54 



Nature-Study Agriculture 



Effect of 

 plowing 

 wet soil 



'*%flu.' "v^ti^M^HH 



Bateman Manufacturing Co. 



FIG. 35. Using a spring- tooth weeder to cultivate potatoes planted between 

 rows of trees in an apple orchard. Such cultivation kills weeds and forms a 

 dust mulch that preserves moisture. 



especially if it is a heavy clay soil. (Exp. 4.) Bricks 

 are made by working wet clay (puddling it) and then 

 drying and baking it. A wet clay soil is puddled by the 

 plow, and the sun dries the furrow slices into something 

 resembling brick. If a handful of earth will not crumble 

 easily upon being pressed, it is too wet to plow. 

 Harrowing All the ground that is plowed should be harrowed the 

 same day, while it is moist and crumbly. Clods are not 

 easily broken after they become dry. But fall plowing 

 should be left rough not harrowed. 



A drag made of several heavy planks fastened together 

 is sometimes drawn over the plowed field to level the 

 surface and break the clods (Fig. 38). 



A roller may be used before the land is harrowed, 



Dragging 



Rolling 



