Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-10-04
FARM WORK IN AUTUMN.

In the successful management of a
farm It is important to do the work
ut the right time rs well as the right
way. This essential point is so often
overlooked, that the profit which
might otherwise be obtained is lost
or at least great part of IL is. II
the seasons have changed consider
able, rs some contend, then it ma.
turally follows that our operations
must change also, or they be out Of
harmony with nature, which will
never produce the best results. The
work must be done with the elements
if other circumstances will permit.
TO DO so it may be necessary to
break through long established prac-
tees. Old habits and teachings are
hard to overcome, particularly if
they have become rooted in pre-
iudice. But it is sometimes neees-
sary to break down idols which can
no longer serve a useful purpose,
and erect in their stead new and
more enlightened standards of au-
thority.
an the spring, work generally
crowds the farmer TO his utmost
capacity, plan and systimatize as he
may. Wet weather, bad roads and
unsatisfactory help-either deficient
in quantity or poor in quality, keep
operations in state of uncertainty
and confusion. And when the wealth
er and the farmers hired help at last
settled down to order and business,
the season is pretty well advanced,
and the bulk of the work untouched.
To lessen the work of spring, the
fall months must be utilized as
much as possible. The late fall and
early winter months are often such
as TO admit of much work which 10
was formerly supposed should only
be done in the spring. Indeed it is
now known that considerable spring
work can be done in the fall and
winter with advantage to the crops.
Flowing is an important work ap-
propriate to the fall, or any time
during the winter will permit.
Sward land intended for spring crops
deprives great benefit from fall
blowing. The large amount of grass
and roots turned under, have more
time TO complete the process of de-
cay and become serviceable as food
for the future crop. If the soil is of
a stiff intractable nature the subse-
quent freezing and thawing will
greatly break down its tenaclty, and
make it friaDlc by pulverlzing and
disintegrating its particles. The
nitre, which abounds in snow and
rain, is a valuable fertilizer, and
will more readily be appropriated
by soil recently stirred.
Removing the manure from the
barnyard to the fields is a work
usually done in the spring 1t is
mostly done, too, at time when the
ground is soft aud spongy, making
the labor upon the team severe, and
greatly injuring the soil. Every
hoof and wheel mark will make q
clod when the ground is plowed.
There is scarcely a day during the
winter when the work of hauling
manure cannot be engaged IN. II
thought best, it can be dumped in
piles, covered with straw or other
litter, and spread in the spring at
any convenient time before blowing.
There are MANY more things that
will suggest themselves TO the studi.
GUS and systematic farmer which are
as proper TO be done in the fall as in
the spring, and doubtless he will find
it more profitable. His old pre-
Sudices may receive a severe twist,
and his moon theories a deep out,
but never mind that. At all events
1t will be pleasant and encouraging
to start out IN the busy spring, and
find so much of the new years work
far advanced, if not completed. II
will be start which will be felt
through the whole season.