MANAGEMENT OF THE SOIL 



23 



freshen the surface just in advance of planting. 

 This will kill many germinating weed seeds that 

 would otherwise spring up in advance of the crop. 



There are many kinds of harrows adapted to 

 different purposes and to different conditions of 

 the soil. The following include the more important 

 types: — 



The old-fashioned square or V harrow consists of 

 a heavy wooden frame, made either in the form of a 

 square or a V, carrying a number of strong square 

 steel teeth that project downward six or eight 

 inches. The team is hitched at one corner, and it 

 is dragged back and forth, or round and round the 

 field. It is a crude implement, but it is one of the 

 best to use on rough, stumpy land, as the stout frame 

 will slide around the stum]3S Avithout injury. 



The slant tooth, or smoothing harrow, carries 

 more numerous smaller teeth, usually in a sectional 

 iron frame so arranged that the teeth may be set at 



Smoothing Harrow. 



any desired angle by means of levers. This is a 

 very useful tool. It scarifies and levels the surface 

 without dragging out buried grass and weeds. It is 

 often used after other harrows in order" to give 

 the land a finishing touch in advance of planting. 

 With the teeth set at an easy angle it can also be 



