What Are Disk And Spike Tooth Harrows Used For?

Most people like to use a disk harrow for preparing the soil after plowing. For many years manufacturers made them too small, but now garden tractor disk harrows can be had in diameters from 7 to 10 inches, depending on the tractor. These are usually in two gangs that can be adjusted for leveling and angle of penetration. If they appear to he set properly but still do not penetrate deeply enough the operator can add extra weight on top, so long as the tractor does not labor in pulling it. A spike- or peg-tooth harrow may be used but this does not chop up the soil, manure and trash as the disk harrow does. On lighter, trash-free soils, however, it is fine.

Don't overlook the disk and spike-tooth harrows as cultivating tools; the disk for fruit and row crops, and the spike for weeding before or just after crops emerge. The spike-tooth harrow set lightly is especially good on crops like corn and potatoes. ,In addition to killing weeds it breaks up the light crust which usually forms on top of the soil.

Cultivating is the job in which small power equipment shines best. In fact, this was the job manufacturers set out to conquer first. However, many gardeners do not get the full value out of their cultivating equipment because they do not use the proper teeth or attachments, nor do they take time to adjust them properly. If cultivating is done at the right time with the proper equipment adjusted correctly, little hand work is necessary. A good dealer will have a wide variety of teeth, shovels and steels. Many people fail to realize the progress made in this direction.

When plants are small, the row can be straddled with the tractor and cultivator, using 6- or 7-inch beet hoe steels special thin horizontal knives set at a slight angle. Later, these may he reversed for use between the rows. Small cultivating disks can be used similarly, and they are especially useful for beans, beets, spinach, strawberries and young bush fruits. Sweeps and half sweeps, turning shovels, hillers, spear points and many other cultivating attachments are available. Skill in adjusting and using these develops fast.

Reel mower attachments are also available for most garden tractors. ,The five-bladed reels are best. The riding feature is not to be overlooked; some makers provide an inexpensive sulky to be used when mowing the lawn. Also in the picture also are rotary mower attachments for lawn mowing. These consist of various whirling arrangements of a cutting mechanism parallel to the ground. A few people use these for lawns as well as for weeds and high grass. They are a little dangerous, but safe enough with reasonable care. Similar to the rotary mower are a leaf sweeper and leaf mill. One windrows the leaves and the other cuts them finely enough to drop down around the blades of grass.