FOURTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VI. 409 



In the above scale the first item, "Crown," refers to the first four or 

 six furrows in the land. If properly laid, these should be but very little 

 higher than the balance of the plowing-. By making a high ridge there, 

 one is only making obstruction for all forms of machinery that pass over 

 the field afterwards, by throwing up heavy furrows on the start. If the 

 intention is to plow four inches deep the first furrows should be more 

 shallow than this. Straightness is essential, inasmuch as it is impossible 

 to plow of uniform width unless the furrow slices are cut straight. The 

 workmanship throughout the land will not only be better if the furrows 

 are straight, but there will be a material advantage at the finish, as in 

 this case there will be no turning in the middle of the field to take ouc 

 partial furrows. By letting a plow in at the same distance from the end 

 and out at the other end in the same way, the field not only looks better, 

 but it enables the workman to complete the work when plowing the head 

 land in much less time and in much better fashion than if the ins and 

 outs are rough. It will usually pay to draw a straight scratch along each 

 head line, using these as signals for putting in and taking out the plows. 

 No surface can be kept in good condition unless it is plowed of uniform 

 depth each time. This does not mean that it must be plowed the same 

 depth every time, but rather that each plowing should be uniform 

 throughout. Evenness of top of land refers to the same matter as 

 touched on under the heading of Crown. It means, as there alluded to, 

 that the crown furrows shall not be laid so as to make a prominence on 

 the surface when the work is completed. In order to properly cover 

 weeds furrows must be turned somewhat flatly or else a jointer of some 

 kind used in order to bury the trash. A good finish means that a furro\7 

 of uniform width should be turned at the last, and that this should be 

 laid over as perfectly as any other furrow and that it shall not be deep. 



A scale such as the one given above simply calls attention to the 

 various points that should be kept in mind by the plowmen. If in the 

 past one has been in the habit of doing the work carelessly it cannot be 

 expected that anything like perfection can be approached upon the first 

 attempt to do better. When we advise more skillful plowing we have 

 specially in mind the boys and young men. These should be encouraged 

 to take pride in their work as before indicated, because of the effect upon 

 themselves, saying nothing of the benefits to be derived from skillful 

 workmanship in the increase of crops. The cut-and-cover plowing should 

 be made a thing of the past and its place should be taken by workman- 

 ship involving the clean cutting and laying over uniformly without buck- 

 ling of every furrow. 



