The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-11-02
.u,umu proving for spring Crops.

Autumn Piowing for spring Crops.
Much is advanced in theory in favor
of autumn blowing, which Is occasion
al y overthrOwu In practice. InrnlnE
mn the 4 il To the action OF the frost L.
beneficial when there are no draw
backs. A sandy or gaveliy soil, which
Cannot be haIdeued or rendered more
Compact thr,ngh the agency OF late
autumn or winter rains, will be ready
to receive the seed of early spring
crops. Bat heavy lands, or those which
have not bee sufficiently und5Idrained,
will be very likely to require another
plowiug in spring ~ render them Sdt-
GENTLY mellow. These, We are aware,
are the very Oues that are commonly
recommended as most benefited by fall
blowing; lat there are conditions IN
which EtGle or no advantage Will DO dc
rived tfOm the operation. We nave re
dreutly had occasion to observe on
stubbie land. of a heavy character, pos
tive lujnry done by 'urnlng over III"
soil in the month ul November On thar
purti,n which remained uu'Duchvd, the
roots Of the sTubble tended 10 Keep Oh"
soil from packiAg when saturated vi
water. aud the slight protection an idrd
by the stubhlr u The surface prevented
the formation OF II baud Cln>t. III"
plOwed land had melt her of these advau
tages, aud the earth h ing loaded with
moisture, settled down, became com
pact, and when dry enough Tor work
ing in spring, WAS entirely too har' Tor
the reception of seed. lu low places
the snow had drifted or become depOs-
tied so deep as to prevent the freezing
and thswing which are regarded as 50
desirable.
1t may 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 il is safer to provide additional sur
face drainage; for II frequently hanpenS
that very heavy rains, after the piowlng
is performed, reduce the mellow earth
TO condition nearly like that of mud
or mortar, before the water can find IFS
way down TO the channels below. IL
may be we'll, therefore, to p ow narrow
lands so as 10 make frequent dead fur.
rows, placed III such position as &"
carry the surface water down nil 10y
the shortest course. Clearing ont these
channels by baud-the work of few
hours Only-may grove very useful. lu
cases where clayey soils have not been
under drained, 1t will generally be found
indispensable to throw up the land into
quite narrow ridges, so as 10 provide
frequent channels of this kind, some
what like those made 10y gardeners in
autumn, although not necessarily mar
row. Ii tins work is we'll done, the
ground will be in better condition III
spring for tho harrow and broadcast
culuivaror, which, by running across
the ridges, will mellow the soil deeply
and fill the furrOW~; or, If piowlnG
proves requisite, the woIk may br mOIt'
easily done, and the pulvrllza II
prove more complete, than II the Who'll"
blowing Is left Tor spr!ug.
IL tuere Is much grass, green weeds
or other ref 90 matte 1t Is desirable
that this be turned completely under To
some deptt. On snch ground, there
fore, three horses should be used for
fall blowing aud the work done thor
oughly and in the best manner AS this
Inverted stuff should not be disturbed,
two horses, with shallOwer pillow, or a
gang plew, or Shares harrow, may be
used for preparing the ground in
spring.
Farmers who are 'up to time" with
their work, will desire 10 accomplish
as much before winter as pr8CtIcIbie.
They will tiud il necessary to do AT
lcas' pa { ut their PlowIns; and they
shOu ~ Get the drNrS fields whrre
- L.. L.,
the highest soils, aud those least likely
TO be water-soakcd. Ii we'll exposed To
trcrHinS, these soils will be pulvcriZed
III more thorough manner by the
lIoSt "uicu entris between the partI-
Giles, anu CROWDS them asuuder, tina
can be accomplished blythe most per.
feet narrow; ahd tue even distribution
OF labor, 10y which the rXtrrme hutr,
of spring is lessencd, Will oe flcrli,a ed.
Every thing should be done that will
favor the early sowing III the crop of
oats and barlcy-the gain of single
day in time sometimes preventing "A
weeks delay just before y long storm,
or thorough soaking Of the ground by
heavy rain.
The preceding remarks are intended
to apply chiefly to s;ubhie land. Grass
land, If Inteuued to re thorough pul
v,rizrd III the spring, may be Inverted
in autumn with less difficulty, the grass
rrot preventing the cOmpacting 1T ,ur
SOIL ia a sohd mass. Il l.. however,
much better 10 IuV,r sod ia spring, If
Intended Tor corn, il short tllNe before
planting, when the grass can make but
httle neadWay Though the sod b t r
the corn keeps 1t under by shading;
auu II good coat II manure can he.
spresu on tubs grass surIug the autumn
previously, OF even 80 late as In thu,
winter, will be worth more than
Twice AS much as if applied III spIiur.
We would tnereto. L recommend IN .II
cases To Invert sod for corn iusr b.fnr,.
the planting season.
This Is an Important subject. and. a.
diff rent soils and varying cIrcnm.
stances afford differing results W..
should like to have the experience nj
those who have given it careful practi.
cal Country Gent.
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