Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-11-05
FALL FLOWING.

1t would be difficult 10 show where
fall blowing should and should not be
praeticed, better than 1t is done in the
following article from the Valley Farm
er:
"The most bigoted farmer will admit
that fall plowing is beneficial. You
cannot convince him to the contrary
He is stubborn In this belief as he is
against book learning. Whatever er.
rors be may possess generally-and
they are numerous--his experience Of
fall blowing is, right. He knows that
the frost makes the turned up soil mel
low, he knows this as fact, as he has
had abundant experience. Hence, fall
plowing is practiced extensively. not
only by him, but by all. or nearly all.
Yet this bigoted farmer, who has
luckily bit upon good thing, carries
the matter too far. We are apt to dis
agree here. Fall blowing is good Only
for stubborn soils. For sand or gravel
it will not do. For clay or any lumpy
soiIS IL 10 just VIC IufuR'
And the later the blowing is done the
better, if the ground is rot too wet; it
may be moist, or even wet, but should
never be muddy. Avoid mud in all
places and at all times; avoid it in the
fall as lar as you can. To plow late is
to prevent the grass from starting to-
wards the surface, and leaves the soil
comparatively loose and thus the better
fitted for the penetration Of the frost.
To "stand sp" the furrows, as some
plows are said to, though considered a
fault generally, is here just the thing.
The more points or ridges that are
presented to the action of the elements
the better--thus leaving a sort Of hol-
low condition of the plowed ground
not only that the frost may work in,
but the water pass of, leaving it COM
paratively dry in the spring.
If ploWed early, the ground will be-
come more or less compact, preventing
the water from draining off, and the
frost from penetrating as effectually as
it would otherwise. Besides the grasses
and weeds will get started and show in
the spring, making a compact. grassy
soil, Just the thing untitled for crop.
and it requires blowing over with a
muddy under soil, which cannot be en-
dured for a moment. as this will give
a brick-faced surface, and the effect
will be sisable for years-the ground
will receive almost fatal injury. There
will be Jumps for years, and the frost
cannot restore them NOR the clod-crush.
er. The combined action Of both, with
the aid of the sun and the rains, and
the SHOWS, together with lime and 9TH
er appliances, and time--these are nee
essary to overcome the injury which ar
iniudicious handling Of the soil has
caused. M
Set up the soil, then, and make j
as porous and hollow as may be, and
plow it as late as can be, consistent witt
the late rains Of autumn.
This hollow or porous condition o
the ground, when plowed as we have
recommended, viii also favor the appli
cation of manure. Manure thus ploweC
under will get the action Of the elements
and add wonderfully to the productive
s ness Of the field, viii improve the mel
ilowuess of the soil, and IN word, vii
be Just the thing for all kinds Ofsgraiu
corn, roots--everything.
Il We have never seen better Eelds thai
those treated in this way with manuT
! mellow and productivs.' Thus, rigil
soils, cold clay soils may be redeemed
r and it is difficult to redeem them in an.
other way. 80
Tsa-siIt ;s curians fact % saws som,