36 PROFITABLE STOCK RAISING 



many parts of the country the land is plowed only 

 three or four inches deep. Below the plow the soil 

 becomes sour, densely packed and unfit for plant 

 roots. When such soils are plowed deeply and 

 this sour subsoil is mixed with the upper portion, 

 the first effect is to retard plant growth. This, 

 however, must not be placed against deep plowing. 

 A better method is to plow a little deeper each year 

 until the land is annually stirred to a depth of eight 

 or ten inches. This gives a deep layer well adapted 

 to supporting plant life. When new land, that is, 

 land which has been undisturbed for a number of 

 years, is broken up it is always best to plow deep 

 from the beginning. It is never wise to plow the 

 same depth twice in succession. In general, fall 

 plowing should be eight, nine or ten inches deep 

 and spring plowing five to seven inches. Do not 

 forget that there are special cases, when this rule 

 does not apply. Ground may be plowed shallower 

 or even deeper to get best results. The object of 

 plowing is to loosen the soil, get the air into it, 

 turn under manure, etc. It is also the prime factor 

 in the killing of weeds. 



All soils except those quite sandy are injured if 

 handled when wet. Nothing is more destructive 

 or disastrous to a clay soil than treating it when 

 it contains an excess of moisture. This must be 

 looking after in all parts of the Eastern country 

 where the subsoil is clay. Of course, some sections 

 are sandy and this matter can be disregarded more 

 or less. The best time to plow is when the land 

 contains just enough moisture so that it will break 

 up mellow. Of course, if continuous rains follow 

 plowing little harm is done, but if wet land is 

 turned up during a dry, sunny period the produc- 

 tive capacity will be greatly decreased. 



