News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-11-09
PROBLEMS IN FLOWING.

| WQ6Gn6r TO DlOW turing Tic Idll VI
the spring is one of the problems in
agriculture that give rise to endless dis
cussions in word, there are two sides
to the question. The requirements of
different soils and localities must be met,
therefore definite rules cannot be laid
down by which to govern the matter
under all circumstances, but each field
ought to be considered by itself and
broken up at season and in style best
suited to its own peculiarities:
Two strong arguments in favor of fall
blowing are, advancing the work so as
to modify the spring rush and the i'm
provement to the loosened soil through
the action of the frost. A team can
plow in the same length of time a
spring, there is more leisure time for
accomplishing the work and less fatigue
to both man and beast. When proper
ly done, fall blowing affords drainage,
so that the soil is ready oftentines at
least fortnight earlier for cultivation
in the spring.
Farmers who are agreed as to the de-
STABILITY of fall blowing on most soils
differ in their opinions about early and
late blowing. The more universal plan,
however, is to pillow late-just before the
winter frosts come-so that the land
will not become beaten into compact
state by the early fall rains. Soils by
nature loose are best reserved for spring
blowing, as the mechanical effects from
fall blowing will only increase the fault.
Therefore, light sandy lands are seldom
broken up with benefit during the au.
tumn, and experience appears to have
demonstrated that land, near the sea
which i-razGiS' covered with snow pro-
duces better when plowed in the spring
than if it is done the previous fall.
Sandy or dry soils, as a rule, call for
flat blowing, as this tends to consolidate
the land. While on low or strong soil
the burrows are left on edge. Much is
written and said every season against
breaking of ground that is too wet the |
other extreme is not so often mentioned. |
and yet, especially in heavy clay soil,
running the plow through earth too dry |
Is almost as pernicious in its effects. as
blowing when it is too wet. Sufficient
moisture is required to cause the burrows
10 fall loosely from the pillow, with no
appearance of packing and no lumps,
More discussions have arisen regard
ng the question of deep and shallow
blowing than on almost any other sub
ect. Here again it is quite impossible
% lay down any rigid rule. This ques-
ion must be determined by the depth
If the soil and the character of the sub
ioll. A sterile subsoil will not benefit
he top soil by intermixture with it,
hence here deep blowing is to be avoid
I'd. Where the subsoil is porous shall
ow blowing is in order, for the evident
eason that the subsoil requires no
In general way it may be said that
he subsoil ought not to be brought out
VI Its bed, except in small quantities, to
% exposed to the atmosphere during
he winter and spring or in a summer
allow, nor even then, except when such
ertlilzers are applied as are necessary
o put 1t at once into productive con-
tltion. Two different soils of opposite
haracter-as stiff clay and sliding
and-sometimes occupy the relation of
urface and subsoil to each other. When
incorporated and subjected
, deep cultivation these will produce a
oil of greatly increased value. River
oils having natural drainage take kind
? to deep blowing as do the black fer
lie limestone soils.
Lands that are dry, with but few
lches of good soil, will not produce as
lie crops by deep as by shallow plow-
lg. This condition is, however, sus- ,
9ptlble of Improvement by thorough |
5stem of subsoiljng and liberal manur- {
lg. Deep blowing is ill-advised when I
basin Is formed below a certain line in +
hich water will settle and remain until :
can escape by evaporation. Such soil t
.quires drainage, after which the pillow I
IN be set deep. q
The whole matter of deep and shallow /
lowing may be summed up briefly: d
hin soils with worthless subsoils must g
, plowed shallow until the cultivator r
n and will afford the labor and expense v
subsoiling and heavy manuring for a f
lEber of years. This extra outlay will
pay him in the end with handsome
terest, not only by increased crops
1t continued value of the land. Deep
ay loans and alluvial soils take kindly e
deep blowing. The medium course. Il
e.: blowing from five to six inches g
ep, is exempt from the harmful re- d
Its of the two extremes. L
has proven that time is al
st in turning short plots hence it is k
Onomy to run the burrows in the ii
Igest direction and SO lessen the num- Il
+ of turns. /