Tilth and Tillage of the Soil 



1775 



of the many conditions involved. There is required on the part of the 

 farmer an understanding of the principles involved, keen observation, 

 ard good judgment, in order to know what combination of treatments 

 will give the best results at the least cost. 



An important object of tillage is to kill weeds, because weeds rob the 

 regular crop of moisture, food, sunlight, and air. Weeds are most easily 

 overcome when small, and sometimes rough tearing up of the soil and 

 waste of moisture through exposure is justified in order to cover and to 

 kill the weeds. This is a common means of overcoming small weeds in 

 the row. 



Tillage by dynamite 



A type of tillage that is now much advertised for soils inclining to a 



5UB50IL 



Fig. 102. — Section of soil illustrating the proper position of a charge of dynamite with 

 reference to a hardpan layer, and its supposed action in breaking up a compact con- 

 dition. For efficient results the subsoil should be dry. {Sketch by DuPont Powder 

 Company) 



hardpan structure is the use of dynamite. The explosion of small charges 

 of dynamite at frequent intervals (ten to twenty feet) in the subsoil, at 

 a depth of two or three feet, is said to loosen the soil much as though a 

 subsoil plow had been used . (Fig. 102.) Whether to use dyna mite or a plow 

 is a question of cost and efficiency where such a condition of soil exists. 

 In either case the soil should be relatively dry. Dynamite has the advan- 

 tage on stony soil and may be more efficient for deep work, but the 

 cost per acre is high as compared with tillage operations and the question 

 arises whether there are many areas of soil in New York State where the 



