CHAPTER XXII 

 Middle Breakers 



OTRANGE as it may seem, the middle breaker is 

 ^ extremely useful for very wet and very dry ground. 

 In wet ground the ridges made by the middle breaker 

 dry out, giving the air an opportunity to mingle with 

 the moisture in the ground in the right proportion for 

 plant food development. Oftentimes the water level in 

 the ground is close enough to the surface to keep a seed 

 bed unduly wet. These ridges give the air and heat from 

 the sun a chance to dry out the ground rapidly enough 

 to develop plant food for the growing plants. 



The lister is used most extensively in those regions 

 where the soil is light and sandy and the evaporation of 

 moisture is excessive, and in those parts of the country 

 where the plowing season is short. 



Listing prevents the soil from blowing and enables the 

 crop to withstand the drought of the semi-arid climates. 

 The roots work deeper into the soil, the surface of which 

 is exceedingly warm. This places them in contact with 

 more moisture. 



Larger acreages can be handled when put in with a 

 lister because of the elimination of a great part of the 

 labor of seed bed preparation. The lister prepares the 

 ground at one operation, taking the place of plowing, 

 disking, harrowing, and packing. This is a great incen- 

 tive to the use of the lister. 



The lister is useful in a climate which is exceedingly 

 wet early in the spring and dry during the growing 

 season. The use of the lister eliminates much early 

 spring plowing, but permits the farmer to get onto the 

 field and plant a considerable acreage without any pre- 

 vious soil preparation. 



