152 FARM MECHANICS 



slice sliding over a perfect moldboard leaves the sur- 

 face of the upturned ground as even as the bottom of 

 the furrow. By using a modern plow carefully selected 

 to fit the soil, gravel, sandy, stony or muck soils, or silt 

 loams that contain silica, lime, iron and aluminum ox- 

 ide can be worked with the right plow to do the best 

 work possible if we use the necessary care and judg- 

 ment in making the selection. 



One object of good plowing is to retain moisture 

 in the soil until the growing crop can make good use 

 of it. 



The ease with which soils absorb, retain or lose mois- 

 ture, depends mostly on their texture, humus content, 

 physical condition, and surface slope or artificial drain- 

 age. It is to the extent that cultivation can modify 

 these factors that more soil water can be made available 

 to the growing crop. There are loose, open soils 

 through which water percolates as through a sieve, and 

 there are tight, gumbo soils which swell when the sur- 

 face is moistened and become practically waterproof. 

 Sandy soils take in water more readily than heavier 

 soils, hence less precaution is necessary to prevent 

 run-off. 



Among the thousands of plows of many different 

 makes there are plenty of good ones. The first con- 

 sideration in making a selection is a reliable home 

 dealer who has a good business reputation and a thor- 

 ough knowledge of local soil from a mechanical stand- 

 point. The next consideration is the service the plow 

 will give in proportion to the price. 



DISK HARROW 



For preparing land to receive the seed no other im- 

 plement will equal a double disk. These implements 



