The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-09-17

0Iepo9lNo o. ev0A-
ns.ssiss 3. O. = ors's ssstele
erssso - Old~Y.shisne1 nurin1>
Fkrmers must decide in time whets~
. they will burn the stubble in their
fields or turn Il under. Many have
advocated the latter course, chiefly
Tor the reason that - much q The
products Of the soil should be returned
70 Il - possible in order 70 keep up -
fertility. They state that much Of The
once productive land in this country
has become impoverished BY the an
aual removal Of crops and By the neg-
lect 70 return any thing 70 he soil
which produced them A the stub.
bic Of small grain. FAX grass and
clover was produced from the soil they
argue that much advantage will be
gained by returned il 90 the source
from which il came. They also state
(. that the mechanical - well ~ the
chemical condition Of many pieces o.
| land can be improved BY blowing un-
+, der the stubble. that b on Il - an
additional reason for blowing under
stubble. instead Of burning Il, they 70
| Ter 70 she great danger Of the spread Of
| fires kindled for the purpose Of burning
over grain and grass fields that are e
be plowcd-
Many OF the arguments made in
favor Of blowing under stubble are NOS
good. The mechanical conditions Of
very hard. clayey land may be i'm
proved bv incorporating stubble or
even sand with il. The stubblc would
render it less compact and more easily
operated on BY she atmosphere IL y
true. however, that the conditions 81
sandy and other light soils would b
injured BY incorporating q light sub
stance like grain stubble with them
They are already too loose. Moisture
passes through them in too short
time 20 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 .
protracted drought. There are very
few Of the elements of fertility, rs the
term is generally used. m the stubblo
Of grain. f1ax, grass or red clover. IL
contains scarcely any nitrogen. which
Is the most valuable fertilizer. Ii con-
tzins some potash, lime. silica and
phosphorus. but these will be restored
TO the soil whether the stubble u burned
on the surface er buried at some dis
lance beneath it. They will be most
available for plant growth il the stub
BILE is reduced to ashes II the stubble
is buried il must have time to rot be-
fore they can be appropriated to plants
a very large proportion Of sfubble
of all kinds j. carbon, which Is Of
course destroyed by fire 8nt there
are few soils in the West that are de-
ficient in carbon Many Of them con-
tain larger amount Of il than il bsne-
fetal to cultivated plants Especially
il this the case on the black prairies.
They produce . very tall straw that il
easily blown down by high winds. The
dangers resulting from fires in stub
ble-field are greatly over-estimated. II
good Judgment il exercised propel
precautions are observed. aud q suitable
DAY is selected. no danger need be an
ticipated by burning field Of stubble
Flames will not run fast il fires ar
started on . still day They may b
prevented from extending beyond th
: field that is to be burned over by plow
ing . few burrows on the sides OF II
A dry stubble-ncld near grain an
! straw stacks and farm buildings ID
:. constant source Of danger IL Is liabl
TO be set on lire BY accident when tn
e wind j. blowing and when it j. impod
n sible to extingush the flames. Burn
4 ing the stubble in q field At a suitabl
!, time tends to secure safety from fires
I IL is a precautionary measure dictates
by prudence and good Judgment
: When the stubble in . field u burne'
r many insects and their eggs are dc
= stroyed. and most Of the seeds Of weed
Il on their stalks or on the surface Of tn
y ground are consumed IL II muc
q easier to pillow . field when the stubbl
n has been burned or The plow Il NOR
IS readily moved. is not liable % clos
a and does better work. The kke = trr
of the harrow. cultivator. grain dri
d and corn-planter that are 80 frequent
& used in the same field. A layer Of dr.
Il stubble under the soil turned BY tn
y pillow il unfavorable to plant growth !
a case the season il dry. 1t affords
o good place for field mice and othe
e vermin to live and multiply in Wit
4 the stubble ID generally buried ID
. seeds Of many noxious weeds which,
= they do not germinate the next season
!. will retain their vitality and sprot
a when they are brought nearer TO th
a surface Of the ground BY subsequer
: plowing< That better crops Al
4 raised on land where the stubble vs.
4 burned than where IL was plowe
1t under Is now generally conceded B
'e farmers who hsve tried both method
a Of disposing Of il. Droughs have mad
% many converts 90 the doctrine Of CT
Ic nation as applied to stubble- Man
'e state that the only good crops the
N have are on ground that was burne
Ie over before il was planted. - Chicas
l. Times