98 THE FIRST BOOK OF FARMING 



wards. This practice of leaving the middles inter- 

 feres with proper harrowing and after-cultivation. 



THROWING THE LAND UP IN RIDGES 



Many farmers throw the land up into ridges with 

 the plow and then plant on the ridge. When land 

 is thrown into ridges a greater amount of surface 

 is exposed to the air and a greater loss of moisture 

 by evaporation takes place, therefore ridge culture 

 is more wasteful of soil water than level culture. 

 For this reason dry soils everywhere and most soils 

 in dry climates should, wherever practicable, be left 

 flat. On stiff, heavy soils which are slow to dry out, 

 and on low bottom lands it may be desirable to ridge 

 the land to get the soil dried out and warmed quicker 

 in the spring. Late fall and early planter truck 

 crops are often planted on the southern slopes of 

 low ridges thrown up with the plow for warmth 

 and protection from cold winds. 



TIME TO PLOW 



The time of plowing will depend somewhat on 

 the nature of the soil, climate and the crop. 



More plowing is done in the spring just before 

 planting spring and summer crops than at any other 

 time, excepting in localities that plant large areas 

 of winter grain and truck. This spring plowing 

 should be done early, for the spring plowing tends 

 to dry the loosened soil somewhat and allows it to 



