The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-11-27

done in lands directed down the slope
Of the field, with open fM1owg between
them, or If p1ow6da Wit q SWIVEL
pillow, 50 as to make but one land, Half
the burrows lying in each direction,
which is an excellent method; then
water-furrows should be made down
the slopes before the field is left, lest it
may be afterward neglected. Ridging
land is fashion that is obsolete, be-
cause inconvenient in these days of
reapers and mowers. The level plow-
ing OF field is to be recommended.
This is done with, the swiyel-plow, and
the old-fashioned side hip pillow after all
does better work than any of the new
fashioned heavy pretentious ones made
to perform the work. 1t is done in the
following manner: An open furrow is
made through the middle sof tire field.
This is then closed by two bouts, and a
back furrow is made where the open
furrow was previously. This insures
the blowing of the ground. and avoids
the leaving Of a strip unplowed and
only covered with soil thrown upon it.
The swivel-plow is then run back and
forth, each horse alternately in the fur
row, until one-half of the field is plowed
up to eight or ten feet from the fence,
when the other half is plowed in the
same manner. The field issfnished by
blowing head-land all around it up to
the fence. No other manner of blowing
is so neat or gives such a finished APP
pearance to field as this. The water
burrows should be made to carry off all
the water that may fall ON the land, and
to this end should pass through each
hollow and down to the lowest ground.
After having been plowed out, the fur
rows should be trimmed with round
pointed shovel to insure the complete
flowing off of the water. On the man
ner in which this is done will depend
the practicability of early narrowing
and fitting the ground in the spring.
Clay soil is usually rich m the ele-
ments of fertility, but in an undeveloped
condition. Salt and lime have more
active effect upon clay soils than upon
sandy lands. Clay is usually rich in
potash, because it consists of the debris
of feldspathic, micaceous, or trap rocks,
which contain much of this alkali in
combination. To dissolve the fine
particles, or disintegrate the larger
ones of such soil, is to enrich it in
potash. Potash, again, in its turn
helps to disorganize vegetable matter
in the soil, and this decomposition
again, which is attended by the release
Of carbonic acid, helps to release more
potash, and also lime, from the clay.
Therefore the fall blowing of clay land,
as well as the deeper blowing of it. by
which new soil is brought up, tends
greatly to its enrichment, the more so,
as it is left in more open and lumpy
condition, that the frosts, rains and
suns heat may break it up. mellow it,
and decompose it. But, further, as the
presence of manure in the soil is known
to act and react, as has been pointed
out, with great effect, liberal top
dressing at this season upon the plowed
ground-or plowed in, if the ground is
to be cross-plowed in the spring, but
not otherwise-will Be of much greater
benefit than if given in the spring. Loss
of fertilizing matter need not be feared.
That is proved a veritable bugbear,
having no reality. The soil will take it
all in and hold it ready for immediate
use, when sown or planted. Finally, if
clay land is wet in the bottom, not all
the skill or labor that may be bestowed
upon it will avail without drainage.
This is imperative. The water must be
removed. And if this is to be done,
there is no season better for it than the
presently. Y Times.