Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1882-07-06
Manuring In the Fall.

lion Of their next year planting ground
the previous fall, and cultivate it in.
they would find it great help about
getting on with their spring work,
especially such a spring as the past has
been. 1t often happens that the success
or failure of a summers operations de-
ponds upon a very few days at a certain
time in the spring. There is. every
spring. last week when it will pay to
put in each Of the farm and garden
crops. Some years corn may be planted
at intervals for 4 nfonth or longer and
have ample time TO mature the crop.
but there are otheryears when the plant
ing season Is reduced by rains or frost
10 very few days. There is not only
a limit 10 the season for planting. but a
limit also 10 what one can do in a given
time. Now II one can get his planting
ground ready, or nearly ready the
previous autumn. il will be al once seen
that the acreage Of planting ground may
be greatly increased We remember
when it was common practice to do all
the preparatory work of planting in the
spring The ground was plowed, the
manure hauled on over the soft burrows.
and all the work of narrowing and
pulverizaiion done Just before the
seed was dropped. II the season
was short the work was neces-
sarily hurried and very imperfectly
done. Caring loads over soft plowed
grounds in spring when the soil is damp,
Is always Objectionable. IL makes the
ground hard and lumpy and difficult to
cultivate. and hard for the roots of the
crops 10 penetrate. If this work be done
the previous autumn. the frosts of win
ter will tend TO tighten the soil carried
oyer. and leave il IN better condition for
planting. In any case the time win all
be saved for other work in spring. 1t
= has been our aim for several years past
10 get in condition for manuring plant
ing ground the previous fall. and il is
not such a difficult matter perhaps rs
one might suppose who had not given
the subject much thought. Some may
object that the manure wastes if hauled
out and iiarrowedsix months in advance
of putting in the crop. We have no
fears whatever of waste in this direc-
ton. The soil has ut all times n great
affinity for manure, and will hold TO
il with good deal Of tenacitv until the
growing plants are ready TO take it up.
There certainly cali be but htfle waste
in winter when the ground is much of
the time frozen solid Coarse manures
spread and cultivated in from two TO
four inches deep. IL would seem, could
not be in better place during the win
ter. The soluble portions will to some
extent be washed out and diffused even
ly through the soil, or Just where the
roots will most easily find them Ma
nure spread in spring may lie in humps
for long while without doing the crop
very much good.
Manuring in the fall gives more time
for thorough cultivation and prepara-
ton before plantingin spring. We have
worked our fields over about once a
week, from the time the frost was out
till the day the seed went into the
ground. This kills great many weeds.
and consequently will save great
amount of work during the ordinary
wedding season. 1t not only kills sor-
rel and other weeds thar live through
the winter bu. working the ground just
before rather late planting. kills mill
ions ofaas,rals that are just starting. II
the manure is hauled the previous fall,
the spring work may so on so leisnrely
that the planting may all be DELAYED Till
the air and the ground are both well
warmed. Cultivation helps TO warm the
soil by letting the warm air into it. We
never saw a field that appeared to be
cuitiyatsii 100 much. Draw the manure
in the fab. work il in with disc har-
row. and even though the field were in
grass. itmay. by frequent working IN the
spring, be made as mellow and free
from weeds and sods rs an old garden,
Some will say hatthey can never get
enough ahead TO manure wear IN adj
vance The manure is made in winter.