Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-12-05
PLOUGHING In THE FALL.

Morally, man IS said to require, slime
upon line and precept upon precept," and
not less does the farmer require his atten-
tion to be called, in season and out of sea-
son, to his duty of thoroughly preparing
his soil for the future crop. The frosts Of
winter work wonders upon stubborn clay
soil when turned up in autumn. No imple-
ment, hand or horse, can so thoroughly dis
integrate it; besides, it sweetens and puri-
fes the soil from unfavorable acids, and
thus enables the farmer to plough his land
deeper than in Spring. Every farmer, es-
pecially, one who owns heavy land, should
endeavor gradually to deepen his surface
soil from six to twelve inches. And the
Fall is the true time to do this. Some
years since, We ploughed in the Fall, a
piece of heavy clay ten inches deep, which
had previously been ploughed only five or
six inches, turning up four inches of light
colored clay, never before disturbed. Neigh
bors who saw the field in Spring, thought it
useless to SOW any grain upon it, as it would
require several years seasoning before any
thing would grow. Regardless of these
prophecies, we drilled in two and half
bushels of oats per acre, and had a yield Of
forty-fve bushels per acre, through field
of ten acres. An excellent way to plough
deep in Fall, on land too heavy for one
team, is to use two teams and two ploug ghs.
Let the first plough turn six inches, and
the second four inches from the first fur
row, leaving it on top of the first This
leaves the last four inches in looser condi-
ton, and more favorable for the action OF
frost. The second plough, should, to work
easy, be little narrower than the first.
This is undoubtedly, better than to turn the
ten inches with one plough, and would,
perhaps, pay the extra expense. Another
important feature of Fall ploughing is, that
it destroys many insects and noxious weeds.
By reversing the roots of weeds, and expo
sing insects to the frosts, they are destroy
ed to large extent. Then it is done at a
season of comparative leisure with the far
mer, making it much less expensive. Be-
sides, the crop may be sown in Spring from
two to four weeks earlier than on Spring
ploughing. This is so important, that it
often saves crop which would otherwise
be lost. And moro, the crop will aver
age fourth better with Fall than with
Spring ploughing on clay land. Light
sandy soils are not benefited by Fall plough
ing, as they are loose enough without frost.
When practicable, Fall ploughed land
should be sown with Spring grain when the
frost is out of the surface sufficiently to
cover the seed, with the frost still remain
ing under, which, on coming out leaves the
soil very loose and to this loose and pull
verized condition of the soil is owing the
larger crop realized on Fall ploughed land;
1t is also allowable to plough h clay land
wetter in Fall than in Spring, as the frost
will mellow it. This is also gain, for the
work may be done late in the Fall, just be-
fore winter sets in. But early Fall plough
ing is preferred. Fall ploughing makes all
the difference between profitable and un-
profitable farming.-Rural New York.