The Disk Harrow 



By F. B. LINFIELD 



Superintendent of Montana Agricultural Experiment Station 



There are some farm implements for 

 the cultivation of the soil which seem 

 almost indispensable on the farms of this 

 Western country. They are the plow, 

 the disk harrow, and the drag harrow. 

 With these tools alone, practically all the 

 farmers can prepare a good seed bed, and 

 control the weeds. Their work may at 

 times be supplemented to advantage by 

 other tools, but these three cannot be 

 replaced. 



In our Western agriculture, next to 

 the plow, the disk harrow is the most valuable tool employed 

 on the farm. It is generally the first tool used after the plow, 

 when it performs a two-fold work. First, it pulverizes the 

 turned-over soil; and second, it in a measure packs the sub- 

 surface onto the subsoil, and makes a fine but firm seed bed. 

 The disk is nearly always lapped one-half, so as to leave the 

 ground level. If the soil is quite loose, the disks are set at a 

 slight angle, while if the ground is firm the disks are set at a 

 wider angle so as to cut deeper. 



We find that this double disking after the plow, leaves the 

 soil in fine condition for the best action of the drag harrow in 

 further pulverizing the surface soil. 



In plowing sod in the dry bench lands in the Western 

 country, a heavy corrugated roller or packer puts the sod 

 down firmly on the subsoil, but if such tools are not available 

 the disk makes a very good substitute. If set so as not to cut 

 too deep, the disk is the best tool we have found to make a 

 good seed bed on this sod. 



In the irrigated districts, we do all the plowing we can in 

 the fall. This leaves the soil in good condition to take up the 



