Grand Forks herald., 1917-03-24

Farming might be def1ned as the
knowledge Of WHY to use one agri'.
cultural implement in preference to
some other and WHY to grow cer-
tain crop, or certain combination of
Grips, in preference to some other
crop, or combination of crops.
The late Professor King, Of Wis
consin, used as a motto for his phys
les of agriculture, "Strive to know
why. for this teaches how and when" "
Scientific research and study has
found out why we do many things
and is still searching for the why of
others Not infrequently it is discov-
is incorrect and must be abandoned.
An early instance of this was Jethro
TulIs "Horse-Hoeing Husbandry," a
book in which Mr.. Tull, nearly two
hundred years ago set forth the the
ory that crops lived by absorbing
small particles Of soil and hence good
crops could be grown indefinitely.
simply by using implements that
would very finely pulverize the soil
so as to be absorbed by the plants.
He made some implements to be
drawn by horses and grew remarkable
crops by this method. He was correct
in that intensive cultivation was ben
eacial, but wrong in his idea as to
what constituted plant food. We can
recall instances of more modern the
cries and practices being exposed. so
to speak. by late Investigations.
Good Flowing Essential.
The first act Of ordinary farming is
the plowing or breaking up of the
soil. The question of why the land is
plowed would receive a variety of
answers equal almost to the number
questioned.
The ultimate end Of all farming op-
erations Is of course, the growing of
profitable crops, hence every opera
ton must help toward this end. Plow-
ing the land accomplishes many
things The present growth is usually
destroyed by being turned under and
the processes of decomposition of the
matter turned under thereby hasten
ed. The circulation Of air through the
plowed soil Is very beneficial and es-
sential in making available plant food
and promoting the termination and
growth Of plant life. Plowed land
looses excessive moisture much more
quickly than unplowed. because there
is a greater surface exposed. Hence
when there is a surplus of moisture
to be contended with in the spring,
the land had best be left rough after
fall plowing. Such land narrowed
down after being sufficiently dry
makes a good seed bed in which seed
will start promptly, because it Is dry
and warm.
Flowing also prevents evaporation
after the surplus moisture from the
surface moisture from the surface has
escaped, as capillarity is broken in
the furrow slice and the moisture not
drawn from below as it would be in
the unplowed soil.
The root system of cultivated plants
must penetrate the soil quickly to OBJ
tain the elements necessary to their
growth-plowing loosens the soil and
makes this possible.
In the region of short seasons, the
question Of using such implements as
will prepare the soil in such a man
ner as to promote the most rapid
growth and maturity possible is vital
ly essential. The question of seed that
is adapted and acclimated is also of
vital importance, but the soil must
have such preparation as will enable
the seed to grow and develop proper-
ly.
Plow at the Proper Time.
The proper time to plow, it is la
mentable to note, is largely determin-
ed by circumstances, rather than by
the conditions Of the soil, especially
in the region Of the big grain farms.
Every day after harvest that is not
needed for the work must be utilized
in plowing for next years crop,
whether or not the soil is in condi-
ton. Land plowed in the fall, or
which may be left for quite a while
before seed bed is to be prepared
Immediately. The action of freezing
and thawing or Of getting wet by
showers and drying, will in most cas-
es overcome any damage done by
plowing when not in condition.
Flowing to accomplish the maxi
mum results Is an act that could be
studied with as much care and scien-
tlfic deliberatiOn, as an operation on
patient who may have a complica-
ton of diseases. There is a great va
riety of plows constructed for vari-
Gus conditions Of soil and for accom-
plishing various results. The kind of
plow to use can be determined only
on the spot. Plows are generally