The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1858-07-09

Summer Fallows.


Cd of their history, and in all parts
Of their dominions. The practice
originated, probably, in the idea that
land after several years use, requir-
cd absolute rest; and that it would
thereby recruit its energies. Expe-
rience, too doubtless showed that it
was more productive after this sea-
son of rest; and hence it was sup
posed that the advantages were de-
rived from the mere cessation of
rdisirg crops, and not-as the fact
was and is-chiefiy from the decay
of vegetable matter growing wild
upon it and from the absorption Of
nutritive gasses from the atmos-
phere.
British husbandry makes great
account Of lallows. 1t practices ma
ked fallows and green fallows. Ma
ked fallows means the blowing and
cleaning of the land for one Sum-
mer without taking any crop from
it. Green fallows means the grow
ing of hoed crops on soil usually de-
voted to some kind Of grain. The
object of the latter is to clean the
land by hand and horse cultivation,
and to bring it into fine filth. In
England, stiff soil and those which
have become infested with weeds
are most commonly treated to fall
low. The land is thrown up into
ridges in the fall, so as to shed water
quickly, and to get the benefit Of
the winter frosts. In the spring, it
is oross.plowed, and during the sum-
mer it is worked over as often as
ncodful, to pulvcrize it well and
eradicate all weeds. When the land
has become full Of couch grass, they |
practice "paring and burning. -
They have an instrument called a
breast pillow, with which they take
off a few inches of the surface and
throw it into heaps. This, on be-
coming dry, is mixed with rubbish
and then burned or charred, and
afterwards scattered over the soil.
This keeps the grass very much in
check, and furnishes rich top
dressing Tor the land. If the grass
continues troublesome, the ground
is broken up again and a grubber"
put into it, which brings the roots
to the surface, from which they are
then raked off and burned. This
thorough work prepares the land
for any crop,
Il some of our Southern States,
we see that the old Roman mode of
summer following is still in vogue.
Large fields we have observed,
grown over with mullens, thistles
and various other weeds, and scat
terering their seeds far and wide.
Now, is not this land nearly as
much exhausted by growing these
immense crops Of weeds, as it would
nave been, under good manage
melt, in growing crops? Consider,
toe, the injury sustained by allow
ing The soil to become so infested
WITH weeds.
Tho common practice throughout
the Northern and Middle States is
better, though even this may, per-
maps be improved upon a little
Many farmers plow their grass lands
intended for wheat, in May or June,
and let them lie until September,
when they cross-plow, harrow and
SOW their grain. This course is gem
orally pursued, without reference to
the nature of the sod turned under. ,,
But is not this second blowing OBJ )
ieotionable ? Whatever gases are {
involved by The decomposition of :
the grass should be left undisturbed, i
so as to furnish food for the young
wheat; whereas, by this second a
blowing, thy are brought to the Z
surface and dissipated in the air o
Then, again, all the roots Of the i
grass are killed in short time, and v
his second blowing lays them back ri
n their original position, and they t. :
oegin to grow again, very much to I
he injury Of the wheat. Would it a,
rot be better to use a set of light Pl
5ang-plows, which break up the d
ground sufficiently, without disturb a a
ng the sod Am. Agriculturist. G.
E.7- While the officers were in chase Of i,
gang of Mississippi pirates, f.w weeks 70