113 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[April, 
Importance of Good Plowing. 
The plow will do its work on millions of acres, 
the present month. The abundant, or meager 
return in harvest time, very largely depends 
upon whether that work be well or poorly done. 
A soil of only moderate richness, if brought to 
a proper mechanical condition, will feed grow¬ 
ing plants far better than stronger land im¬ 
perfectly tilled. Every one knows that newly 
cleared forest land usually produces its best 
crops during the first few years of cultivation. 
This is not wholly owing to the plant-food 
yielded by the vegetable deposit which it con¬ 
tains. For many years trees have been sending 
their fibrous roots throughout its whole sub¬ 
stance ; scarcely a particle has been left un¬ 
disturbed. Every square inch is permeated 
with decayed or decomposed matter. The soil 
is thus made loose and friable. It holds moist¬ 
ure, admits air and warmth, and the roots of 
grain or other crops extend unobstructed, and 
find nourishment at every step. How, merely 
manuring such a field will not keep it in this 
condition. The fertilizing material must be 
distributed throughout the soil, not only that it 
may be readily appropriated by the growing 
plants, but that it may aid in keeping the soil 
in proper mechanical condition. Those who 
advocate only top-dressing, lose sight of this 
fact. The stimulating properties of manure 
will undoubtedly be felt by the soluble parts 
being carried to the roots by rain, but an im¬ 
portant condition for plant growth will still be 
lacking. Perhaps for the same reason, in part, 
guano and other concentrated manures are ben¬ 
eficial for only a limited period. This also ex¬ 
plains, in part, the favorable action of clover in 
rotation: the decaying roots are distributed 
throughout the soil more evenly than could be 
done by any method of manuring now practised. 
The illustrations are given to enforce the im¬ 
portance of good plowing. The very best exe¬ 
cution of this process will only partially supply 
the most favorable condition for growth. Every 
care should therefore be taken to have the soil 
as thoroughly pulverized, and manure as finely 
mixed through it, as is possible. Good plow¬ 
ing can not be done on clayey land while wet. 
The furrow slice may roll smoothly as from a 
brick mold, but it will be compacted into lumps 
which no harrowing will reduce. A crop put in 
two weeks later than ordinary on ground in 
good condition, would stand a better chance than 
if sown on a field of lumps. The advantages of 
draining, will be readily seen at plowing time. 
On drained ground a week or fortnight is often 
gained for growth of crops. 
Much will depend upon the exellence of the 
implement used. We cannot name the best 
plow, for the reason that the styles must be 
varied on the different soils. A variation of 
one or two inches in depth of plowing may re¬ 
quire a radical change in the implement. A 
plow working easily on stubble may entirely 
fail on sward. As a general rule it is safest to 
use a plow adapted for deep work. It may be 
adjusted to run light; but a plow for shallow 
work, can not be made to go deep effectively. 
If possible, purchase a new plow only on trial 
at first. If it runs with light draft, turns a fur¬ 
row slice well at from four to eight inches 
is easily kept at uniform depth, and is well 
put together, it is a good implement 
A good plowman strikes a straight furrow, 
leaves it clean behind him, and the surface of 
the field as nearly level as the nature of the 
ground will admit. Ho written instruction will 
explain how this can be done. A man must 
learn the art at the plow-handle, and it will re¬ 
quire thought and ingenuity as well as strength 
and agility. Paying a few dollars extra to an 
expert hand at this business, rather than en¬ 
trusting it to an awkward bungler, will in 
the end be found to be a profitable investment. 
Improvements on the Corn Marker. 
We have received from Mr. David C. Voor- 
liees, a very neat model of the Hew-Jersey corn 
marker described in the Agriculturist , page 41, 
(Feb. Ho.) fitted with several improvements of 
his own. These may be readily understood by 
referring to the engraving previously published, 
as noted above. The guide pole is attached to 
the forward beam of the sled where it will be 
less liable to throw the runners from the track, 
in marking uneven ground or in meeting any 
obstruction. A convenient seat is attached, sup¬ 
ported by four legs inserted in the beams. A 
lever or handle three or four feet long is fastened 
to the rear beam, by which to adjust the sled to 
its place when starting, and to lift the rear end 
in turning. The most essential improvement 
appears to be attaching a cast steel cultivator 
share or tooth to the back end of each runner, 
near the bottom. These make the marks more 
distinct and leave the soil loose. They also pre¬ 
vent the runners from being easily thrown out of 
place. The cultivator teeth can be procured 
at small cost at almost any implement store. 
How to Stop a Leak—Manure. 
A subscriber, “ D. C. V.,” Blawenburg, H. J., 
writes as follows: “ It is not a cement or patent 
Gutta Perclia liquid for stopping the holes in an 
old roof, to which I refer, but a way to stop the 
leaking of golden streams of liquid manure. I 
call them golden, for who can tell how many 
