The Rural Voice, 1979-04, Page 19FP; . 1 I.—A MOI,IKN 1NII KW. 1..M1." 1'.
A hundred years ago
Farmers debated
the value of tillage
According to Farming for Profit, printed in the U.S. in 1880,
a dispute was going on in the second half of the last century on
the value of tillage. Some held the view that summerfallow
was as good as manure and if the land was worked only every
other year, manure wouldn't be needed.
Those who disagreed with this theory said that this pracTire
had some merit but was an "unwarranted and -extreme
inference." In addition it would take twice as much land to grow
one crop. No tillage wasn't recommended either, so it seems that
,some farmers didn't plough the land.
But it was considered, and still is, that tillage would free the
elements of the soil more rapidly, to make them available for the
use of plants.
Not everyone agreed in Farming for Profit that ploughing was
good for the soil. A Col. John H. McAfee of Mississippi claimed
that ploughing exposed the soil to sun and sir and thus made it
possible for the fertilizer to escape. 1 o support his view he cited
the many farms that have been ploughed year after year are now
exhausted.
His opponents said that exposure to sun and wind is a good
thing. They said top -dressing pasture land with manure, where it
lies exposed to the elements, has proven to be the best method.
"if manures are not hurt by this exposure, the soil certainly
cannot be harmed thereby."
Nitrogen in the form of ammonia may be allowed to escape,
but chemists said that more ammonia was absorbed by the
exposed soil than was lost. Then look at the organic matter that is
added to the soil by ploughing stubble, they claimed.
Other sources of information said to use both tillage and
manure. "A man can milk a cow with one hand, but two hands
work much better," they said.
A good seedbed was a must, for it allowed the seed to
Wedding Bells...
and Flowers
So, your wedding date has
been set, and now you are
makipg the arrangements.
Your flower order is
important. It
can help to
make the
day, and
also provide
many
pleasant
memories.
We would
count it
a privilege
to serve you
on this glad
occasion.
Listowel Florist Ltd.
Y Von RANO
L11nOLYR. ONTARIO
170 Wallace N.
LIstowel
Phone 291-2040
United No. 401
FTD No. 752075
When you "say it with
flowers" from Listowel Florist,
"you've said it all."
McGAVIN'S
FARM EQUIPMENT,
LTD.
Sales and Service
527-0245
Seaforth
Walton, Ont.
Established 1936
We specialize in a complete line
of farm Equipment including
887-6365
Brussels
mar
SRLTLsH
LEYLAND
SPE r Y+NEW HOLLAND
THE RURAL VOICE/APRIL 1979 PG. 17