PLOWS AND PLOWING. 285 



available plant food is carbonic acid. In order that this acid may- 

 be formed it is necessary that the carbon in the soil be brought in 

 contact with the atmosphere, that it may obtain the necessary oxy- 

 gen to convert it into carbonic acid. Pulverize the soil and the 

 air is freely admitted to all the pores and comes in dii-ect contact 

 with the carbonaceous matter in the soil. 



Soil in a finely pulverized condition radiates heat much more 

 rapidly than when it is solid and compact ; therefore it will cool 

 more rapidly. Dew is deposited during the night most copiously 

 on those bodies which are colder than the surrounding air. There- 

 fore the pulverized soil receives more moisture from the atmos- 

 phei-e by the deposits of dew upon its surface than a hard, compact 

 soil. Furthermore, the porosity of a soil being increased by pul- 

 verization, its capillary power is increa=^ed, and, in addition to 

 accession of mcisture from the air, it is continually pumping up 

 moisture by capillary attraction from the reservoirs below. 



The roots of plants in a soil properly prepared for their ramifi- 

 cations, will extend long distances in every direction. The roots 

 of plants push themselves in the direction of the least resistance. 

 Therefore, if we would have the roots of plants extend their re- 

 searches freely in all directions through the soil, that they may 

 search out and appropriate the life-giving forces stored in the soil 

 and awaiting only the touch of intelligent action to cause them to 

 contribute their stores for the benefit of man, we must pulverize 

 the soil. Thus in whichever direction we look, whatever branch 

 of philosophy we apply, whatever course of reasoning we pursue, 

 we obtain proof that the soil is rendered more fertile by pulveriza- 

 tion. A recent writer says, " The way to increase the manure on 

 our farms is by a more thorough breaking and mingling of the soil." 

 It if the basis on which all agricultural operations depend. Jethro 

 Tull advocated the theory that the fertility of a soil depended 

 solely on the degree of fineness of its particles — that the efiect of 

 manures was entirely due to their pulverizing effects on the parti- 

 cles of the soil. The light of science does-not entirely corroborate 

 this theory, although it gives full weight to the effect of thorough 

 pulverization. 



If the primary object of plowing is to pulverize the soil, then 

 the highest qualification of a plow is not to turn a smooth, hand- 

 some furrow, however desirable that may be, but to pulverize the 

 furrow thus turned in the most thorough and perfect manner. Far- 

 mers in years past have been perfectly satisfied if a plow would 



