The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1885-09-04

bottom Ofthe turroW, commences at once
to decay, and forms, so to speak, strata
of moisture, both drawing from below
and slowly giving to the soil above; but
the surface vegetation now having dis
appeared, roots and all, the "pumping'
operation cannot longer be carried on.
and SO the seed bed soil simply absorbs,
and if, between blowing and seeding,
this soil shall be occasionally gone over
with harrow, making the surface vet
more mellow and fine, it will first act as
mulch to retain the moisture in the
soil, and complying with we'll known
rules, attract moisture from the air.
which will be about in amount to COM
pensate for the evaporation. If time
ly showers should fall, this soil is all the
more adapted to receive its lust deac,
and retain it.
This surface is also at its best estate
to receive its quota of stable manure,
which should he narrowed into the soil
fast as spread. IF allowed to remain
upon the surface until it has dried out
then when it is incorporated with the
soil it draws upon the latter
for the needed supply, and the
soil is made all the more different in the
one thing needed, which loss cannot be
made good, except by fall ofrain, and
which unfortunately cannot be depend
ed on to fall at short notice.
If blowing is delayed u week or so be-
fore seeding, or the narrowing is neg
lected, the work of preparation becones
much more laborious. The hardened
soil is turned over in clods and lumps
which thus doubly exposed to sun ana
drying winds becomes hardened almost
beyond the power of crushing, and at
best are but little better than dust in
which to seed. The labor of crushing
them is double that of mellowing fire h
plowed soil, and going over these we'll
mellowed fields occasionally to keep
them in fine condition, using the wide.
working harrow, does not equal by any
means the other half that the work OF
the lumpy and clod-covered field will
demand.
Another valuable point made in the
earlier blowing and fitting, is that all
vegetation is put under, and the occas
onal narrowing destroys any that may
appear but the rough unharrowea
field often appears half covered W h
weeds and grass. which have grown up
through the half.turncd burrows, and
which are bother to overcome in the
hurry of favorable day to drill the
wheat.
But few farmers have choice ofsoil
in which to grow wheat, and it is neces-
AIRY to obtain mechanical effects Of ma
nures and machinery, to break down
and make very fine the seed bed. The
requent blowing under of crops of
clover, and the application OF stabl
manures, afford the mechanical effects
vegetable matter. On the heavy clay
soils, clover is especially valuable, and ,
IT'S Importance more clearly made evil
dent each year, and as means of rcnd-
ering soil loose and friable, has no equal
rhe improvements in machinery are
marked, and the turning, string, cutting
and pulverizing with sulky plows, spring
lrags, Acme harrows, and field rollers,
are valuable aids. Unless the field is
underdrained, it is always better, on clay
soils, to back-furrow, as then the surface
water is readily carried to the outlets :;
but on sandy lands, this is not essential !,
as these have natural drainage. In
back. furrowing, the dead burrows can be
carefully narrowed at the edges so as to
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