Litchfield enquirer., 1858-02-11
aurttMttwraI.
Autumnal Cultivation as Means for Good

Farming
 We do not presume tn the position of teachers in agriculture; but do desire to more of the au- tun,nal falow, and Jess of the ourse of creation in the shape of the thorn and the thistle, and the coin mingled mass of grass and rubbish w ch feast niia ant imppyerish the soil. We want good farming to be general; we want bad farming to be the ex'ep- tion. We desire to sec comparative garden culture ahounding and well may you who have already at tained to it plume yourselves at yonr will and at your pleasure upon your superior skill and surpass- ing judgment but where weeds exist an1 abounl there is other and more important work to be done. Extirpatien is unquestonaby the cheapest and best means by which to secure and maintain a clean oc- cupation and it has but to be tried in practice to be appreciated and, when appreciated it will be con sdered worthy of strenuous efforts to he carried out generally as common system of culture The time is coming when it must be viewed not as secondary hut of primary importance for the future will be far too competitive an age for the farmer manacled End tied with the letters of his couch to stand a ch,ncc, or find either existence breathing space in the straning exertions of the hard fousht race iur profit. He must be distanced. Extra weight will tell. If clean farming won't pay foul farming can't; and the landed propretors are gradually learning the worth of good tenant, wailst they ject and eject the bad.
 Autumn cultivation has for it's main object the eradication and destruction of all the perennial weeds which infest the soil and it is to this en every operation should, in the first instance, be fully di- rectcd. The annuals are but secondary.
 Two or three scarfyings stirrings under a hot sun in August, would have been sufficient to dss- troy tho thousand and-one enemies which have hourished for course of years and still flourish on without mole tltiGn: and the horses would have been far better occupied than in doing nothing. Although every county is the best ftrmed in the kingdom according to local tradi and agricult,i- d banter, yet every county needs to le much bet ter farned than it is. We are sickened at the sight of foul stubbles and infinite are the advantages arising from following in the autumn. that it is Doth the system and the season cannot afford to neglect. We allow there are difficulties to overcome in the cultivation of wide breadth at so busy a time in the year '; but to how many minds do any innovations present insurmountablc obstacles ! We do not say this in the spirit Of condemnation com lisint for many sensible do not compre- hcnd or appreciate, at first sight the benefit likely to arise from any but sound practices. Further we need to be cautious, and there is reason why autumn cultivation should be swallowed wholesale Ii the utility to arise is unapprecated the trouble ct its accomplishment will appear incompatible with the advantages accruing consequently, by such the task will not be undertaken and thus men may or may not live on with mental hedge of tholns to all progress content to swim with the tide because slow to appreciate, and far too local n education and in knowledge Realize the value and arrange the work of the farm, that cultivation at least can be done. We prepare for, and plant our wheat crop why not eradicate and destroy our weed crop The one is as important the other and the latter should be considered as primary to the former.
 We have advocated deep autumnal cultivation for the destruction of the perennials, and as time an important consideration, the rubbish must be kcpt st the surface for exposure to the suns rays It may not be buried snug in the soil to be shaded from the influence of the sun, but have the couch out for public exposure and the bright noon of day Pre- suning shower of rain to fall how beautifully by narrowing. the clods come to powder and the couch to the surface, to be baked by the sum- or burned in a series of bonfrcs?
 With fneness of tith and moisture of soil, now comes the turn for the vegetation of the annuals, acd an abundant crop of young weeds present them selves. Thus perennials and annuas are alike de- stroyed. and the land freed for the growth of any desirable produce. Manure, too, can now be applied with unabated success the expense of hoeing in fu tuie, is reduced ; and crop can he grown wh ch is worthy of the soil and the skill of the cultvator
 ., As finale, cultivate deeply, keep the weeds at the surface avail yourselves of your existing horse pswer, an you will find autumnaI cultivation much 10 your inhisidual profit and to the good of the country at large.