White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1859-09-08
for tBt farmer.
Fall PloWing Of CLAY Lands.

We have often urged the importance
Of fall blowing. especially on clay lands.
but still we End but few farmers who give
practical evidence that they uuderstsn /!
the matter. hence we give ''line upon
line," on this and many other subjects.
The following is from Aliens American
Agriculture:
P1ouing Clay Land.-Whenever prac-
fieable these should be plowed in the fall
for planting and sowing the ensuing
spring. The tenacity Of the soil may thus
be temporarily broken mp by the winter
frosts, its particles more thoroughly sep
aratel, aud the whole mass reduced to q
finer tilth than can possibly be effected in
any other manner. There is a still fur
Ther and important advantage from this
practice which ensues from the attraction
existing between the clay and those gases
that are furnished from the atmosphere.
snow, rains anil dews. In consequence
Of being thus thrown up and coming in
contact with them, it seizes upon the am
monia and carbonic and nitric acids which
are in the air. and holds them for the fu-
ture use Of the crops while their great
affinity for manures e4ectually prevents
the waste of such as are in it.
The burrows Of clay soils should be turn
ed over SO as to lap on the preceding and
lie at an angle Of As ,; ami for this pur-
pose the depth Of the furrow slice should
be about two thirds its width. Thus a
furrow six inches deep should be about 9
inches wide, or if inches deep. it should
be II inches wide. This will allow Of
the burrows lying regularly and evenly,
and in the proper position for the drainage
of the soil, the free circulation of air, and
the most efficient action Of frosts which
IN this way have access to every side of
them. Land thus thrown up is found to
be finely pulverizel after the frosts leave
it, and it is comparatively dry and ready
for use some time earlier than such as is
not plowed till spring. For sowing, land
plowed in this manner requires no addi-
tional blowing. but it is better fitted for
the reception Of seed than it can be by
any further operation, unless by slight
narrowing if too rough. The different
kinds of grain or peas may be sown di-
rectly upon the surface and covered by the
harrow aud If sown very early, the
grass and clover seeds require no covering.
bat find their best position in the slight
depressions which are every where made
by the frost. and which the subsequent
rains and winds fill up and cover sufi-
GENTLY to secure a certain growth. When
field is intended for planting and is thus
plowel in the preceding autumn, in some
instances, and especially when the soil is
full of vegetable manures, as from rich
green sward, single furrow where the
seed is to be dropped, is all that is nee
essary to be plowed in the spring.
If the land has been previously cultiva-
ted. not in sward. and is designed for
planting. stiff clay is sometimes ridged
up by turning double furrow one on
each side and so close as partially to lap
upon a narrow and unbroken surface, thus
leaving the greatest elevations and depres
sions which can conveniently be made
with the plow The frost and air by this
means, have greater surface to act upon
than is afforded by thorough blowing.
unless it be in firm sod, which main
tains its position without crumbling The
advantages of dry surface and early
working are equally secured by this latter
method and to prepare for planting. the
burrows need only to be split by running
splow through their centre, when they are
ready for the reception of the seed.