142 



CORN 



of moisture, but that moisture wliich does rise is held just below the 

 surface ; Second, this moisture being present keeps the soil from dry- 

 ing out, and when turned over by the mold board the soil crumbles 

 and falls into the furrow loosely. Third, the surface which has been 

 previously fined now becomes the bottom of the furrow slice, which 

 because of its structure reunites with tlie several capillary tubes, thus 

 re-establishing the course of the moisture upward. 



BREAKING PLOW. 



Used in plowing sod. Notice that the moldboard Is 

 very sloping. 



Weeds and grass allowed to grow up in corn-stalk land in the 

 spring, before plowing, are first injurious to the physical condition 

 of the soil because they compact and harden the surface, which in 

 turn allows the rapid evaporation of moisture. "When this green 

 mat is turned under later, it acts as a partition between the furrow 

 slice and the 1)ottom nf the furr^/iw, thus interfering with the capillary 

 moisture. Second, weeds alsci utilize a large amoimt of available 

 plant fijod, and at the same time the decaying green material 

 renders the soil more or less acid. Rotting green manure requires a 

 great deal of moisture which must necessarily be drawn from the sur- 

 face soil. Often the furrow slice becomes very dry within a few days. 



Two methods of discing are practiced. By one, the field is disced 

 with the stalks standing. In such cases, the disc is driven at an angle 

 to the rows across the field. The ridges are leveled and the stalks 

 cut to pieces. The other plan, the one usually practiced, is to harrow 

 or drag the stalks down and then disc them crosswise of the row ; 

 that is, crosswise of the way the stalks are laying. In case of heavy 

 stalks, the discs, even if \'ery heavy and sharp, will often ride over 

 if they are piled deeply between the rows. The advantage of the first 

 method is becoming apparent to many. 



