Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-08-22
Agricultural


There are many farmers at this day who
deem fall blowing an improbable cultivation.
They prefer to turn over the soil in the spring
when it has become sufficiently dry, and put
the seed into it while it Is mellow and fresh
They argue that it is injurious 70 expose he
ground, by blowing, to the rains and SHOWS Of
winter, and that it becomes too much COM
pacted to be in good condition for a seed bed
Moreover, it is more work, On the whole, 10
put in crop for the extra amount of cult
walton and narrowing required by fall
plowed field above that of spring plowed one
70 get 10 mellow and fine, is considerable
Then it is denied that there is not much time
gained in the spring. for one can plow land
wetter, with less injury, ttan he can harrow
it.
We believe, however, that there are very
decided advantages in fall blowing and that
it is fact that, on average, better crops
are obtained on fall-plowed land than on
spring-plowed exclusively. We say exclusive
iy. because while fall:plowed land gains some
Of the advantages of spring working, spring
plOwed receives none of the fall cultivation.
Here, then, Is one apparent benefit if there
is 1ore cultivation, there is a better condition.
The cultivation for a spring crop, which
commences with fall blowing, might be termed
winter following. 1t differs from summer fall
lowing in that, as NO weeds will grow in win
ter, therefore we destroy none. But, then, we
need not work the frost-king drives his gilt
tering pillow through the lumpy earth, and it
crumbles like dry ashes in the furrow. He
cultIvates and harrows, rolls and subsoils
He demands neither money nor food. He
does his powerful work unheard and unseen.
Sometimes, In the calmness of q winter night,
when the full moon and the starry hosts jewel
,, the sky; and again, when the wrath of the
storm smites the earth. We may sit by the
FIRE and be comfortable, and our horses grow
fat and gamesOme the stable. IS But"
argues one, " all this will be done if you do
not fall-plow the ground will freeze the
same" So it will But freezing WILL not
have the same effect. That part of the soil
destined to receive the seed is not pulverized
and sir-slaked neither is it exposed to the
rain and snow; which exposure, we think, is
benefit and not an injury. Why should it
be an injury? If it is detrimental to plowed
land, it Ii 50, likewise, to that which is I'M
plowed, only to a lesser degree. Does Nature
operating in this way, persistenily. regularly
tor half the year, work injury to the soil
The rain and the enow hold In solution much
enriching substance, and most of it is impaired
to the land Taken in connection with the
operation of the frost. the SHOWS and rains of
winter are of great benefit to the land, and the
most benefit can be gained when the soil is
turned over in the fall, and left in the furrow
so ss to expose the greatest amount Of surface
TO the action of the elements.
But in the spring you have to do about as
much work to put in the crop, as though you
had done nothing in the fall. Not quite 1t
requires good and thorough surface tillage,
and that is all. A gang plow, or a large Gull
tivstor, with the harrow and roller, fits an ad-
mirsble eeed bed. 1t Is not at all necessary to
plow again. If the work has been we'll done
IN the autumn under ordinary circumstances.
We should BY all means prefer not to pillow
again in the spring. Have two or three inch
e. of mellow. freshly turned soil, that under
meath will be left sufficiently looee by the frost
for the roots Of the plants.
Fall blowing, also, helps to kill weeds.
Canada thistles are not invigorated by having
their roots on the top of the ground during
the winter. Bot the chief benefit, in this d.
fect'on, would be derived from blowing early
enough to let red-Foot, cookie and weeds that
infese ~heat, sprout IN the fall, and then the
spring cultivation would destroy them In
the meantime, We advise farmers to fall-plow
a. much = possible Other things being