4 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 



thoroughly cuts the grass, while the harrow not only fines the surface 

 but tends to make the soil firm. 



Speaking of the harrow, it is my opinion that this is an implement 

 that is not used enough. It is not an attractive job where one has to 

 walk and because of this, I have found it profitable to equip my harrcvr 

 with a riding cart. Four horses on a 16-foot harrow, with a sensible 

 man on the seat, can do an immense amount of good in a day. At no 

 time is its use more to be commended than just before the corn is planted. 

 At such a time I firmly believe in setting the teeth somewhat straight 

 so that the surface soil is thoroughly stirred, and consequently all weeds 

 destroyed in their infancy. 



The President : The paper is now open for discussion. 



A Member: What is the object in discing the soil before 

 plowing? 



Mr. Atkinson : I always feel you make a better connection 

 between the soil that is loose and that which is not turned over. 

 I think the surface soil will work down and make a firmer and 

 more pliable seed bed. 



A Member : Have you reference more particularly to corn 

 stalk land? 



Mr. Atkinson : Well now, the small grain land, I would have 

 plowed in the fall. I take it for granted that every man who 

 is here who does not seed down his land, but who intends to put 

 his corn on grain land, does fall plowing. I think, by doing that 

 you will be able to produce more bushels to the acre than other- 

 wise. That is the reason I spoke about fall plowed land. 



A Member: Don't you think discing this land in the spring 

 would have a tendency to cut the stalks up so they wouldn't 

 bother a great deal? 



Mr. Atkinson : That is one of the uses. I said, where 

 stalks are freely pastured, two discings will invariably get them 

 out of the way of the corn planter and cultivator. Someone who 

 has had experience along that line might say something on tlie 

 subject. 



Mr. Adams, of Humboldt County: I thought the paper a 

 very practical one. I think most of it contained the salt and 

 pepper of common sense. But I cannot help but take exceptions 

 to one or two ideas advanced. The first was in regard to the 

 float, as being practical in some parts of Iowa. I don't know 

 much about Iowa outside of my own county. I have tried the 



