The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-10-24
Cleaning the Land.


lineh on the treatment of foul land,
having been told that the only success
full way is by working the soil; yet they
continue to ask how to exterminatc
weeds. The great bugbear in the case
IS the labor to be spent on the land,
which prevents them from EMPLOYING
the only thorough available means, and
so the weeds continue to increase. fotn.
ing the land with the seed that they
shed, and that is sown with the grain.
Look at the soil of such farms, and it
will be found that 1t is generally in a
bad state, particularly where clay pre-
walls. 1t is harsh and lumpy and, in a
drouth, becomes hard and cracked.
Flowing it in the fall is considered
remedy, and it helps; it gets but one
plowing, which merely turns it without
breaking and mixing it up, which it
particularly needs. Perhaps it was
never subjected to such treatment,
which is all the worse for it.
The main point in farming is work
bestowed on the soil; yet we are shun-
ming it as much as we can, and the re-
suit is that We lessen the yield of grain
and grass, and favor the weeds.
BY single stroke this may be re-
versed, the land made clean and far
more productive. 1t is not done by the
one blowing in the fall, though the eff
feet of the frost is benefits it is done
by frequent plow;ng during the sum-
mer, the heat and rains beng of more
benefit than the frost, as then the chem
zeal and mechanical action favor one
another; to this may be added the bene-
fit of fail blowing, where the land is
rough, and has been much abused. This
treatment will secure not only mel
low surface, but the body OF the soil
will be well pulverized and mellow
throughout, in the condition of gar
den, only it will be better, as it is
cleaner. The weeds have ceased to
take nourishment from the soil, and
now themselves form food for the crops
to be raised beside helping in their de-
cayed state to improve the mechanical
condition, and the capacity for retain
ing moisture and fertility. Such soil
will grow any of the grains, and at first
without manure, unless in very poor
soil, and the crops will be all grain-no
weeds to share it with the grain or the
grass that is to follow. Indeed the soil
is now in better condition than ever
before, more easily worked, and realiz-
ing more profit on what is raised. This
IS experience, and there are no excep-
tions to it where the work is properly
done, which means blowing, cultivat-
ing and narrowing often enough at
somewhat regular intervals to keep the
weeds from seeing the light, in which
case they are SmOthered, and after that
go to improve the soil; otherwise, if al
lowed to show above ground, they will
grow all the bett in the improved soil.
All the implements should be used
plow, cultivator and harrow--the pillow
to turn back the weeds and grasses that
are pushing toward the surface; in this
sense it becomes a necessity: it also al Is
in mixing the soil, the cultivator being
the chief means of doing this needful
work-needful, as it displaces the par
ticles of soil and puts them in new con-
tact, securing thus new and enlarged
chemical combinations. The work of
the harrow is confined to the surface,
and is important not 80 much in tning
the soil as in exposing and destroying
sprouting weed seeds. Our land is cry
ing for relief from the weeds, and it
can be afforded only by carefully, thor
oughly working the soil in the way in
dictated. Avoid working it when wet.
It is now a good time to pillow the land
deeper if it requires it, as it generally
does, for deep soil is better than a
shallow. and, if well pulverized through
out, will withstand our drouths the
better, and the better dispose of the
ings be little deeper, say an inch or
two at a blowing. The action of the
elements and the work of the imple-
ments in mixing and exposing to the
air, will in the course OF the season.
change it's character and develop its fer
tility, making new soil, and lasting if
care is taken with it, which must be done
with all soils, including the best, or there
will be deterioration.
TRls, by using the means for clean
ing the land, the otheF equally Import
ant benefit Of improving the soil is also
secured, it is following the land in the
highest degree, which is far in advance
of the usual treatment of the fallow,
and which alone will realize the highest
results. 1t is true that the tax, the in
tereSt on the land and the labor are lost
for the time; but the increased yield aft
erward will soon make up the loss. with
promise for the future. This promise
can only be realized by keeping the
weeds sub, ugated, which is not difficult.
It may be done with hoed crops, and by
employing the harrow occasionally on
grain fields, before the grain is sown
and after it is up and has made some
growth. This work, whether before
the grain is sown or after, has the two
fold benefit of improving the texture of
the surface soil and keeping the land
clean. No sensible farmer will deny
this, and yet how little it is donei
Then there is another aid that is be-
ginning to be employed; it is the sowing
Of stubble land after the crop has been
removed. By working the soil, and
keeping it covered with crop of some
strong growing plant to shade the
ground, like buckwheat or peas, each of
which is rich in fertilizing material, and
this crop turned down in the fall or
spriMg-5y adopting this course The en-
croackment of weeds is prevented and
the soil made mNlowcr and enriched.
These various supplementary means 90
far toward keeping the land clean. All
annual weeds may thus be destroyed and
prevented from Occupying the land; but
the rest require more thorough treat
ment. - Country Gentleman.
Hail Columbia.
IN the year 1898, when patriotic feel