144 SUCCESSFUL FARMING 



most easily when it is in a fairly moist condition and most easily pulver- 

 ized. The draft of the plow will be increased both when the soil is too 

 wet and when it is too dry. 



Coulters and jointers are both attached to plows to influence draft 

 and improve the character of plowing. Coulters are for two purposes: 

 (1) those which cut the roots separating the furrow slice from the unplowed 

 land, and (2) those which cut vines and rubbish, preventing their dragging 

 across the plow standard and clogging the plow. Rolling coulters are 

 best for the latter purpose, while standard cutters may be equally as 

 good for cutting the roots in the soil. The chief object of the jointer is 

 to push the surface rubbish into the furrow so that it will be more com- 

 pletely covered. Sulky plows are often used instead of walking plows. 

 The chief advantage in the sulky plow is in reducing the labor of the 

 plowman and in more effective plowing. It is claimed that sulky plows 

 reduce the draft of the plow by relieving the friction on the bottom and 

 land side of the furrow. Under most favorable conditions there may be 

 a slight reduction in draft, but under average conditions the weight of 

 the sulky and the plowman more than offset the reduced friction. 



Plowing at the same depth many years in succession often gives 

 rise to a compacted layer just below the depth of plowing, known as plow 

 sole or hardpan. This is a fault which may be avoided by changing 

 slightly the depth of plowing from year to year. The plowman often 

 looks with pride on what may be poor plowing. The furrow slice should 

 not be completely inverted like a plank turned the other side up, but one 

 furrow slice should lean against the previous one in such a way that the 

 rubbish will be distributed from a portion of the bottom of the furrow 

 nearly to the surface of the plowed ground. At the same time a portion 

 of the furrow slice should be in direct contact with the soil below. This 

 permits good capillary connection for a portion of each furrow slice. 

 When there is an abundance of rubbish to be turned under, it is often 

 wise to disk the land before plowing. This loosens the surface of the soil 

 and causes some mixture of it Avith the rubbish. When plowed under 

 in this condition it does not form so continuous a layer to cut off capillary 

 water from below. Disking in advance of plowing in case of rather com- 

 pact soil also facilitates the pulverization of the furrow slice and results 

 in a better pulverized seed-bed. 



Time of Plowing. — The best time to plow depends on many conditions. 

 There is no particular season that will be better than other seasons under 

 all conditions. The old maxim, ''Plow when you can," is a good one to 

 follow. Plowing done in the fall or early winter lessens the rush of work 

 in the following spring, and under most conditions fall plowing gives 

 better results than spring plowing. Fall plowing in temperate latitudes 

 subjects the exposed soil to the elements and results in destruction of 

 insects and a thorough pulverization of the soil, due to freezing and thaw- 

 ing. Fall plowing should neither be harrowed nor disked, but left in a 



