TILLAGE FOR COTTON 105 



reached. An ideal plan is to use a disk plow so set that it 

 will not bring the subsoil to the surface. With this im- 

 plement the soil may be deepened more rapidly than when 

 a mold-board plow is used. 



The ultimate aim should be to plow all cotton soils, 

 except those upon which spring plowing is advisable, to a 

 depth of at least eight inches. The farmer must determine 

 how soon he can secure this depth under his conditions. 



119. Subsoiling. ^ This is a term applied to the 

 loosening of the subsdil without bringing it to the surface. 

 It is accomplished by first employing an ordinary turn- 

 plow, and then in its furrow running a special subsoil plow. 

 As this latter plow has no mold-board, it merely loosens 

 the subsoil without bringing it to the surface. 



In the humid section of the cotton-belt, fine textured 

 subsoils often become so close and compact as a result 

 of the abundant rainfall, that air and water penetrate 

 them with difiiculty. ' Such soils are usually benefited 

 by subsoiling, although the benefits may not be notice- 

 able the first year. Soils with more or less porous sub- 

 soils are not benefited by the use of the subsoil plow at 

 any time. 



If profitable results are to be expected from subsoiling, 

 the following facts must be kept in mind: (1) This opera- 

 tion should be practiced only in the fall. This gives the 

 subsoil sufficient time to become settled before planting 

 time. (2) It is never advisable to use the subsoil plow when 

 the subsoil is saturated with moisture, even though the 

 top soil is dry. This merely puddles and packs the sub- 

 soil, whereas the object is to loosen it. 



120. Subsequent tillage. — After the soil has been 

 plowed, such tillage should be given £|iS will produce a 

 rather firm, well-pulverized seed-bed with a loose mulch 



