GARDEN TILLAGE 53 



worms, white grubs, and other insects that winter over in 

 the soil. If plowing is left until spring in northern climates 

 it should be done as early as practicable and not as deep as 

 when done in the fall. Deep spring plowing leaves too 

 much of the upper soil loose and not sufficiently compact 

 to enable the subsoil water to easily reach the surface roots ; 

 but where irrigation is practiced, there is not much differ- 

 ence in this respect. The soil for the garden should ordi- 

 narily be plowed to a depth of at least eight inches, yet in 

 the case of some light soils half this depth may be preferable. 



Subsoiling is a term applied to the loosening of the 

 land just below where the plow ordinarily goes. The 

 subsoil is not brought to the surface, but a special plow is 

 used which follows an ordinary plow. This has no mold 

 board, but has a good point and shoe, and these loosen the 

 subsoil without raising it. This process may be hurtful 

 or of no value to subsoils already so loose as to permit the 

 roots of plants to push readily into them, and should not 

 be applied to them ; but for some of the very stiff subsoils of 

 some sections it is a great improvement, since it deepens 

 the tillable land so that the roots of the plants can push 

 more readily into it. This loosening of the stiff subsoil 

 also puts it into just the right condition for receiving and 

 holding water. It is thus sometimes a great help in carry- 

 ing plants over droughty periods. 



Subsoiling gives best results when performed in the 

 autumn. If done in the spring and the operation is fol- 

 lowed by dry weather, the land is likely to be left too loose 

 to hold moisture well that year and consequently will 

 suffer from drought. It is seldom, even on stiff land, that 

 subsoiling is needed more than once in four or five years, 

 for after being once loosened the roots of plants penetrate 

 it and keep it open. The roots of our garden crops push 



