The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-10-27
Glle 6armer.
FAN Fallowing

After SUMMER crop has been harvested
it is not good practice to leave the soil idle
until it is required for use the next spring.
The constant stirring of the soil is ben
efcial. This has been so abundantly shown
by time -honored practice, and has become
50 firmly established with good farmers,
that it does not admit Of any doubt. The
growth of weeds, too, is very active
in stubbles, and the soil is abundantly
seeded for future years, and infinite trouble
caused by the consequent stocking Of the
soil with injurious weeds, if it is left I'M
plowed. BY the fall following of such
lands all the benefits that may be derived
from the stirring Of the soil are gained,
and further advantage is secured by the
blowing under of whatever growth of weeds
may be upon the SOIL 1t is advantageous
to permit certain growth Of these weeds,
no doubt, but not to the extent of their
maturing seed For every plant in its
growth not only takes something from the
soil and stores it up in its substance, but
it brings this from lower depth by means
of It's penetrating roots than the pillow would
face where it adds to the amount of fertil-
ity available for future crops. Besides, in
the growth of plant there is an effect of
solvent character exerted by the roots,
the particles of the soil are acted upon
chemically by theroots and their substance
is dissolved to some extent, and made
part of the plants; and thus inorganic
al -, ,b-&o
which provides plant-food. Again, in the
decay of this vegetable matter, which may
be plowed under the surface, further
chemical and solvent action is effected and
the particles Of soil are still more reduced
to soluble condition Thus it is far better
to turn over the stubbles in the fall, for
several reasons, than to leave the trash and
whatever weeds may grow, to fall down and
decay on the surface. One gains I'll these
advantages, viz, all the benefit which may
accrue from the stirring of the soil all
that which may be derived from the action
upon the soil of the growth of weeds; and
all that which is gained from the decay in
the soil of the vegetable matter turned un-
der. 1t is for these reason that the prac-
tice Of blowing the soil in the fall in prep
aration for spring crops is advisable and
and beneficial; besides, the ready condition
ce the soil for early spring seeding and
planting is worth some consideration.
Bare stubbles are too often left to be-
come nursery for weeds, and the worst of
our commonest weeds are thus multiplied
and perpetuated. Rag weeds, amaranths,
pig-weeds, beggar's-ticks, and even thistles
are permitted to overTun the fields as soon
as the crops areremoved, and are even seen
surrounding the potatotops and hiding
these from sight Any one may have seen
corn-stalks from which crop Of green ears
have been taken and left to remain on the
ground until these weeds outgrew them and
oyertopped them, ripening seed and stock
ing the ground with supply sufficient for
score Of years of hard work There is
no other business in which man wastes
his labor so much as in farming, and by
neglect causes himselfso much future work
or expense. 1t is thus not only in regard
tOweeds, but with insects of all kinds, which
are permitted to increase and multiply by
myriads until either one-fourth of the crop
is destroyed by them, or the crop is saved
only at the cost Of one-fourth its value
Some farmers insist that it is useless to
fight against weeds and insects, that they
are natural to the ground" and spring
out of it spontaneously and without seeding
or breeding. In the same way some dairy
men believe that the maggots in cheese
originate naturally from the cheese, and
scout the advice that they should keep the
flies out of the curing room, on the ground
that the flies had nothing to do with the
nsaggots. And yet we sometimes hear
that farmers can never learn anything from
agricultural colleges or experiment stations,
or from agricultural papers. The trouble
is, that farmers who have these ideas do
not read, observe, think, or exercise their
common sense.