86 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



treatment once every three or four years is amply sufficient. With increasing drouths, 

 however, it may be found desirable to subsoil every two years. The work is most 

 profitably done in the fall, as this gives an opportunity for the land so treated to ab- 

 sorb the fall rains, winter snows and any moisture which may be precipitated before 

 spring plowing is possible. This is specially true in parts of the far west, where 

 winter irrigation is practiced. The streams there during early fall or winter usually 

 supply sufficient water for irrigating, while during the dry season they fail. 



Admitting, then, that subsoiling ought at least to be tested, the question of ob- 

 taining suitable and most desirable plows is important. The common practice, as 

 before stated, is to follow the ordinary breaking plow with a plow constructed espe- 

 cially for isubsoiling, types of which are illustrated herewith. These cost all the way 

 from $10 to $18. They can be obtained of any of the prominent plow firms. One 

 company manufactures an attachment, or rather a subsoiler, which is substituted for 

 the front plow on a four-horse gang. There is no getting around the fact that subsoil 

 plows pull hard. In the case of the gang subsoiler, a good four-horse team takes it 

 along quite readily, but if the ground is especially hard, it would need one or two ex- 

 tra horses. With the ordinary subsoiler, which follows in the furrows of the plow, it 

 is customary to use two horses, but three or even four are more satisfactory. 



During the past four years many careful tests with subsoiling have been con- 

 ducted at American experiment stations and by practical farmers. The results, care- 

 fully compiled by Mr C. A. Shamel in AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, are somewhat 

 conflicting, though only a few were with sugar beets. 



In New York and Kansas no decided advantage was obtained. In South Caro- 

 lina on sandy soils, the effect was not appreciable. In Indiana and Iowa, the prac- 

 tice was advantageous in sugar beet culture, as better formed beets, with a higher 

 per cent of sugar, were obtained. Corn in these two states was not benefited. Prac- 

 tical farmers in Kansas find subsoiling beneficial. Mr Kelsey of Oakland, Shawnee 

 Co, stated to the agricultural board that in 1894 land subsoiled yielded 65 bu of corn, 

 while that not so treated produced only 35 bu. MiUet on subsoiled land yielded well; 

 on untreated it was a failure. The effects last about three years. Subsoil one-third 

 of the farm each year. Mr Peckham of Haven, Reno Co, obtained substantially the 

 same results. Experiences in Illinois are somewhat difficult to obtain, as but little 

 work has been done along this line. In general the facts in this state agree with 

 those from Kansas and Nebraska. 



The most marked results are reported from the Nebraska experiment station in 

 Lancaster Co, by Prof Lyon. The soil in most parts of Nebraska, and where these 

 experiments were tried, contains very little sand and is made up mostly of silt, or of 

 the ordinary dark mud so familiar to residents of the corn belt. Because of the small 

 amount of sand, the soil compacts quite readily, becoming almost as firm as so much 

 clay. It is well supplied with plant food, and when stirred sufficiently deep so as to 

 take up water, is very productive. Good results from subsoiling were very marked. 

 Land subsoiled four years ago for sugar beets and not treated since, was this season 

 planted to corn. A field not so treated lay alongside. Both were upland, with a 

 gradual slope toward the east, and consisted of a fine loam with considerable vegeta- 



