CHAPTER XII 
IMPROVING FARM LAND 
Tillage may be defined as the art of improving land 
for agricultural purposes. Good farmers realize that 
some plants such as apple trees thrive fairly well in sod 
land, but grains, fruits, vegetables, and flowers yield best 
when planted in well cultivated soils. 
Why We Till Soil.—In tilling the soil, the farmer 
has several objects in view; namely, to cut and turn up 
the soil in plowing, to bury and incorporate the organic 
matter with the soil particles, to prepare a loose, friable 
seed bed to receive the seed or plants and the distribution 
and covering of seed. 
Fall Plowing.—If the soil does not blow or wash 
badly, it may be plowed in the fall. Fall plowed land 
has many advantages over spring plowing in that it puts 
the soil in condition to catch and store up water. The 
soil particles are exposed to the weathering agencies. 
The organic matter will decay and supply plant food to 
succeeding crops. Many harmful insects will be de¬ 
stroyed, and considerable work will be out of the way 
for other farm operations. (Figure 117a, Fall Plowing.) 
Subsoiling.—Farm land may be subsoiled by plowing 
it to a depth of from five to seven inches with a good 
plow. The turning plow should be followed with a bull 
tongue or “scooter” run in the furrow behind the turning 
plow. This method loosens up the subsoil and exposes 
it to the action of the weathering agencies without bring¬ 
ing it to the surface to interfere with plant growth. 
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