Manual of agriculture, for the school, the farm, and the fireside . has much the same effect asthorough draining, though in a less degree. It enablesthe roots of plants to penetrate deeply in search of nour-ishment, carries off more or less of the surface water,warms the soil, and without doubt makes it more fertileby allowing the air to circulate through it, and by amixture of the soils of different depths. Besides, deepploughing makes it much easier to do the other workwhich is necessary- in preparing the soil for planting, andincreases the effect of all manures which are applied. 452. Deep
Manual of agriculture, for the school, the farm, and the fireside . has much the same effect asthorough draining, though in a less degree. It enablesthe roots of plants to penetrate deeply in search of nour-ishment, carries off more or less of the surface water,warms the soil, and without doubt makes it more fertileby allowing the air to circulate through it, and by amixture of the soils of different depths. Besides, deepploughing makes it much easier to do the other workwhich is necessary- in preparing the soil for planting, andincreases the effect of all manures which are applied. 452. Deep ploughing is especially needed in the culti-vation of deep or tap-rooted plants like carrots, parsnips,and ruta^-bagas, but it is beneficial to all crops if it isproperly done. 453. The subsoilplough, (Figs. 17 and18,) is designed to fol-low in the furrow ofthe common plough, toloosen and break up thelower layers of the soilwithout bringing themto the surface. With thisimplement it is easy toloosen the subsoil six oreight inches below thefurrow left by the ordi-. Fig. 18. 144 PREPARATION OP LANDS. nary plough, making the whole depth to wliich the laud isstirred, from eighteen to twenty-four inches. 464. Tlie benefits of subsoil ploughing are very similarto those of deep ploughing. Recent investigations showthat nitrogen and other fertilizing substances exist deepbelow the surface. Subsoil ploughing enables the roots ofplants to reach them by loosening the soil to a greaterdepth. 455. A very excellentimplement known asthe Michigan, or doublemould-board plough,(Fig. 19,) is designed toobviate the necessity ofthe subsoil plough, tosome extent. The smaller mould-board cuts off a thinsurface and turns it into the last furrow, where it iscompletely covered with a finely pulverized soil by theprincipal mould-board.
Size: 1578px × 1583px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade, booksubjectagriculture, bookyear1912
