Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-09-30
DlsposINc OF s1ueBLE.
Cremation In Case Of Grain Stubbls Pref
cradle to Old-Enshioned Burial.

i
Cremation in Case OF Grain stubbls Pref.
/ cradle to Old-Enshioned Burial.
Farmers must decide in time wheth-
er they will burn the stubble in their
fields or turn it under. Many have
advocated the latter course, chiefly
for the reason that as much of the
products of the soil should be returned
to it as possible in order to keep up its
fertility. They state that much of the
once productive land in this country
has become impoverished by the an.
nual removal of crops and by the neg
lect to return any thing to the soil
which produced them. AS the stub
BILE of small grain, nAx, grass and
clover was produced from the soil they
argue that much advantage will be
gained by returned it to the source
from which it came. They also state
that the mechanical as well as the
chemical condition of many pieces of
land can be improved by blowing un-
der the stubble that is on it As an
additional reason for blowing under
stubble, instead of burning it, they re-
fer to the great danger of the spread of
fires kindled for the purpose of burning
over grain and grass fields that are to
be plOwed.
Many OF the arguments made in
favor of blowing under stubble are not
good. The mechanical conditions of
very hard, clayey land may be inn
proved by incorporating stubble or
even sand with it. The stubble would
render it less compact and more easily
operated on by the atmosphere. 1t is
true, however, that the conditions of
! sandy and other light soils would be
injured by incorporating a light sub
stance like grain stubble with them.
They are already too loose. Moisture
passes through them in too short a
time to be of much benefit to growing
crops. They become quite dry within
a few hours after heavy shower in
the summer. They can not endure a
protracted drought. There are very
few of the elements of fertility, as the
term is generally used, in the stubble
of grain. flax, grass OF red clover. 1t
contains scarcely any nitrogen, which
| is the most valuable fertilizer. 1t con-
| tains some potash, lime. silica and
| phosphorus, but these will be restored
| to the soil whether the stubble is burned
on the surface or buried at some dis
lance beneath it. They will be most
available for plant growth if the stub
| BILE is reduced to ashes. If the stubble
is buried it must have time to rot be-
; fore they can be appropriated to plants.
A very large proportion of stubble
of all kinds is carbon, which is OF
course destroyed by fire. But there
are few soils in the West that are de-
ficient in carbon. Many of them con-
tain larger amount of it than is bene-
fetal to cultivated plants. Especially
is this the case on the black prairies.
They produce a very tall straw that is
easily blown down by high winds. The
dangers resulting from fires in stub
ble-tield are greatly over-estimated. Ii
good Judgment is exercised proper
precautions are observed, and a suitable
day is selected, no danger need be an
ticipated by burning field of stubble.
Flames will not run fast if fires are
started on still day. They may be
prevented from extending beyond the
field that is to be burned over by plOw-
inc few burrows on the sides of it.
A dry stubble-held near grain and
straw stacks and farm buildings is u
constant source of danger. 1t is liable
to be set OF fire by accident when the
wind is blowing and when it is impos-
sibie to eytinguish the flames. Burn
ing the stubble in q field at suitable
time tends to secure safety from fires.
1t is a precautionary measure dictated
by prudence and good judgment.
When the stubble in a field is burned
many insects and their eggs are de-
stroyed, and most of the seeds of weeds
on their stalks or Oh the surface of the
ground are consumed. 1t is much
easier to pillow field when the stubble
has been burned off. The pillow is more
readily moved, is not liable to clog,
and does better work. The like is true
of the harrow, cultivator. grain drill
and corn-plantcr that are so frequently
used in the same field. A layer of dry
stubble under the soil turned by the
case the season is dry. 1t affords a
good place for field mice and other
vermin to live and multiply in. With
the stubble is generally buried the
seeds of many noxious weeds which, if
they do not terminate the next season.
will retain their vitality and sprout
when they are brought nearer to the
surface of the ground by subsequent
plowings That better crops are
raised on land where the stubble was
burned than where it was plowed
under is now generally conceded by
farmers who have tried both methods
of disposing of it. Droughts have made
many converts to the doctrine of Gre
nation as applied to stubble. Many
state that the only good crops they
have are on ground that was burned
over before it was planted. Chicago
Times.