The Disk Harrow in Texas 



By H. H. HARRINGTON 



Director, Texas Experiment Station 



The disk harrow is one of the most useful implements on 

 the farm. Before breaking sod with the plow, if the ground is 

 in just the right condition, it is sometimes desirable to run the 

 disk harrow both ways over the land, or if time will not permit 

 running both ways, run it one way, at least. This is especially 

 true in the spring when the sod may not have time to decay 

 before the coming crop. After breaking up cultivated fields 

 that are somewhat dry, the disk harrow will break down the 

 clods and put the soil in the best condition possible, if followed 

 by a smoothing harrow when necessary. In late plowing, when 

 the ground has become somewhat foul, the disk harrow will 

 give most satisfactory results toward killing weeds and grass; 

 the ground to be planted later. In the fall, the disk harrow is 

 frequently extremely useful in breaking up the land for wheat, 

 it sometimes being the case that no other preparation is nec- 

 essary before planting. But the most beneficial effect of the 

 harrow, perhaps, is on alfalfa meadows. It not only opens up 

 the soil so that the air can get to it, cuts the crown of the 

 alfalfa, and improves the stand, but it mulches the soil in such 

 a way that the young stubble grows off more rapidly and pro- 

 duces a crop of hay quicker than on meadows left uncultivated. 

 In some instances, where the alfalfa is irrigated and the land 

 becomes severely baked, the renovator rather than the disk 

 harrow may be required, but in most instances the harrow will 

 be found a most efficient implement on alfalfa meadows, after 

 they are one year old. 



