Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1883-10-04

fore. while we reproduce our contemporary
Oh the subject, We would urge fall-plowlng
in any shape-anything rather than no
plowing at all: ... . .. |
1t tall plowing 10 properly done, and a.
the proper time, it has the advantage OF fa-
voriug earlier spring sowing and lessening
the work at that busy time. an advantage
that is too important to be overlooked. But
II not done at tho right tinle, and in a proper
masner, it had better be pur of till spring.
Thus, by plowing land early in the fall,
chaace is given tor weeds and grass to spring
forth, particularly grass when sod is turned
down, and especially when that grass is
couch or quack grass. In such case, unless
the land is plowed again in the spring, the
grass and weeds will csntend with the grain
for the mastery, and too often successfully
always in the case of quack-atfording
besides, chance for the better ripening of
the seeds OF the foul stuff.
Generally. if not always, land shoald be
plowed rather late in autumn, and il there
is much to pillow, the wsrk is continued, if
the weather and coalition OF the soil will
admit. The later the blowing is done un-
der such circumstances, the better. even
| should it extend into winter, which no wever
is rare here at the North. This gives the
fresh ground to the frost and The snow, with
no benefit to noxious weeds and plants, and
with the further advantage OF the freezing
and thawing in the spring. The difficulty
with late plowing is that The soil is apt to
be wet, which, whether corrected by the
frost or not, makes unpleasant work. This
is less the case with sandy soil, or we'll
drained clay loan; but with clay soil, re-
tanning it's water long, and packed IN plow-
ing, or hard and tenacious, ii is not only un-
pleasant, but in some cases hurtful, as when
packed by heavy weight of snow during
the winter with little or ne frost to relieve
II, the spring freezing and thawing do not
penetrate sufficiently to benefit much. 1t
will take long for such soil 10 dry, and then
tue harrow will skip over it making little
impression. What can be expected from
such condition of the land? If plowcd
| again, the chances often are not much bet
| ter-breaking up rough and wet below
where it rests on the subsoi.
We used to plow such soil the first In the
| fall, when it was the driest, or defer the
! blowing till spring, or, ii teo late to pat in
prepare it Tor buck wheat. In no case should
the porous texture OF the soil be sacrificed
and clay OF all soils is the most subject to
| injury Of this kind, the harm usually being
done in the fall and spring. With proper
management, fall blowing may be made to
inprove the texture of the soil through the
action OF the frost, as when thrown to the
air In a comparatively dry and open cond-
ton, so that the elements have free play
with 1t. the spring will end it mellower than
the plow left tin the fall, and in condition
for early sowing. This should be done in
time, rs by deterring it rains may occur and
pack the soil. and as clay parts slowly with
water. may make the sowing late or defeat
it altogether. 1t shou Id, therefore. by all
means be done as soon AS the ground will
allow, even If quite early, and all the more
where the soil lacks drainage. The grain
will then get the start of the weeds, and if
the soil Is good, stand chance to keep it,
fer one of the principal difficulties with iall
plcwing is the advantage it gives to weeds
and grass.