Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-10-08

THE BENEFITS OF FALL PLoUaHING.-That
the ploughing of heavy soils IN the tall Is at
tended with excellent results is generally al
mitted. That any benefit accrues to soils e
a lighter texture Is questioned by many az.
riculturists, with whom We do not altOg ,theI
agree All admit that the tenacious char &c.
| ter of clay soil is reduced, and its texture
opened and rendered less compact, by the
operation of frost. The Jumps fall apart, and
are dslntegrated by the mechanical effect Of
the expansion in the act of freezing of the
water held between the particles. The field,
which at the commencement of winter exhib-
tied only surface of sbapeless clods, in the
spring is eeen to have been brought into a
condition of mellowness which no amount OF
ploughing or narrowing could have effected.
But is this the full effect of the forces of ma
ture, which operate in small things as per-
fectly as in greater? The power which has
| forced asunder the clods, and reduced them
to fragments, has also had an effect upon
| those fragments themselves, and has reduced
them to part, Giles SO small that the sOlubility
of the soil is increased. Thus another effect
besides a mechanical one has been produced;
or rather the operation of mechanical force
mas brought about conditions under which
chemical action can more readily take place.
Now, can we believe that this result occurs
only in the case of clay soils? 1t this should
be SO, then, as there is variety of such soils.
the effect must be proportioned to the nature
of the soil. Ii clay soil is benefited, is not
also a clay loan? And if clay loan, why
not sandy loam? If the PARTICLES of a clay
soil are rendered more soluble by this expo
sure to the frOsts Of winter, and those parti-
cles are mainly slumiua and silica, how Can
another Soil altogether escape similar effects.
when only the proportions 10 which those
constituents are combined are changed. But
we are told that clay soils are absorbent,
while more silcous soils are more or less
leachy, and part with their fertile properties
by the percoiation of water through them.
Then, il this were true. light or sandy soil
would in course of time be washed free from
Ill lertiizlng properties. But this is not the
c.se with these soils They can be imp owed
by the addition OF manure until their charac-
ers are changed; the added color and
other quail les are not washed away. If this
idea of leachiness, then, is unfounded, no
harm, but only benefit, can result from
ploughing such soils ID the fall. They will
experience as much improvement in one sense
8 beaver clay soil. The reduction eff
hard Jumps is not necessary, for these soils
ire naturally mellow, but an increased solu-
pllity will have been gained. But one other
benefit must not be forgotten here, which Is
that deeper plOughing is permissible IN the
all, and six mouths exposure to the sudden
changes from frost to thaw will bring the
i,herto unused soil into condition for assist
ny to bear crops. We do not advise the
ploughing of sod at this season, at least not
Tor a corn crop. This should be postponed
until the last possible day in the spring
consistent with having the ground prepared
IN time. But for roots or oats, or other
and manure through the winter, when a
mellow and rich soil some inches in depth
will be ready to be stirred again in the
spring and this we would do irrespective OF
the quality OF the soil, whether it be clay or
light loan. Potatoes planted in a gravelly
Dam thus prepared have with US iven double
The yield OF those in ground not 80 treated.
Oats. TOO, have been benefited greatly but the
result with corn was uniavordbe, mainly,
We believe, On account of the greater devel-
1pment OF weeds, which prevented the crop
rom being kept clean.
We have not adyerted to the economy O
time resulting from having the ground
ploughed before winter, aud ready for
second ploughing early in spring; but this
rs point worthy OF attainment under any
circumstances. Farm operations depend very
much for their success on " taking time by
Che forelock," and keeping work wei pushed
Onward: and to have all the stubbles
ploughed before frost sets in, must be CON-
tort to any Ia mer.-American Agyicullur'st.