Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-09-30
DlsPoslNe OF sTueeLE.

Cremation in Case OF Grain stubble Pref
cradle to Old-Fasi,ioned Burial.
Farmers must decide in time wheth.
Or 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.
bic of small grain, flax, grass and
clover was produced from the soil they
argue that much advantage will be
gained by returned it to the soiirce
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 I'M
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 plDwing under stubble are not
good. The mechanical conditions of
very hard, clayey land may be i'm
proved by Incorporating stubble OF
even sand with it, The sttbble 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 light SUBJ
stance like grain stubble with them,
IIlley 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 a heavy shower in
Il e summer. They can not endure q
protracteda drought. There are very
few of the elements of fertility, as the
term is generally used, In the stubbe
OF grain, flax, grass or 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 stu ble is buried
n Oh the surface or buried at some dis
tancc beneath it. They will be most
available for plant growth if the stub
bic is reduced TO ashes. If the stubble
is buried it must have time to rot be-
tore 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 dee
ticient in carbon. Many of them cons
tain larger amount of it than Is tene-
fetal to cultivated plants. Especially
is this the case on the Llack prairie S.
They produce very tall straw that is
easily blown down by high winds The
dangers resulting from fires in stub
ble-iield are greatly ovelscstimated. 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.
d Flames will notNrun fast IF fires arc
started on still day They may be
prevented from extending beyond the
field that is TO be burned over by pillow.
ing a few burrows on the sides of it.
A dry stubble-ield near grnin and
straw stacks and farm buildings is a
constant source of danger 1t is liable
Q to be set on fire by accident when the
= wind is-blowing and whenit is impos.
! sible to extinguish the flames. Burn.
. ing the lstubble in field at a suitable
time tends to secure safety from fires
1t is precautionary measure dictated
by prudence and good judgment.
When the stubble in field is burned
1 many insects and their eggs are de-
4 .stroyed, and-most of 1.-The seeds of weed,
, on their stalks or on the surface of the
ground are consumed. 1t is much
,, easier to pillow field when the slubblt
has been burned of. The piow is more
a readily moved, is not liable to clog
Z and does better work. The Ike is true
of the harrow, cultivator grain drill
and corn-planter that are so frequently
used in the same field. A layer of dry
stubble under the soil turned by the
plow is unfavorable TO plant growth il
case the season is dry. 1t affords {
good place for field mice and othel
vcrmin to live and multiply in, Will
the stubblc is generally buried tn,
seeds of many noxious weeds which, i
they do not terminate the next season
will retain their vitality and sprou
O when they are. brought nearer to tn,
surface of the ground by subsequent
plowings That better crops ar,
. raised on land where the stubble wal
burned than where it was plowe(
, under is now generally conceded b,
: farmers who have tried both methods
!. of d;sposing OF it. Droushis have msd'
|, many converts to the doctrine of ere
= nation as applied to stubble. Man,
: state that the only good crops the,
. have are on ground that was burned
over before it was planted. - Chicdg,
! Times.
u n;ehArnino NaLuac