Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-10-21
The Uses and Benefits Of Fall Flowing.

ern agriculture more clearly shown
than in the general adoption Of fall
ploughing Of land for next years
crops. 1t used to be thought, taught
and practiced that all, or nearly all,
crops did better if the land was not
disturbed until few days, or few
hours, before seeding-great bene-
fits being claimed in having a fresh,
moist bed TO coniide the seed 10. If
all lands were new, and if fall plow-
ing deep did not contemplate spring
plowing shdNow, doubtless the old
fashion were the better one. But
since the farmer who adopts the plan
of fall plowing is pretty sure not to
neglect the essentials of preparing a
proper seed bed when the time comes
for seeding; and since modern ex-
perience has taught that all or nearly
all soils produce better crops if the
land is suffered TO lay for months
after plowing, these are sufficient
reasons for the general following of
the practice when once introduced.
But it is not, perhaps, enough to sim
ply say the thing is so and then leave
it, therefore we proceed TO give some
of the many reasons which have led
to the adoption of this system of
agriculture.
On the ground OF wise economy
and the Outstanding ofone's resources,
il were certainly better to make all
possible preparations for, and do all
that could be done of spring work in
the autumn months, because there is
more leisure, the teams are stronger.
the temperature is better suited to
the work and portion Of the pres
sure is taken off the most stirring and
active time of the year, when the
main work in the preparation Of the
crop land is done in the fall. Under
the old regime, before the war, fall
and winter plowing was generally
practiced on the cotton plantations
Of the South, and the results were
such that the product per acre was q
good deal above the average of the
present time. The custom on the
best plantations was, after the greater
portion Of the cotton crop had been
gathered, TO take the best hands out
of the cotton fields, leaving the wo-
men and children to finish up the job
of picking, and put the men and
teams to making and repairing fences
and blowing the land for the next
years corn and cotton crop. BY
Christmas, most OF the work was
finished ard after months holiday
the business of the new year was re.
sumed. During the war this custom
fell into disuse-the freedmen would
not renew it, the preparation for the
crops fell three months behind, and
the result rs We have seen it.
While it is no doubt true, that
lands lying in latitudes subject to
deep freezing, profit more by fall
plowing than lands liable to no frost,
or very little, it is nevertheless true,
that on account of the character of
the season, and the crops, the farmers
of mild latitudes are quite as much
benefited by it as those of colder ones
though not in the same way.
But the fertilizing and enriching
effects of fall plowing have yet to be
stated in part-we say in part, be-
cause if we went over the whole
ground, several columns would be
required.
Before the surface accumulation of
vegetable matter on lands intended
to be cropped can be made to benefit
that crop, they must first become
wholly or partially decayed, or dc.
composed. And in order to bring
about that condition, they must be
covered under, by the pillow, sufil-
cient length of time to have the pro-
cess of decay do its work. When
plowing is done in the fall or winter
months these processes GO on for
weeks, even in times of hard frost,
and when seed time comes the food
is ready for the young plant, and it
gets a good send off from the start.
If plowing is delayed until spring
these processes, if they 60 on at all,
do so at the expense OF the moisture
in the soil, and to the detriment of
the growing plant; and that is prob
ably why IL is we see so many failures
of all kinds of crops IL the season
happens to be dry one, and n con-
siderable amount of weeds, rubbish
and surface accumulation have been
plowed under. But, contrary to what
has generally been accepted as sound
doctrine, the tendency or movement
of plant food In the soil Is upward,
instead of downward, except during,
and a few hours after, heavy rains
and IL therefore often happens in the
case of long cultivated and foul
lands there Is very great benefit in
turning the surface deeply under
hn1 n a tha eala nondiataft thar . ,an.s.