The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-11-06
DAILY PRESS,
PORTLAN ND.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1871.
PORTLAND
Fall FaIIOwinu.

1t is now becoming understood that IL Is OF
great Importance 10 the aorcuturist to ma
nlpulate the soil as much as possible. This
IS not done merely in order to render ii more
smooth, level and tiable, but also to expose
the particles of which the soil is composed to
the ameliorating influence of the atmosphere,
This both integrates the soil and assists the
decomposition of the mineral elements oil
plant food it contains, by bringing them in
contact with oxygen. Added to this is the
susceptibility of the soil to absorb ammonia
from the atmosphere and the rains and sRow
falling upon it, which, if not taken in at once
when presented, soon again evaporates. The
frosts and SHOWS OF our winter seasons are to
a great extent storehouses of plant food.
Such is theory. Now for practice. In my
own experience 1 have always foand that land
intended to be sown with spring grain is eer-
tain to yield heavier crops and of better quail
ity il it has been w,ll plowed the previous tall
and lett in the rough state exposed to the
frosts OF winter The same thing accords
with my observations, and has been especially
exempliied this season. / have on many oc-
casions noticed adjoining fields or adjoining
faims the crops on which materially differed
In appearance and yield, although The soil and
rotation followed have been almost alike, and
on making inquiry found that on those fields
carrying the best crops the land had been
plowed in the fall, while the others had not.
Another advantage is gained by fall plow-
ing, that is not to be overlooked. and that is
that the land so worked is always the first to
become warm and dry in early spring, which
is due to its being more absorbent. This en-
ables the seed to be sown earlier and the
young plant TO gain streng footbold aud
more vigorous growth before the dry weather
comes, than it can do on land that has re.
mained in a compact and solid state all win
ter for want of having beeu fall plowed. This
is especially the case with barley, which, un-
less it can grow on land 50 well titled as to
give deep and mellow seed bed, and the
braird comes well forward before the nov
usually prevalent dry weather oil May comes
OH, is almost sure to suffer greatly. For
spiing wheat, which rather likes more com
pact soil, the use of good two-horse cutiva-
tor in spring, 10 prepare the seed-bed after
iall p!oWing, is more general, and saves both
time and labor at a season that is usually both
a short and busy one.
There still remains another advantage to
be gained by fall plowing, especially ON bare
siubbles and land that has borne crops that
are more or less liable 10 the attacks OF insect
enemies. Most insects that prey upon our
field crops are kept in existence and their
numbers increased from year to year through
their larvae buryng themselves in the earth
short distance flOm the surface, and there
either h, bernating or assuming the pupa
state. In either case they ale. pi otected from
the changes of temperature 10 which they
would succumb il exposed above or very near
the surface; the occasional warm sunshine
followed by severe cold being mole fatal to
insect life lhan actual freezing. Fall plowing,
done after these pests have entered the soil,
will usually turn them up to the surface and
being unable in the state they are in to re-en-
ter the earth, their life goes out of lhem.-J
NJ, in Country Gentleman.