Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-09-14
SgrifnltmraI.


The following brief statement of the lead.
ing arguments for fall blowing was written
by Gov f. Holbrook of Vermont, a former
co-editor of the ~. E. Farmer, two years ago
As the season for fall blowing is approaching
and as the strong points in its favor can hard
ly be more forcibly stated, that paper now
reproduces the article:
Without celebrating the many strong points
in favor of fall blowing, few of the more
prominent benefits may be briefly stated as
follows
l. August and September is a good time
to turn over bound-out sod land and manure
and reseed it at once to grass, obtaining q
crop of hay the following year.
2 October and November is an excellent
time to break up sod land for planting the
following spring.
3. The weather is then cool and bracing.
and the team strong and hearty for the work
while the weather in the spring is more re-
laxing and team less able; and spring work
being always hurrginy, it saves time to dis
patch as much of the blowing as possible
during the previous autumn.
4. Sod land broken up late in autumn will
be quite free from growing grass the follow
ing spring; the roots of the overturned sward
being so generally killed by the immedia tely
succeeding winter that not much grass will
readily start in spring.
plowed land, so that it readily crumbles in
fine particles in spring, and a deep, mellow
seed-bed is easily made. The chemical
changes and notifications resulting from at
mospheric action during the winter, develop
latent fertility in the upturned burrows,
which, together with the mellowing infiu.
ences, materially increase the crop.
g. Most kinds of insects are either wholly
destroyed, or their depredations materially
checked, by late fall blowing, especially the
common white grub and the cut worm
7. Corn stubble land may be plowed late
in the fall, aud thus be all ready for very
early sowing in spring, thereby going far to
insure good catch of grass the roots of
the new seeding getting hold well, or being
well established, before the droughts of sum
mer come on.
s. Most land in New England needs deeper
blowing than has generally been rracticed.
Where the subsoil is fine grained, and unc-
tuous, and close, or where there is hard
pan of good quality, deep blowing may be
at once resorted to, with decided advantage
Where the subsoil is poorer, the blowing may
still be advantageously deepened by degrees.
say an inch at each new breaking up. But
IN by far majority of cases, deep blowing
may be practiced at once-indeed, it may be
the rule, with safety, while shallow blowing
may be the exception. Plow say nine, ten,
eleven or twelve inches in November The
subsoil turned up will grow several shades
darker by spring. The frosts and atmospheric
influences of winter will mellow the soil
The inorganic elements and all latent fertil-
ity will be made more active for benefting
the crop. In spring spread the manure and
pillow it in or otherwise work it in or mincle
1T with the soil to the depth, say of four
inches, or a little more or less, and you have
the very best attainable conditions for real
izing good crops. Deeper blowing may thus
be practiced than would at all times be safe
or expedient, if the blowing is delayed till
spring.