Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-11-06
Autumn Flowing for Spring Crops.

Autumn Flowing for Spring Crops.
Much is advanced in theory in favor of
autumn blowing, which is occasionally
overthrown in practice Turning up the
soil to the action of the frost is beneficial
when there are no drawbacks A sandy
or grayelly soil, which cannot be hard
ened or rendered more compact through
the agency Of the late autumn CT winter
rains, will be ready to receive the seed
Of early spring crops But heavy lands
or those which have not been sufficiently
undetermined, will be very likely to re-
quire another blowing in spring to render
them sufficiently mellow These, We are
aware, are the very ones that are CONS
monty recommended as most benefited by
fall blowing; but there are conditions in
which little or no advantage will be de-
rived from the operation. We have fire.
quently had occasion to observe on stub
bic land, of q heavy character, positive
injury done by turning over the soil in
the month Of November On that portion
which remained untouched, the roots of
the stuJJle tended to keep the soil from
packing when saturated with water, and
the slight protection afforded by the stub
BILE to the surface prevented the formation
of hard crust The plcwed land had
neither Of these advantages, and the
earth being loaded with moisture, settled
down, became compact, and when dry
enough for working in spring, was entire
" too hard for the reception OF the seed.
In low places the snow had drifted or
become deposited SO deep as to prevent
the freezing and thawing which are re-
garded as So desirable.
1t NAV therefore be laid down as a rule
that all, except light land, should not be
plowed in autumn without being properly
drained Regular under-drainage may
in general be sufficient but it is safer to
provide additional surface drains; for it
frequently happens that very heavy rains,
after the blowing is performed, reduce
the mellow earth to condition nearly
like that of mud or mortar, before the
water can fad its way down to the cham
| nels below. 1t may be well, therefore, to
pillow narrow lands so as TO make frequent
dead burrows, placed in such IA position
| as to carry the surface water down hill
| by the shortest course. Clearing out
these channels by hand-the work CT
few hours Only-may prove very useful
In cases where clayey soils have not been
underdrained, it will generally be found
indispensable to throw up the land into
quite narrow ridges 50 as to provide fire.
| Guent channels of this kind, somewhat
| like those made by gardeners in autumn,
although not necessarily so narrow. If
this work is well done, the ground will be
in better condition in spring for the har-
row and broadcast CultiVatOr, which, by
running across the ridges, will mellow the
soil deeply. and fill the burrows; or, if
! blowing proves requisite, the work may
be more easily done, and the pulveriza-
ton prove more complete, than if the
whole blowing is left for spring.
II there is much grass, green weeds,
or other refuse matter, it is desirable that
this be turned completely under to some
depth On such ground, therefore, three
horses should be used for fall blowing
! and the work done Thoroughly and in the
best manner. As this Inverted stuff
| should not be disturbed, two horses, with
a shallow pillow, or a gang pillow, or Shares
harrow, may be used for preparing the
ground in spring.
Farmers, who are up to time" with
| their work, will desire to accomplish as
much before winter as practicable They
will find it necessary to do at least part
Of their blowing and they should select
| u , q. ] ! l.. Al i.
the highest knobs, the lightest soils,
and those least likely to be water-Soaked
If well exposed to freezing, these soils
will be pulyerized in a more thorough
manner by the frost which enters between
the particles, and crowds them asunder,
than can be accomplished by the most
perfect harrow; and the even distribu
ton of labor, by which the extreme hurry
of spring is lessened, will be facilitated
Every thing should be done that will IA.
vor the early sowing Of the crop of oats
and barley-the gain Of single dav in
time sometimes preventing a weeks de-
lay Just before long storm, or thor
oqgh soaking of the ground bya heavy
rain.
The preceding remarks are intended
to apply chiefly to stuODIe land Grass
land, ifintended to be thoroughly pulver-
lied in spring, may be inverted in autumn
with less difficulty, the grass roots pre-
, venting the cCmpacting of the soil in a
solid mass. tits, however, much better
to invert sod in spring, il intended for
| corn, short time before planting, when
the grass make butlittle Roadway through
the sod before the corn keeps it under by
shading; and if good coat of manure
can be spread on this grass during the
autumn previously, or even so late as in
! the winter, twill be worth more than
/, twice as much as if applied in spring
, We would therefore recommend, in 4
: cases, to invert sod for corn just before
Y the planting season.
: This is an important subject, and, al
n different soils and varying circumstance
afford differing results, we should like t,
!, have the experience of those WHO hav,
q piven II corptul practical attention.