Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-09-24
FALL FLOWING.
or interest to Farmers who Understand the
Practical Nature OF the Work.

Practical Nature OF the Work.
Tho season Of fall plowing is at hand
for all tnat class of farmers who truly
understand the practical nature of the
work in question. a large number OF
farmers, however, suppose that the later
the plowing is done before the final
freezing up of the soil the better. Such
is not tie case. The spec al objcc: Of
fall blowing is to iit all land intended
for seeding to small grain or grass for
the reception of the seed. The object
in view is two-fold: con ,olidation of the
lower portion of the soil and pulverla-
tion OF the surface. BY early fall plow-
ing We Obtain weather ng and disnte-
grafton OF the soil as to its general char.
Hctcr. All that remains. then, is to
produce the best possible surface tilth.
To create the best conditions for IN Ill
grain and gtass the soil must have con
siderable soldity, with fine d.sinte-
grated cond ton as to the urfacc This
IS reached, rs a rule. on cliys and clay
loans, by early rather than late plow-
ing; and, after the lst of September,
weeds do not appear to such a degree
as to prevent the working Of the pulyer-
izing implements in tie spring.
Another class Of farmers refuse to
plOw until the land becomes moist
enough 10 render the plowing easy. and
so the furrows will pass in well d sin.
tcgrattd condition from the moldboard.
The consequence is. much valuable
time is often lost. the piowing be ng
sometimes delayed 50 late in the season
that the required acres can not be
turued over. So between drg and moist
fall blowing il should be only ques-
tion OF team. So far as disintcgration
j. concerned, the fall plowing is rolgh
and somewhat lumpy simply from be-
ing too dry. The wcathering will be
far more perfect Than if the soil is moist.
The later rains will thoroughly saturate
the whole, and the con. cquent eXpan.
sion and breaking down BY frot will
b. Of the most perfect character. Where
two horses would do the work in most
soil three will do it when dry. and tic
added value 10 .ne soil will fully war
rant the outlay.
Still another class will not plow in
the auiuml for barley, flaN or corn. 1t
is true that these crops require soft
ground, but light spring piowing fully
fits the ground for the two first grains,
AMI n spring plow.ng at just such depth
a; not to turn ~ the turue i-und 'r
stulblo leaves the soil for planting in Il
far better condition than from ngle
spring blowing. This spring plowing 5
lone at rapid rate. compared TO thu
deep plowng OF cOmpactrd soil. and
thus the farmer. especially in spring
seasons OF untoward weather, keeps
ahead OF his work and feels no incl ma
nation to plow his land when too wet.
In fact. the greatest z lin Is in wet, un-
toward spring weather.
Stili another class OF men refuse TO
plOw late in the autumn unless the soil
Is In as good condition to plOw as when
hJt sun would bake 1t, To its serious
injury. Yet the conditions are different
Late in the autumn the sun has not
power 10 quickly dry out and bake the
soil, and II IL had the succeeding win.
lcr's rains an frost would mellow and
pulycrize the whole The action OF
trOst is to expand any mo st substance
through the eXpans on Of the water
contained IN the act Of freezing Hence
every particle OF SOL. when wei or
moist. under the action Of frost expands
Independently each Of the other, aud is
thus rendered lght and porous, just in
proportion 10 It's capacity To ab orb
moisture The wonderful expansive
powers Of clay-loams and still clays will
therefore easily be seen when we re-
member that such soils will absorb
moisture OF from thirty per cent. up to
forty per cent OF the'r weight This
properly OF great absorption is also Of
v lue in bring ng ths soil earlier in coz
ditiOn in the spring tian in hard so !.
Not Ouly evaporation Is stronger, but
iniiltrat on Is easier two important CON
siderations. However the theory any
farmer may hold, tho mo o'st condition OF
the soil over wide areas This autumn will
not be bar to early plowing Of all
area intended for cereal grains. For
wheat 1 Is absolutely essential, for the
earlier thii crop Is sown the better. rs a
rule, is the crop Chicago Tribune.