PREPARING THE SEED BED 23 
deeper into the soil and thereby extends the feeding zone of 
the root system. 
Hillsides do not wash so badly when plowed deep, since 
the rain can sink more easily into the soil than would be the 
case if plowed shallow. If the plowing is going to be deeper 
than six inches, it had best be done in the fall because the 
fall rains, aided by the freezing and thawing of winter and 
spring, will re-establish the capillary connection with the 
subsoil. This capillarity is necessary for a good seed bed 
and is not so readily re-established with deep plowing as 
where the plowing is shallow. 
(Courtesy Roderick Lean Mfg. Co.) 
SPIKE-TOOTH LEVER HARROW 
Plowing should not be at the same depth from year to 
year, since such a practice does not mix the soil well and the 
pressure of the plow and trampling of the horses will, in 
time, solidify the bottom of the furrows. Where land has 
been plowed four or five inches deep for a number of years, 
we know of nothing that will make the farmer more money 
for the added effort involved than to plow such land six or 
seven inches deep and break up the crust. 
We plow from five to seven inches deep, depending on 
the time of the year, the condition of the ground, and what 
we are turning under. 
In fall plowing for corn we plow from six to seven inches, 
