Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-10-21

Fall Flowing

Fall Flowing.
Two active workmen I've bot repeat the
saying may be secured BY any farmer for
the winter at comparatively small expense.
Fermentation and lro.,. II bis field, are
plowed ia autumn. will b. husy with their
euliurc through the inccment months. Tre
pairing food ior plants and sitting the soil
for their growth, Decomposition and DIS.
migration are more or los active from fall
o spring. and most soils, IL properly plov.
sd 10 autumn. arc benefited BY the agents
thu. set at work L-t US offer some thought.
on the aiyAniascs aud Disadvantages Of au-
iumn cultivation, together with some diree.
tons ior performing che work.
/. Low land.. such As are usually most
benefited by hll Plovins, are generally in
their best condition for the operation a,this
season OF the year. Very often they are too
We, to plow in spring until the season Tor
seeding is far advanced, and the product :
lss-ensi by the DELAY. A. well a. the soil in.
jurei by working when t11 wei-bccomins
baked and lumTy, and requiring several
years time O. recover its usual state. Heavy
clAys. especially. must Be plowei when just
righ, as 70 moisture, or they may almost as
well remain without tiIlase. Heavy loans
are often IN the b., condition f1r plowiug
in the fall, and can D. s1wn Or planted more
seAs5uaby. and with better results, It this
operation i performed than Il neglected.
.. Teams are generally in better condition
for plowng ia autumn more Injured 70 la
Dor. and in les pressing demand Tor other
employment on the farm. In spring vari-
e,y Of work presses upon the aityntion OF
the farmer. which must be done as rapidly
n. possible, and i, ~ well to " tighten the
load as far as may DO by i0reihourhi and
precau,ion.
3. SuG, heavy soils, plowed in Autumn,
beside. being 10 good condition f9r the work,
undergo BY the action OF water aud frOs;,
more thorough disntegnuon-clays, with
proper provision for surface drainage, are
pulverircd and erumbIed heavy loans and
haripan lands are acted upon in like man.
nsr. and With Ike beneficial result, TO the
soil and succeeding crop.
I. Heavy and coarse sward land is better
nsl.owsd and ,qbigcd when the inverted
ed ), exposed to the action Of the winter
weather Turned over late IN the scasor,
al vegetation crases, the grass roots are
frozen out, and many weeds share the same
fate: m spring We tnd the land bare and
mellow. ryaiy with a thorough narrowing
f1r any appropriate crop. The surviving
weed, ar, l-,. likely 90 .prout than If turn
ed under In spring, and the turf - better
prepared by IT. more advanced state OF de.
cav. tor ievIIng the products which follow.
s. Though late iall plowins may have lit
tle time ior iermestatiou or the decOmpO,l-
ton Of the vegetable matter buried by the
plow; this decay ,ul. soes on TO some sI-
tent, and by the tune the growing crop needs
IL, usually arrive. At the proper stage TO-
supply iis necessities. Bat the irOs, works
with a will. aud under proper conditions
produces u mechanical amelilraton Of the
soil scarcely possible under any other pro.
ees-
6. Fall plowins iisturbs the quarters ar
ranged by various insect, for passing the
winter IN the sli!. thus destroying large
numbers of ,hess pests with their egg and
lArvr. Ihi. i. minor advantage, bat one
worthy Of cobsidyratiou. especially on lands
infested with the larvp Of the May bug or
the wire worm.
The principal objections to fall PlOWins
are the following
1. The los. u that fresh, friable condition
Of soil. readily permeable TO air and moist
ure. and the consolidation Of the soil by
LOG exposure TO changing and stormy
weather. This on light lands Is a serious
Objection n autumn blowing. The same Is
true o! any .oil no, provided with sufficient
drainage 10 prevent water iron standing Tor
any time on or near the surface.
.. Another disadvantage is the lOss OF
vegetable matter. and Of i,s gases while de-
eayius. The latter is bat a small loss II
the blowing is done late in the fall, bot Of
ten On bill-sides, large part Of the soluble
and aoaiing organic matter is washed away
BY the heavy rains olwinter and early spring
time. The soil l. also consolidated by the
sane influences. Heavy svards thus siiua'
g. would sustain less injury than light
swards OF stnbbls land.
And lastly, a few hints on the manner OF
performing the work
1. Do IL thoroughly and IN workman
like manner.
9 1.-THE soil is at all liable to standing
water in the winter, it should bo plowCd IN