Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-07-02
Summer Following and Fall0W Crops.

THE following OF land is as old as ag-
riculture itself The Israelites undoubt-
edly got their idea of allowing the land to
lie fallow once in seven years from the
ancient Egyptians by whom they were
enslaved. Their tallOws, however, did
not include the turning under of green
crops; for, even if the idea had occurred
to them, their implements of tillage would
not have allowed that perfect inversion of
the soil necessary to covering heavy
growths of vegetation. 1t is only since
the invention and subsequent improve
ment Of the modern piow that this has
been rendered practicable, and with it
the possibility of keeping the land shaded
during a great portion of the time of the
fallow. Even now the importance of
keeping the land shaded is not generally
appreciated as it should be.
Whatever may be said of the impor-
lance of the application of barn-yard
manures and other fertilizers to keep up
the strength of the land, it is undeniably
true that with the many large farms in
the West 1t is not feasible from lack of
quantity If no other cause to employ these
manures to the exclusion of other and
easier means of renovation. 1t must be
a question for the farmer to decide if the
land is to be kept up with manure alto
gether or with manure supplemented by
following. Near cities where manure is
plenty, or where a sufficient amount of
stock is carried to furnish manure, we
should advocate this plan so far as it
could be carried out. Unfortunately all
cannot have their farms near cities; and
all cannot or will not carry stock suffi-
cient to keep Up the fertility of their cul-
tivated soil.
The most practicable plan, therefore, is
summer following, either alone or in con-
nection with manure Where manure is
to be obtained in sufficient quantities,
corn, potatoes, ETC., are undoubtedly the
most economical crops that can be en-
plOyed to clean the soil Of weeds. By the
| constant working early in the season and
the perfect shade given later the soil is
kept in the best possible condition at the
least expense for producing other crops
in the rotation; and at the same time,
| while clearing the soil from weeds, the
farmer is getting ample pay for the labor
| bestowed.
In the summer fallow proper the land
| must lose a season. 1t must either rest
entirely or else support only such crops
as Will assist, through decay, in the nutri-
ment Of more valuable ones. To this end
the beginning should be made, if posi-
bic, in autumn, by blowing the soil thor,
oughly as soon as possible after the pre-.
vious crop is taken off; thus letting the
soil lie exposed TO the action of air, water
and frost. In the spring SOW to some crop
that will terminate early in the season.
Peas, inferior wheat rye, or even chess,
! since the crop is not allowed to go to
| seed; anything that will cover the earth
quickly. When this crop has arrived al
a height of two feet, or at least as soon as
| the first bloom appears, turn it carefully
| under not more than four to six inches,
| aud Immediately SOW to corn, buckwheat
Hungarian, or other crop that will quick
| " shade the soil. If the land is to e
sown to winter wheat the fallOw crop
must be plowed under in season for seed
ing. At all events it must be turned IL
not later than the tine of poisoning; or
If corn, at such times as will enable II tC
be properly covered. If the land is not
to be used until spring, SOW winter rye
to be pastured in the fall and turned
under in the spring.
Thus you will have given the land
three or four plowings and will have haC
worked into the soil two or three crops
and, besides this, the soil viii have beer
kept shaded except during the winter
] season, which viii have done good work