TILLAGE 



Subsoiling. The theory of subsoiling always 

 has been captivating. Most soils are too shallow, 

 inviting injury from drouth. Enthusiasm regard- 

 ing subsoiling comes to large numbers of farmers at 

 some time in their experience, and a great number 

 of subsoil plows have been bought. The check to 

 enthusiasm is the fact that few men ever have 

 seen such a plow worn out. Some reasons are as 

 follow: 



(a) The subsoil at time of spring-plowing rarely 

 is dry enough for good results, and there is danger 

 of puddling; (6) the subsoil often is too dry and 

 hard in late summer, when rains permit easy 

 breaking of the top soil for fall grain; (c) the 

 work doubles the labor and time of plowing, and 

 (d) the subsoil soon settles together because it 

 contains little organic matter. Subsoiling is gen- 

 erally approved and little practiced. Land at 

 plow-depth becomes packed by the tramping of 

 horses upon it and the pressure of the plow, when 

 the plowing is done at the same depth year after 

 year, and in some soils subsoiling has been found 

 distinctly valuable. 



Time of Plowing. In great measure the time 

 of plowing is determined by the effect upon soil 

 moisture, and is discussed in the next chapter. 



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