The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1877-11-01

fal, Powiaq.
re ountry Gentleman.1

This subjcct has often been trea-
ted, with various opinions Of the
effect of moving the soil in the fall,
subjectin 4 it to the acting of
frost before seeding with spring
crop. But the difference Of opin.
ion has arisen from the differ
enco of con ditions. The great ad.
vantage Of fall plowing arises from
the pulverizing otfect of frost but
if tho soil is light or sandy, il needs
co mpacting rather than pulvorizing
and is thus better plowed in spring.
In discussing tho different modes
of cultivating land, farmers should
always take into consideration all
tho circumstances, and the writer's
on agricnltu raj practice should state
all the points likely to affect the re-
suit This is sh often neglected as
to lead to disappointment when the
practice is adopted under new con.
ditions. The reasons for fall plow-
ing have been often misunderstood.
and the practice misapplied. Bear
ing in mind that it is intended TO
assist in the pulverization of stiff
soils by the action of frost, il follow s
that the soil should not bo wet or
saturated with water through the
winter, for this would prevent tho
expected action of frost If the land
10 heavy and lies nearly level, it
should be plowed into ridges by
turning two furrows together, which
leaves quito dead furrow between
each two ridges to receive the water
aud these ridges will be penetrated
by the frost, and so pulverized, that
when the ridge is split by large.
mouldboard plow in spring, laying
it over each way in the furrow, the
land will be level and work up mel.
low for Il seed bed.
When land, with q considerable
proportion of clay. lies sufficiently
sloping for the surface water to run
off, it should be plowed SO as to
leave the surface rough, facilitating
the action of frost, 1t IN quito safe
also to ploN such land deeper in fall
than in spring, because the soil,
throws up from below the ordinary
furrow. will be so thorougholy aera-
ted, broken down by the frost, and
it's unfavorablo acids neutralized, as
to adapt il TO the immediate use Of
plant growth.
Some years since we plowed in
the fall field of heavy clay, ten
inches deep, which had previously
been plowed less than six inches,
turning up four inches of soil never
before disturbed. Some good far
mers, who saw this field after being
tins plowed, doubted if it would re-
produce its seed. Unheeding these
unfavorablo prophecies. we drilled
in, early in April, 2 l-2 bushels of
eats per acre, and harvested much
more than we expected--a crop Of
10 bushels per acre of heavy oats
on this field of ton acres. As an ex-
pertinent, we plowed a small piece
adjoining the above to the same
depth, in spring, and tho yield Of
oats was only % bushels per acre.
The difference could only be attri.
buteo to the effect Of frost and air
during the previous winter No i'm.
plement, hand or horse, can so thor
ougholy disintegrate q stiff soil as
frost. II becomes so thoroughly
broken down or slaked by the frcst,
that tho finest rootlets of grain can
penetrate and ramify the soil in a
complete net work, thus ayailing of
all its plant food L know an in
stance where stiff clay, thrown out
in excavating well Is feet below
the surface, grew vegetables luxuri
antly after two winters exposure.
| would not generally advise deep
ening the soil more than one or two
inches ut each blowing. But il thout
advisable to go deeper in very stiff
soil l would recommend the use of
two plows in the Same furrow. the
ono following the other. The first
plow may run six inches and the So
cond four inches deep. The second
plow should be a deep tiller, one
size smaller than the first, SO cs not
to bind in the furrow. The second
furrow slice will ho laid on the top
of the first, and will be in the right
condition to be acted on by frost.
Even for fall p!owing, it is better
that the laud should be reasonably
dry, so as to leave it coarse. But if
it is to be ridged, it may be plowed
late in the fall, and even wet, for the
water will settle from the ridges,
aud the frost perform its pulveriz'
ing offices.
Another effect OF fall p!owiug is to
destroy insects and weeds. by turn,
ing up the layer of earth where the
insects burrow, lato in the fall. they
are killed by the freezing during the !
winter, and few escape Even that
pest, the wiresworm, is often thus
killed, aud to tender grubs il is |
quito fatal. The roots of weeds that |
are turned mp by fall plowing are
generally destroyed, and thus it AN