The Delaware farmer., 1883-09-07
FARM AND GARDEN.
Fall Flowing, with some of the Benefits
TO be Derived from it.

our farmers. The operation is doubl,
looked upon as one that can be dispense,
with without any serious loss, and as thu
work must be done at a time when tn,
farmer has begun to look forward to
season of rest, he is naturally inclined
to seek reasons for emitting this addi
ton to the list of important farming
operations.
The benefits of summer following LAND
previous to sowing of grain are generally
admitted by all good farmers, and what
is called fall plowing is but part of a
like operation, with this difference, the
weeds, stubble, and grass which have
accumulated undisturbed; or but
slightly disturbed during the sum-
mer, are all turned under at one
time, where they soon decay, adding
fertility to the soil. Wheat, rye and
oat stubble should always be turned un-
der soon after harvest, unless the land
has been seeded down.
It is quite a common practice among
farmers to use the fields from which
grain has been cut for pasture from har-
vest time until winter; and while we
must admit that more or less food for
cattle can be obtained from such fields,
as a rule weeds predominant, and if per-
mitted to mature their seeds fill the soil
and become pests in future years. A
glance at the grain fields in our Western
States at this season is sufficient to dis
pei all thoughts of spontaneous genera
ton OF noxious weeds, for every acre is
perfecting enough seeds to infect the
farms of a whole country, and when we
see not only one acre, but thousands In
a body, all covered with weeds, we are
no longer at a loss to know where such
pests come from, and how distributed.
If the weeds were plowed under before
the seeds were perfected, they would
make excellent manure, and the land be
no worse for their presence. The richer
the land the more vigorous are the
weeds, and while the rich prairie lands
of the West produce none Of our most
common noxious weeds when first
broken up, they soon become the home
of the rankest and worst species of these
pests, because the farmer seldom at
tempts to destroy them unless he can do
it without any extra labor or expense.
Fall plowing, if done after the weeds
have perfected their seeds, will not de- +
stroy these pests, but merely cover up |
the seeds to be brought to the surface
again at the next plowing. Late fall |
plowing will probably benefit the land
by improving its condition through dis
which follows exposure to
rains and winter frosts, and while we
believe that early fall plowing is the
best, we would rather do it late than not
at ALL
1t often happens that we have a dry
fall and a wet late spring, and in such
cases the farmer will find that the fall
plowed land will be much the driest and
easiest worked in spring, and there will
be something gained in the improved
condition of the soil, but the hardest
work, which is the breaking up after
year OF cOmpacting, has been done at a
season when his teams had least to do.
If meadows, pastures, or new land that
mas never been plowed are to be broken
Up, it should be done as early in the fall
Is possible, in order that the seeds,
1rush, or sod turned under may have
he benefit of a few warm days, and
howers to hasten decomposition of the
vegetable matter before frosts come to /
heck further decay. Both heat and
are necessary to the rapid de- /
Of vegetable matter in the !
oil, and if buried just before the cold t
weather. sets in or the ground freezes, it
7ill remain almost unchanged until the G
spring. e
Fall blowing is often recommended o
1r the purpose of destroying the grubs Y
nd pupa of various kinds of insects v
nown to hibernate, or live in the c
round, and while some no doubt may h
e killed by moving the soil and expos {
re to their natural enemy, we do not, s.
pom the whole, think any considerable C
umber can be destroyed in this way. n
hey certainly cannot be killed by ex- a
osure to cold, and they are generally b
lveloped in a covering impervious to 81
ater; and while few may be crushed n
Y the plow, and others caught by b
rds, the larger part will escape unin- d
red. st
Fall plowing should always be done Il
cross-plowing, if the conformation Of b,
e land will permit it, in order to thor W
Ighly break up the soil, and at the b,
me time allow of laying down the lii
nds in their criminal form at the time Al