TILLAGE 



point can cut. Evenness in depth and width of 

 furrow is seen in good plowing. 



The Disk Harrow. The purpose of the plow 

 is to break up the soil so that it will be crumbly 

 and mellow. The frequency with which land 

 should be thoroughly stirred to full plow-depth 

 depends upon the condition of the soil and the 

 character of the crops. Oftentimes a disk or cut- 

 away harrow may replace the plow. Its action 

 is the same as that of the plow, loosening and turn- 

 ing the soil over. When land has had a good 

 plowing within the year, and has not become com- 

 pact, stirring to a depth of four inches may give a 

 better seed-bed for some crops than could be 

 made by use of a plow. This is true of land that 

 has produced a cultivated crop and is being pre- 

 pared for a fall-seeding. The gain in time of 

 preparing ground for oats in the spring makes the 

 use of the disk or cutaway harrow profitable on 

 mellow corn-stubble land. 



There is temptation to carry the substitution of 

 the disk harrow for the breaking-plow too far. 

 Its use alone would have the same effect as poor 

 plowing, reducing the depth of the soil. The 

 surface soil, down to plow-depth, is the chief 

 feeding-ground for plants because it is kept in 



