The Elements of Agriculture A Book for Young Farmers, with Questions Prepared for the Use of Schools by George E. Waring (e reader for manga .txt) 📕

so altered by exposure, that it will equal the rest of the soil in fertility.

Often where lime has been used in excess, it has sunk to the subsoil, where it remains inactive. The slight deepening of the surface plowing would mix this lime with the surface-soil, and render it again useful.

SECTION 4 (MECHANICAL CULTIVATION) CHAPTER V (PLOWING AND OTHER MODES OF PULVERIZING THE SOIL) Pg 221

 

When the soil is light and sandy, resting on a heavy clay subsoil, or clay on sand, the bringing up of the mass from below will improve the texture of the soil.

As an instance of the success of deep plowing, we call to mind the case of a farmer in New Jersey, who had a field which had yielded about twenty-five bushels of corn per acre. It had been cultivated at ordinary depths. After laying it out in eight step lands (24 feet), he plowed it at all depths from five to ten inches, on the different lands, and sowed oats evenly over the whole field. The crop on the five inch soil was very poor, on the six inch rather better, on the seven inch better still, and on the ten inch soil it was as fine as ever grew in New Jersey; it had stiff straw and broad leaves, while the grain was also much better than on the remainder of the field.

[What kind of soils are benefited by fall plowing?]

There is an old anecdote of a man who died, leaving his sons with the information that he had buried a pot of gold for them, somewhere on the farm. They commenced digging for the gold, and dug over the whole farm to a great depth without finding the gold. The digging, however, so enriched the soil that they were fully compensated for their disappointment, and became wealthy from the increased produce of their farm.

Farmers will find, on experiment, that they have gold buried in their soil, if they will but dig deep enough to obtain it.

SECTION 4 (MECHANICAL CULTIVATION) CHAPTER V (PLOWING AND OTHER MODES OF PULVERIZING THE SOIL) Pg 222

 

The law gives a man the ownership of the soil for an indefinite distance from the surface, but few seem to realize that there is another farm below the one they are cultivating, which is quite as valuable as the one on the surface, if it were but properly worked.

Fall plowing, especially for heavy lands, is a very good means of securing the action of the frosts of winter to pulverize the soil. If it be a stiff clay, it may be well to throw the soil up into ridges (by ridging and back furrowing), so as to expose the largest possible amount of surface to the freezing and thawing of winter. Sandy soils should not be plowed in the fall, as it renders them too light.

DIGGING MACHINES.

[What is the digging machine?]

A recent invention has been made in England, known as the digging machine or rotary spade, which--although from having too much gearing between the power and the part performing the labor, it is not adapted to general use--has given such promise of future success, that Mr. Mechi (an agricultural writer of the highest standing) has said that "the plow is doomed." This can hardly be true, for the varied uses to which it may be applied, will guarantee its continuance in the favor of the farmer.

Already, in this country, Messrs. Gibbs & Mapes, have invented a digging machine of very simple construction, which seems calculated to serve an excellent purpose, even in the hands of the farmer of limited means.

SECTION 4 (MECHANICAL CULTIVATION) CHAPTER V (PLOWING AND OTHER MODES OF PULVERIZING THE SOIL) Pg 223

 

Its friends assert that, with one pair of oxen, it will dig perfectly three feet wide, and for a depth of fifteen inches. An experiment with an unperfected machine, in the presence of the writer, seemed to justify their hopes.

This machine thoroughly pulverizes the soil to a considerable depth, and for smooth land must prove far superior to the plow.

THE HARROW AND CULTIVATOR.

[Why is the harrow a defective implement?

Why is the cultivator superior to the harrow?]

The harrow, an implement largely used in all parts of the world, to pulverize the soil, and break clods, has become so firmly rooted in the affections of farmers, that it must be a very long time before they can be convinced that it is not the best implement for the use to which it is devoted. It is true that it pulverizes the soil for a depth of two or three inches, and thus much improves its appearance, benefiting it, without doubt, for the earliest stages of the growth of plants. 

SECTION 4 (MECHANICAL CULTIVATION) CHAPTER V (PLOWING AND OTHER MODES OF PULVERIZING THE SOIL) Pg 224

Its action, however, is very defective, because, from the wedge shape of its teeth, it continually acts to pack the soil; thus--although favorable for the germination of the seed--it is not calculated to benefit the plant during the later stages of its growth, when the roots require the soil to be pulverized to a considerable depth.

The cultivator may be considered an improved harrow. The principal difference between them being, that while the teeth of the harrow are pointed at the lower end, those of the cultivator are shaped like a small double plow, being large at the bottom and growing smaller towards the top. They lift the earth up, instead of pressing it downwards, thus loosening instead of compacting the soil.

Many styles of cultivators are now sold at agricultural warehouses. A very good one, for field use, may be made by substituting the cultivator teeth for the spikes in an old harrow frame.

SECTION 4 (MECHANICAL CULTIVATION) CHAPTER VI (ROLLING, MULCHING, WEEDING, ETC.)_ ROLLING Pg 225

 

[Name some of the benefits of rolling?]

Rolling the soil with a large roller, arranged to be drawn by a team, is in many instances a good accessory to cultivation. By its means, the following results are obtained:--

The soil at the surface is pulverized without the compacting of the lower parts, the area of contact being large. The stones on the land are pressed down so as to be out of the way of the scythe in mowing. The soil is compacted around seeds after sowing in such a manner as to exclude light and to touch them in every part, both of which are essential to their germination and to the healthfulness of the plants.

[Under what circumstances should the roller be used?]

The soil is so compacted at the surface, that it is less frequented by grubs, etc., than when it is more loose. When the soil is smoothed in this manner, there is less surface exposed for the evaporation of water with its cooling effect. Light sandy lands, by being rolled in the fall, are rendered more compact, and the loosening effects of frequent freezing and thawing are avoided.

Although productive of these various effects, rolling should be adopted only with much care, and should never be applied to very heavy lands, except in dry weather when lumpy after plowing, as its tendency in such cases would be to render them still more difficult of cultivation. Soils in which air does not circulate freely, are not improved by rolling, as it presses the surface-particles still more closely together, and prevents the free admission of the atmosphere.

If well under-drained, a large majority of soils would doubtless be benefited by a judicious use of the roller.[AL]

SECTION 4 (MECHANICAL CULTIVATION) CHAPTER VI (ROLLING, MULCHING, WEEDING, ETC.)_ MULCHING Pg 226

 

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