The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1877-11-15
FALL FLOWING AND DRAINAGE.

The value of Fall blowing has generally come
to be recognized in the West, aud yet a large
majority of farmers imagine that the later the
land is turned over the better Consequently
thisimportant work is left late that the ground
freezes up, leaving much land unplowed that
should have been turned over. Again, many
otherwise good farmers think that land may he
Moved in the Fall when wet, without tetri-
ment to its texture. 1t is true the injury is not
40 great as would have happened if plowed wet
i'm the Spring, since the action of the frost mel
lows and breaks up the soil, to large extent
All that the observing farmer needs to do, to sat
isfy himself as to land plowed wet IN the FALL
and that plowed dry when i'll friabe state,
is to make the experiment Oh contiguous land,
and note the result.
We shonld never hesitate to plow land when
very dry in the Fall. 1t is only question of
power The land plowed when very dry will
come out in the Spring, in the incest and most
friable condition, and rs a rule, such land plow-
cd early in the season, will be in better 'condi-
ton than that plowed later. The reason is Oh
vious. The very dry soil is often turned up IN
Jumps and thus o greater surface is exposed to
the combined action of air, water and frost
Even for corn, following crop of small grain,
we have had excellent success upon deep Fall
blowing Say eight inches, even when not re-
plowed in the Spring. Nevertheless, the easiest
and cheapest way to fit such land, is to lightly
re-plow it just before planting, since the labor
necessary to fit it for the seed, with cultvators,
is about equal to a light blowing. All that is
needed in the Spring following is to move the
soil to a depth of three or four inches.
The chief value of Fall blowing, is when small
grain is to be spwn. For Spring wheat and grass
seed it is absolutely necessary TO success and for
harley, oats and flax, we consider Fall piowing
to be of fully as much value as for wheat
In Fall blowing there will be a number of
very important points gained: l. The labor is
accomplished ut a season when the press of work
is not severe, and the teams are comparatively
idle. 2. The soil is generally in the best condi-
tion for blowing. s. A crop of stubble and weeds
are turned under, which if well done, give no
trouble in the Spring. 4. The soil is thoroughly
aerated and broken down during the Winter,
and if not disturbed until dry enough for work
ing in the Spring, will come ont in most fra
BILE state. 6. A filth being brought to the
cessary to the best success with small grain. 4.
1t enables the farmer to open waterways and
burrows to carry off surplus water, thus of
ten enabling him to get in his crops, while his
neighbors are waiting on the weather. :. 1t
causes the land to soon become warm in the
Spring, thus forwarding the season fully week,
and in the case of untOward weather, sometimes
ten days. 9. 1t enhances the productiveness of
the crop, by allowing its roots to take hold the
soil, while yet other land is sodden with water.
10. This advantage is carried all through the
season, when it happens to be wet, since instead
of the surplus water soaking into the soil, and
therefore only cast off by the slow process of
evaporation at the surface the soil loses its heat,
and often becomes so chilled from this cause as
to occasion the crop to turn yellow-frdirie
Fdrfaer.