rtuhbie
oroom-sedge, etc, the proper time 70
pioW' is the fall, commencing in 60
tOber and continuing through NoNtrl-
Der and into December, or untn st"l-
ped by excessive wetness. As b rue
n three months closing with NoNtnl-
Der are usually dry. It is IN fact The
oryest season Of the year. As 8 r'ie
the subsoil is drier at this time ard
continues 50 for a longer period.
Therefore, the fall season. as 4 ger
eral rule, Is the proper time to use th+
subsoil p|ow. During the ext three
months-Decenober, January AID
February-the rainfall steadily m
creases In quantity. reaching its semi
annual maximum in February. al
though the latter is the shortest month
or the year. At the same time th.
days are shorter. the sunshine has less
drying power, and it takes longer for
| the soil to- get into proper condition
TO pillow, following a wet spell. There
IS no doubt that the fall IS the time
10 90 deep blowing, especially snp-
), soiling.
So far November has been al ,dca'
month for fall blowing, and this .on-
dltaon NAV be prolonged into and
through December, and it beficoFtF
? every farmer to "speed the plow' al.
get everv foot Of oat. wheat and corr
stooole ploWed. excepting .ita'l
g by terraces or bitches There IL IL
! danger whatever OF getting the 90
r into better physical condition hy 10,
much blowing and narrowing, IS
r. j. REDDl&G
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The E7eht Foundation.