PLOWING ALFALFA SOD. 421 



man. A boy will do better plowing with a good 

 plow nicely adjusted with these wheels on the beam 

 than any man could do without the wheels. 



The File Important. The file is one of the essen- 

 tials. On Woodland Farm where there are some 

 small stones in the land we file the plows sharp 

 after they have run about % mile or a little more. 

 It takes only a few minutes to do this and no longer 

 to file often than it would to file occasionally, and 

 by filing 'often the plow is always sharp. The horses 

 are resting while you file. 



Early Start Desirable. It is rather slow work 

 plowing alfalfa sod at best. Therefore it is well to 

 get at it early in the season. After growth starts in 

 spring alfalfa roots get very tough, and if the land 

 is dry and hard at the same time the plowing is 

 difficult. 



To sum up, get a strong plow, preferably with a 

 good stiff wooden beam. Put truck wheels on the 

 beam, well forward, to hold it true. Have the share 

 wide and sharp. If the roots are old and tough 

 have a wing fastened on that will run under the 

 edge of the next furrow and cut off the roots there 

 for about three inches. Keep the plow sharp. Take 

 time. We have not found it necessary or advisable 

 to plow twice ; one good plowing at a depth of about 

 eight inches has done the work well for us and would 

 do the work anywhere probably wherever the land 

 was cultivated the following season. 



Breaking Sod in Colorado. Prof. Philo K. Blinn 



