Newspapers / The Progressive Farmer (Raleigh, … / Nov. 29, 1913, edition 1 / Page 1
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OUR NEW SERIAL "THE JUCKLINS" Page 5. Iff .email a flfiroTf SfiMf SSI UWiS A Farm And Home Weekly for The Carolirias, Virgin, Georgia, and Florida. FOUNDED 1886, RALEIGH, N.C. : Vol. XXVIII. No. 48. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1913. V $1 a Year; 5c. a Copy ' ' ' ' ' ' THE NEXT STEP IN SOIL IMPROVEMENT. FROM what we have been a Die to learn from correspondents, trom the newspapers, from reports of demonstration agents, and from . - -it 1 , ' 1 V - 1 t otner sources, we are sure inai mere nas ween a larger acreage 01 winter cover crops planted in the South this year than ever before, This is unques- r 1 ..... . tionable evidence of better farming. The, loss of plant foods, of humus, of the very soil it self, by exposure during the winter months accounts in large part for the poverty of Southern soils. The general grow ing of winter cov er crops for feed and green manur ing is one of the surest and cheap est methods of in cr e a sing the average acre yield of the staple field crops of the South. Indeed, until the growing of such crops becomes general, it is going to be almost im possible to in crease the fertility of Southern soils are, bare and with tiny gullies carrying away their fertility after every hard rain. Deep plowing in fall or early winter when properly done will be a preventive of washing on most lands. In cases where the risk is increasedand there are such cases, of course it should not be done. We believe on deep plowing in getting down and turning up a little of the soil that has never be fore been broken, in subsoiling that tears up the hard pan and lets the water down where it will be held, as in a reservoir, for the crops of the next summer. Shallow plowing, the mere scratch ing of the fields, has helped make many a poor farm and many a poor farmer. The average farm needs greater depth and must get it by deeper plowing. Let no reader thmk, however, that deeper plow ing will alone do IT WOULD TAKE A HEAVY RAIN TO WASH EVEN A STEEP HILLSIDE PLOWED THIS WAY. at anything like a reasonable expense of time and money. The Progressive Farmer is proud of the fact that it has been one of the most persistent and insistent advocates of winter cover crops and that, year in and year out, it has urged their planting with all the emphasis at its command. Gratified, therefore, as we are at this evidence of progress, we wish to urge just now that another step along the same part of better farming be taken and that every reader who has clay soils, or soils of any kind underlaid with a hard, tight subsoil do more winter plowing and deeper winter plowing this year than he has ever done before. Over most of our territory we feel sure that the very best thing is to have a winter cover crop on the land. If this has not been secured, however, let the land be broken as deeply as possible at any time during the winter when the soil is in proper condition. It will almost surely mean easier work in the spring and better crops next year. We know that sometimes early winter plowing is feared on account of the washing of the land; and there are farms and fields on which great care is necessary to prevent this. On the average farm, however, there will be much less loss from washing if the corn and cotton fields are broken to a good depth ten inches or more and left rough as they come from the plow, than if they are permitted to remain as they the work. "Plow ten inches instead of five," we often hear "and double the size of your farm." It it were only that easy! But the mere break ing up of the subsoil does not make soil of it, and merely to plow deeper will add but little to the real volume of soil from which the plants may secure food. Deep plowing is most worth while we are almost tempted to say is only worth while when it puts vegetable matter down deeper into the ground and thus really adds to the depth of the soil and to the real area of the farm. . 18 . 13 . 16 3,12 6 FEATURES of this issue. A School District Census Remarkable Work of a Local Union A Thanksgiving Sermon The Essence of Christianity . . . A Successful Poultry Farm Chapter I of an Interesting Story . Cotton Seed Too Low Evidence That This is the Case . . . Drain the Wet Lands-No More Profitable Work Can be Done Garden Peas and Peanuts Mr. Pinner's Methods 17 Lessons From Europe for Stock Farmers Five Ways to Increase Profits from Stock Raising 14 Plan Now for Christmas Gifts Begin Earlv and Enjoy Giving . 10 Still Time to Select Seed Corn-Shcck Selectmen Better, Than Crib Selection 7 What Dishonest Advertising Means to Ycu-And How You Can Help Get Rid ol It 12
The Progressive Farmer (Raleigh, N.C.)
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Nov. 29, 1913, edition 1
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