The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-12-12
STURRlE.


country practice different methods of
disposing of the stubble in grain fields
when the grain is seeded to grass and
clover at the time the grain was sown,
the general practice is to allow the
stubble to remain, for the purpose Of
giving protection to the young forage
crops. The stubble affords some shade
during the dry and hot period that
generally follows the grain harvest,
d in that way is beneficial to the
plants. During the winter the stubble
breaks the force of the wind and holds
the snow, which otherwise might be
blown from smooth fields. Snow. by
means of the air between its particles,
affords u most excellent protection
against the cold, and prevents winter
killing. The only objection to allowing
the stubble to remain in fields that are
seeded to grass and clover is that it in
terferes with the cutting of these crops
the following summer, Grass and clover
are cut much nearer the surface of the
soil than grain is, and the stubble, if it
remains upright, dulls the cutting knife
of the mower. If cut, it is gathered
with the rake, and becomes mixed with
the -, greatly injuring its quality. To
avoid this difficulty the stubble should
be broken down with a roller and
pressed into the soil early in the spring.
This will cause it to rot and render it
Of some value as fertilizer.
In relation to the disposition OF
stubble in fields that are to be re-
plowed and devoted to the production of
ordinary field crops the following
season, one of two practices generally
prevails. The Stubble is burned off be-
fore the ploWing is done or it is turned
under by the pillow. 1t is held by many
that the stubble is of considerable adj
vantage to the soil by improving its
condition IN regard to Hghtness, and
by restoring to 1t large amount of
pIant-tood. 1t is probably true that
both the mechanical and chemical con-
dition of cIaycy soils are improved by
Incorporating stubble with them. But
this is not true OF all soils. Sandy soil
Is generally injured by mixing stubble
with 1t. 1t IS naturally too light, and
and needs to be rendered more COM
pact 1t parts with its moisture too
readily, and does not exert a sufficient
mold on the roots OF the plants that
grow on it. 1t should not be rendered
more porous than it naturally is, but
the study should be to render it more
/ compact. The incorporation of clay
and lime into sandy soil would be
highly beneficial A claycy soil needs
to be rendered lighter and more
porous, and this may be done by in
cooperating stubble with it, but the
addition of stubblo to a sandy soil is a
decided detrlment. 1t should be
rendered more compact by the addition
OF clay and the use of the roller.
1t is doubtful if common black prai-
RE soils are generally benefited by in
cooperating stubble with them. These
soils are ordinarily sufficiently porous.
In very wet season layer of stubble
below the furrow might be of advantage
by improving drainage In dry sea-
son, however, the stubble would be of
considerable disadvantage by making
condition to withstand drought The
soil of the prairies contains every kind
of plant food found in Grain stu6ble in
great abundance. 1t has all the carbon
and silica it needs, and the stubble has
little else to supply except potash. This
potash will be returned to the soil