The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-03-05
Treating a Lumpy Soil.

somewhat. Still, the reduction Is not
fully what is desired; the ground is
not mellow; only an approach to it.
With the aid of frost, satisfactory
condition can be reached in most cases,
by fall plowing. Where the clay is
quite obstinate. good coat of manure
applied after rlowing will be an addi-
tional aid. Thorough working of the
surface as early in the spring as the
ground will allow, and no later the
point is important-will secure a good
seed bed, with the promise of q good
crop, the seed being sown at the time
of working the soil. The land there
after can be kept good, and even i'm
prove in condition, until 1t becomes
mellow clay loan, which is among the
best Of soils. 1t only needs to continue
to work in manure and vegetable
material, which sod, green crops and
vegetable stable absorbents best fur
nish. Such land. with the necessary
drainage, makes the best general soil,
allowing all kinds of crops to be grown,
and most OF them to the greatest per-
fection; for wheat, not surpassed; for
oats, barley and peas, equally good;
for corn, in warm, showery season,
reaching maximum yields, the rich,
warm river bottoms exceeding it only
in cold seasons. As to grass and
clover, no soil can equal it either in
quality or quantity.
Here is where farmers have great
advantage-greater than they are gen
orally aware Of Instead of availing
themselves of it, what do we seeP Com
paratively little clay soil can be found
that is not more or less hard in dry
time, and less productive than it ought
to be. Even where manure has been
used, the manure, owing TO the unla-
vorable mechanical condition, does not
afford the same benefit that mellow
soil admits of, though it will aid some
what in improving the texture. Then
there is the delay of putting the crop
out in the spring, owing to the wet
condition of the land, the water with
drawing slowly, and the further danger
Of rain extending the delay, sometimes
till too late, the soil becoming more and
more packed as the time is extended.
To plow it will not do.
Right here is where the great DANCER
comes in, and where clay soil receives
its greatest hurt. 1t is usually wet. cs-
pecia!ly early in the spring Even if
comparatively dry on the surface, when
turned up it will show mud, or an APP
proach TO It, which in drying becomes
baked and hard, and no amount Of
rain during the season can redu il to
mellOwness. 1t may be broken by inn
plements into smaller Jumps, but the
harshness, the brick-like quality. re-
mains. The frost of one winter
only partially corrects it. 1t will
take years before 1t can be brought
to fine mellow condition, requiring the
action of the elements in connection
with the use of implements and barn
yard manure. Instead of this the
spring plowing is sometimes repeated.
making bad worse. When thus reduced
il is seeded down, with the chances
against a good catch. Not unfre luently
il turns out that the seed has been lost,
and the land has TO undergo another
plowing, with sometimes a second fail
ure at seeding; but oitenar apOor catch
is made to do, givinga chance forweeds
II the ground is strong enough to grow
them; II not, manure will bring tn m
/ have seen many fields of this char
acter. In one case the weeds were
plowed under, giving them n shallow
covering and, when rotten, working The
surface with cutivator and harrow,
securing thus tolerable seed bed fol-
lowed by fair crop of grain and sue
cessful seeding down.
Clay soil is the most difficult Of all
soils to manage. II requires the most
careful treatment, and always, whether
In preventing hurt or in curing il. But
Il is worth the attention. This atten-
ton is, to greater or less extent,
thrown away ii the land lacks drainage,
which, il is well known, II does TO a
large extent. Is it a wonder then that
our clay soil, exposed TO the hot sun,
and sub ectcd TO bad treatment in an
undrained state, should yield so lightly,
often not paying expense, when it has
the elements of the best Of soils, wait
ing for chance to develop them?
IL Is doubtful whether our efforts to
reduce cloddy lands with implements
pay. A certain reduction, to get rid Of
the roughness. is necessary, but the
finest condition TO which il Is reduced Is
only to lessen, by division, the size Of
the Jumps, preventing that close con-
tact with the roots which is necessary
TO a successful growth, leaving the soil
open to the effect OF drought. Time is
required to correct such soil, and the
means are heat, rain and fr4t, aided by
manure. Plow when the soil Is dry
never when wet, not even in the fall.
though IL is less harmful, especially
when done late enough TO get an effect
of the frost soon after, or before the
ground is dried out. But sometimes q
heavy snow will fall before tho ground
Is frozen, and remain till spring-as
was the case last winter-and pack the
ground, leaving it in condition for tho
spring winds and sun to dry hard. The
safe way is to make it an inflexible rule
10 plow when dry enough TO prevent
packing and greasy appearance. With
the land drained there Is no difficulty in
eaecting this. Then there will be little
trouble from lumpy soil. Prevention,
and not cure, Is the true doctrine here,
as with sickness.-F. g., In Country
Gentleman.
Bean Soup: Put one quart Of beans
to cook over night in lukewarm water.