American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-02-19
Working Heavy Soils When They Are
Too Wet.

ONE of the most conspicuous errors in
the management of heavy land, where the
ground is disposed to be hard and lumpy,
is blowing or working the soil while it is
too wet. This is a common source of evil
and the practice is persisted in. People
will put in their crops, rain or shine.
which is great and hurtful error. 1t
need scarcely be stated here that land
plowed wet in the spring and baked there
after, as it will be, becomes hard. This
is known, and yet each spring we see it
repeated. The same is the case in the
fall, when it is Thought it will not hurt
land to turn it up wet, that the frost will
make it all right, which Is also great
error. The frost will aid its amelioration,
or prevent the evil which would result
from the spring sun, but it will not make
it harmless. This is the experience, what
ever the philosophy may be. We have
known gardens, and other land of rich,
black loan, plowed late. when the pillow
almost swan in the mud, it being thought
and said that the soil would all be right
in the spring. But it was not right. The
following year there was no crop. The
garden was failure. How can it be 9TH
erwise? Here was a mortar, instead of
mellow soil. The loose, porous soil, full
OF life and fertility, had its character
changed. The soil was close and COM
pact. Its texture was altered. 1t was no
soil proper, only a collection of dead,
compact matter, which the frost could not,
vitalize, as we know it does not-at least
in one year-reduce Jumps, which are the
same kind of soil, only dried and broken
up. 1t takes years to reduce Jumps and
clods to fine and mellow condition.
Then the sun and the rains must aid also
in the pulveriZation. The proper way to
manage heavy land is to drain all those
places where the soil continues wet and
soggy for any length of time after heavy
rain. Remove the cause of the
oincuity, as we say OF certain
diseases. Then work and regain
done welD by deep and thorough drain
age. But if this is not practicable pillow
little deeper in autumn, and if possible
loosen the soil below, giving drainage to
the depth of loosening. Let the surface
be rough in ridges, or otherwise thrown
up, SO that there may be as much expos
ure to the elements as possible. The OBJ
Ject directly here is to increase the depth
OF soil, improving it by the addition of
nure may be applied to advantage, as |
coarse manure will act favorably on the |
harsh soil with which it comes in con-
tact. Muck, with little lime added, is |
excellent to turn down, as the acid and |
the alkali will produce fermentation.
If a little manure can be added to the |
surface the effect on the soil will be such |
as to develop its fertility. If you have
time and means to summer fallow the
ground dispense with the manure turned
down in the fall, unless it may convent
emily be done, and apply it in the spring.
The heat will at once effect the fertilizing
and through its fermentation
the soil will be improved. After the ma
nurc has had its action, work the land
and often. Soon after rain
is the best time, if such an opportunity
can be improved. This is important
The heat and rain together have great
influence in reducing the harsh character
of the soil. OF course the wet condition
of the land is to be avoided. The mean
between the wet and the dry is to be
aimed at. In showery season the
ground will frequently be in this desir-
able condition.
There will be no danger of stirring the