The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-10-12
3 Fall Flowing.

II fall blowing is properly done, and
at the proper time, it has the advantage
of favoring earlier spring sowing, and
lessening the work at that busy time, an
advantage that is too important to be
overlooked. But If not done at the
right time and in a proper manner, it
had better be putof till spring. Thus,
by blowing land early In the fall, a
|. chance is given for weeds and grass to
spring forth, particularly grass when
/ sod is turned down, and especially
when that grass is quack or couch grass.
In such case, unless the land is plowed
again in the spring, the grass and weeds
will contend with the grain for the mas
terry, and too often successfully always
in the case of quack- affording, besides,
a chance for the better ripening of the
seeds of the foul stuff.
/ Generally, if not always, land should
be plowed rather late in autumn, and
if there is much to pillow, the work is
continued, if the weather and condition
of the soil will adm t. The later the
plowing is done under such eircum-
stances, the better, even should it ex-
tend into winter, which however 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 blowing is that
the soil is apt to be wet, which, whether
corrected by the frost or not, makes un-
pleasant work. This is less the case
with sandy soil, or a well-dra;ned clay
loam but with clay soil, retaining its
water long, and packed in blowing, or
hard and tenacious, it is not only I'M
pleasant, but in some cases. hurtful, as
when packed by a heavy weight Of snow
during the winter, with little or no frost
to relieve it, the spring freezing and
thawing do not penetrate sufficiently to
benefit much. It will take long for such
soil,to dry, and then the harrow will
skip over it, making little impression.
What can be expected from such con-.
dition of the landP If plowed again,
the chances often are not much better
breaking up rough and wet below where
it rests on the subsoil. l9Aa
We used to pillow such soil the first in
the fall, when it was the driest, or de-
fer the blowing till spring, or, if too
late to put in, prepare it for buckwheat.
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 man
agement, fall blowing may be made to
improve the texture of the soil through
the action Of the frost, as when thrown
to the air in a comparatively dry and
open condition, so that the elements
have free play with it, the spring will
find it mellower than the ploN left it in
the fall, and in a condition for early
sowing. This should be done in time,
as by deferrjng it rains may occur and
pack the SOIL and as clay parts slowly
with its water, may make the sowing
late, or defeat it. altogether, 1t should
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,
for one of the principal difficulties with
fall blowing is the advantage it gives
to weeds and grass.-F. G., IN Country
Gentleman.