180 THE CULTURE OF FARM CROPS. 



is dropped to the ground, and then it will break apart into 

 loose, small fragments. Then the soil will turn over and 

 break apart and offer the very best opportunities for the 

 final working and thorough pulverization by the harrow, if 

 this is not deferred too long. 



The plow will do the best work when it is hitched by the 

 traces, so that it runs the required depth without any effort 

 on the part of the plowman to keep it down to its work, or 

 \o prevent it from running too deeply. This is to be secured 

 by a few trials, and such adjustment of the draft as will 

 produce the desired effect. Then the plowman has three 

 important things to attend to, viz; to keep the depth of the 

 furrow even and regular; to preserve the width of the furrow 

 exactly the same; and to make the furrow perfectly straight 



These three points comprise the essence of good plowing, 

 and no other sort of plowing will secure the best culture of 

 the crops, and the highest yield attainable. 



When the furrow is not of even depth, there will be some 

 parts of the land too hard and compact to furnish the re- 

 quisite depth of pulverized soil for the proper growth of the 

 plant. Not only will the roots be unable to penetrate to a 

 sufficient depth in the soil, but the atmosphere will be ex- 

 cluded from a considerable portion of it, and all the various 

 effects of the circulation of the air through the soil which 

 have been particularly pointed out in previous chapters 

 and the importance of which will be now realized, if it has 

 not been before will be missed, to the serious detriment of 

 the crops. 



When the furrow is not of even width, there will be still 

 nK,re unevenness of the soil. A portion of the land will not 

 be cut and turned over at all, the slice of soil will not be 

 severed at the wide part but be simply bent over, leaving a 

 strip of land wholly unplowed. The turned soil will lie 

 upon this hard space, and just there, will be a barren spot 

 upon which the crop will surely fail to some considerable 

 extent. The error first made will be repeated in every sub- 

 sequent furrow, unless the careful and painstaking plowman 

 remedy the fault by taking less land at the next furrow 



