French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1916-1919, 1917-04-05

: ture, plant food. and the physical con-
dition of the soil. This means deep
breaking, thorough pulverization of the
soil, incorporation of organic matter,
supplemented by the use of CONNER
cial fertilizer.
The land should never be ploMed
when either the soil or. the subsoil is
too wet. An experienced plowman
knows we'll enough when the soil is too
wet to pillow when he puts his plow to
work. If the furrow slice glazes or
glistens with moisture, or if the plow-
ed soil adheres strongly when pressed
in a lump in the hand and remains
that way when the hand is removed,
the soil is too wet to be stirred. One
blowing when the soil is too wet viii
often reduce the yield of the crop 80
per cent or more, and it's effects lasts
several years.
When breaking, this time of the
year, the land should be plowed one Or
two inches deeper than previous plow-
ing. but the subsoil should not be
thrown ontop, where. if it is clay, it
may form Jumps almost as hard as
brick when dried out by the sun and
wind. Use such a pillow as will not in
vert the furrow slice. Remove the
wing or turn part of the pillow, if nee
essary. Six inches is not too deep to
break at this season of the year, if
proper precautions are taken. The
average depth Of breaking is a5u.tr
four inches.
At this time of the year all land
should be narrowed the same day the
blowing is done to p~ulverize the Jumps
before they become hard clods. These
clods are almost as Objectionable as
rocks Of the same weight, and they
very often remain on the soil for sew.
eral weeks, and sometimes for months.
This narrowing not only pulverizes the
soil, but helps to prevent the evapo-
ration of moisture that will surely be
needed some time during the summer.
Nearly all summer crops suffer at
some period of their growth for lack
of moisture, Notwithstanding the fact
that we have about so inches Of rain
fall per year.
This broken soil should be allowed
to settle and become firm before put
ting the seed into the ground. but it
should then be narrowed o rdisked
shallow on top to form a mulch. The
moisture from beneath can rise up
through the compact soil. but cannot
do so in a very open soil. 1t can then
reach the seed, no matter if the wealth
er is dry. The loose soil on top or
the mulch, prevents the moisture from
escaping into the air. fits held Just
where it is needed. Furthermore, the
loose soil on top admits the air to the
seed. Thus We have two things that
are necessary 70 the termination of all
seed-moisture and air Cor oXygeD).
depend on the season-that is. the
sun-for furnishing the warmth, which /"
is the third essential thing for the
termination of seed.
If all of the land which is to- be cuI-
tivated this season cannot be broken
before it dries out, then a good har-
rowing or scrathing of the surface soil
should be given before the breaking
is done, even when the soil is so dry
that it will break into clods. This
mulch that is made by the narrowing
Or disking will save enough of the
.evaporating moisture to soften the soil,
so that very good breaking may be
done in two Or three days afterward.
The other important thing in regard
to the physical condition OFF, tn soil is
a good supply OF humUs. Of course.
this humus should have been growing
all the winter and be ready to turn
under. If not, then the land will have
to wait a while for the humus. but it
should have a properly balanced fer
ti1izer applied for plant food.
Wherever there is a cover crop TO-
be turned under this spring, it should
be wen dfsked and cut to pieces before
the land is broken. 1t always pays to
do this. Then the land should be har-
rowed again after the beakfng is done,
as discussed above.
- 1900 - o-o--