The National tribune., 1882-09-09


SEAsoNABLE OPERATIONS AND HINTS.
-Winter Treatment Of Soits.-As a rule
the winter treatment of soils receives but
little consideration. After the crops are
removed in the fall no further attention is
given to the ground until the time arrives
for another crop, when it is plowed and the
crop put in as best it may. Some who work
strong soils pursue the practice of plowing
just before winter, for the purpose of secur-
ing the pulverizing benefits of freezing and
thawing, which disintegrates the soil and
produces friability not easily attained by
mechanical means. Objections to deep plow-
ing are sometimes based upon the evil effects
of bringing poor subsoil TO the surface where
it hardens and prevents the growth of young
plants; this objection is greatly modified in
the case of fall blowing the action of the
weather during winter rendering an inch
or two of subsoil utterly harmless in this
respect, and will render available for plant
food any inorganic substances which may
exist, which can only be brought into con-
dition to be useful to plants by exposure to
air and moisture. In this way soils may be
gradually deepened without producing the
evil effects which would, In many instances,
follow an Immediate addition of four or five
inches of subsoil to the surface. With light
lands, either sandy or gravelly, different
course should be pursued Possibly the very
best treatment of such is that which keeps
them constantly cropped, with the proviso
that one crop should yearly be plowed under;
and this can be done without interfering
with its productive qualities; indeed it will
increase its productive capacity, so that in
few years the land will be sensibly improved.
There is nothing to prevent this if the effort
is desired. 1t only requires prompt action
in putting in crop as soon as one is remov-
ed, which, with this class of soils, may be
accomplished in the driest season, as they
rarely become too compact for plowing, diff
fering altogether in this regard from clayey
or even strong, loamy soils. The details of
this management will admit of much varia-
tion. For instance, in field intended for
late potatoes, for sweet potatoes, for melons,
or for late summer and early winter cab
bages, a crop of grass, such as Italian rye
grass, may be sown in March, and
produce a good green crop for plowing
under about the end of May. Again: as
soon as a cotton or corn crop is harvested in
the fall, let the land be lightly plowed, or
run over ii with heavy harrow, then seed
it with rye. This will produce a notable
crop for plowing under when the time arrives
for spring cropping. Advantage can also be
taken Of the rapid growing millets, which
will, in summer, make a crop in five or six
weeks, which, when plowed under, will ma
terially add to fertility. The poorest quality
of land may gradually be brought to de-
gree of fertility by plowing down green crops
without the addition of any other kind Of
fertilizer. OF course, where fertilizers are
available, they will sensibly supplement-
this course, and it may be questioned
whether or not, in light soils, the best nee Of
artificial manures is to apply them to crops
which are to be plowed under for the en-
Iichment Of the land.
This course Of treatment can be made of
much avail in the culture Of vegetables, be-
cause, where there is so great diversity of
crops, there are greater opportunities for an
intermediate crop to be used as manure than
occur in the case of ordinary farm crops.
Frequent plowing is of itself benefit to
cultivated lands, as there are but few soils
actually deficient in inorganic materials fer
plant growth, provided that they are duly
exposed to the air, so that their latent prin.
ciples of fertility may be rendered active and
available as plant food, or as they NAV ex-
ercise an influence in the prenaration NJ
plant food, by combination with other in
gradients in the soil or in the atmosnbere
MISUNDERSTANDING plantations NAV
be set out during this month. If good plants
are secured and a favorable growing season
occur after planting, they will form good
stong plants before winter, and if slightly
covered with strawy manure, leaves, or any
other loose matter the plants will furnish a
few good berries next year. 1t has now be-
come quite common for nurserymen TO fur
nish potted plants at wonderfully low cost,
considering the labor required to produce
them. Plants thus prepared, if set out in
good soil, and planted firmly in the ground
an important point-will furnish fair aver
age crop next season.
Gathering Ffuit.-There is rs much discre-
ton required in picking fruit at the proper
time as there is in growing IT, For market
purposes, fruits of all kinds are mostly gath
cred before maturity, and sold in that condi-
ton, 30 that fruit consumers, whose only