Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1867-01-10
fanlsrs Departn'tnt,
winter Flowing and Digging.

Winter Flowing and Digging.
Though rather late to talk about
fall plowing, it eften happens that
we may uriye the jecuud team a
field with firm steel plow, and turn
over clover bed or other sod, dur
ing the mild weather of January and
February, and thus derive all the
advantages of winter fallow.
What are these advantages? it
may be asked by some young far
mer. They are many, and some OF
them will here be enumerated as
consisting Of the meiiorstion of the
soil, the destruction of weeds, and
the destruction OF insects.
All culture. stirring and moving
of the surface sell has for its prima-
nv object the communication and i'm
provement in the physical condition
of it's particles. This is true wheth-
er the labor be performed by the
turning plow, the steam plew, the
rotary digger, the horse hoe or cult
vator, the clcd- d-crusher, harrow, and
roller, or by simple tools impelled
by human muscel, such as the spade,
the hse or the trench hoe and nat
took. Incidentally, another very
important object is obtained, and
that is the destruction of the living
plants that may occupy the land,
such as sod Of grass, that is invert
ed by the turning plcw, or the weeds
that spring up abundently among
our growing crsps, and which are
eradicated BY the various implements
used in cultirating the land during
the summer.
Ia blowing or digging, the more
thoroughly the soil is disintegrated
by these operations the better, and
we now have rlows so perfectly con
structed, to effect this object, that
some of our best gardeners consider
the work better done with this i'm
plement than even with the spade
But for the work at this season OF
the year we may take advantage of
another agency Of great power and
efficiency, to aid us in the work.
This is the action of frost, which
will disiAtergrate even stiff clays in
the most perfect manner, if the soil
be exposed to its action. For this
purpose the burrows shsuld be titled
and tapped against one another, and
not laid over fiat In digging with
the spade the soil should be thrown
up int narrow ridges. In either
case the rains and melted SHOWS can
gain access to the soil, aud the frost
will follow, penetrating every parti-
Gle, and ren6ing assunder the most
ebdurste clays, AID making them
loose and mellow, as more friable
soils. In the meantime the grass or
clover that has been plowed under,
will commence stage of decompO-
stion, and with tke warming suns of
the opening spring, this process will
accelerate, so that by planting time
the ground will be in fine condition
for the reception OF our seeds, that
can at once vegetate and grow Wig
orously.
Bv this winter cultivation we may
aid very greatly in the eradication OF
certain weeds by turning up their
roots to the weather, and we have
moro time to collect and remove
them than in the hurrying season OF
spring, when, too, some of these
pests will really be encouraged by
he cultivation, and their growth
gill be extended by the operations
)fthe piow and harrow, instead of
heir being in measure subdued by
the exposure to the inclemencies of
winter
The destruction Of insects by win
ter plowing is a matter Of no mean
importance. At this season, innu-
merable grubs and other Larvae are
either in dormant or very sluggish
condition. Very many insects that
90 not feed in the soil, resort to it
to undergo their transformation, and
are now lying snug!y cnsconced in
their pupa state beneath the surface
OF the soil; the piowlng exposes
these creatures to the attacks OF the
birds and other predaceous animals,
as well IS to the transitions Of the
weather
1t is true we find that some OF
these insects can endure great de
preston OF temperature, when il
their dormant state, without being
killed; but it is probable that when
the conditions by which they have
surrounded themselves are forcibly
altered. as by tearing up and expos
ing the soil, many of them will be
destroyed. Then, again, some ei
those whose natural habitation is up
on the snrfaee Of the ground, among
the decaying grass end leaves, or
even just beneath the surface, viii be
buried SO deeply by thoroughly
plowing Of the land, that they will
be placed beyond their power of res
urrectien, and perish in their deep
grayes.-Cin. Goz.
FLORENCE