Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-09-16
olsposINd oE sfunnLE.
UrcmatIon In Cnse Of Grain stubbis PrSf
crnbln 4, OIh-Enahlnnrd nurInl.

49, ~fF'f+-~ - - - - -
Urematloa In cnse Of Grain stubbis PrSf-
cradle to Oid-FashIoned burial
Farmers must decide in time whoth-
er they will BURT The stubble In their
fields OF turn II uuder. Many have
advocated the latter course, chiefly
for the fcas3h that as mitch OF the
products 6f The soil should be returned
TO 1t as possible in order to keep up its
icruiity. iney state that much Of the
once productive land in this country
has become impoverished by the an
nuai reuiotAi OF crops and BY the ieg-
lcct ID return ally thing to The soil
which produced IhShi Al 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 u 10 the source
from which II eahe. t'hes hlso state
thai the mechanical as we'll rs the
chemical condition of many pieces of
land can be improved by plowing un-
der the stubble that is on IL As an
additional reason for plowing undor
stubble, INSTEAD n burning W. they re-
fer to the great danger of the spread OF
fires kindled for the purpose Of burning
over grain and grass fields that ar6 %
be ,plowadi
Many OF tho arguments made In
favor Of plowing under stubble are not
good. The mechanical conditions Of
very hard, .clayey land Inlay be im.
proved hY Incorporating stubble OF
even sand with t. The stubble would
render II less compact and more easily
operated on by the atmosphere. ii Is
true, however, that the conditions OF
sandy and other light soils would bo
injured by Incorporating light sub
stance like gfain stdbbe with thsmi
They are already TOO loose. Moisture
passes through them in too short a
time TO be of much benefit 10 growing
crops. They beediho duita dry Withid
a few hours after heavy shower i'd
the summer They can not endure d
protracted drought There are very
few Of the elements of fertility, as the
term is generally usedi in tho stubble
of graft, naX, grass or red ciovcr, 10
contains scarcely any nitrogen, which
is the most valuable fertilizer. II cons
tains some potash, lime; silica and
phosphorus but thesB will be Restored
TO the soil whether the stu bble is burned
on the surface or buried at some dis
tancc beneath it, They will be most
available for plant growth il the stub
bic is reduced TO ashes. IL the stubble
is buried it must have time to rot be-
fore they can be appropriated 10 plants.
A very large proportion Of stubble
nN an In Ia faf s,.kl q. ~
course destroyed by fire. But there
are few soils in the West thai are de-
iicient in carbon. Many OF them con-
tain Il larger amount Of II than l. bsnea
fetal to cultivated plants. Especial.
is this the case on the black prairies.
They produce very tall straw that is
easily blown down by high winds. The
dangers resulting from flies In q stub
ble-iield are greatly over-estmated. II
good judgment Is exercised proper
precautions are observed, and n suitable
day il selected, no danger need be an
ticipatcd by burning a field Of stubble.
Flames will not run fast IL fires are
started on still day. They may be
prevented from extending beyond the
field thatis 10 be burned over by plow-
ing few furrows on the sides of II,
A dry stubble.nold near grsia-~and
straw stacks and farm~tbnifiings is a
constant source Qt>dangch II Is liable
to be set on-tirc by accident when the
-wisfI Is blowing and when it is impts
sibls to eXtinguish the flames. Burn
ing the stubblc in field at n suitable
time tends to secure safety from fires.
IL Is precautionary measure dictated
by prudence and good judgment.
When the stubblc in field Is burned
many insects and their eggs are de-
stroycd, and most of the seeds of weeds
on their stalks or on the surface OF the
ground are consumed. II is much
easier to plow field when the stubble
has been burned on. The plow is more
readily moved, Is not liable to clog,
and does better work. The like is true
of the harrow, cultiyator, grain drill
and corn-plautcr that are so frequently
used in tn, same field. A layer OF dry
stubble under the soil turned by the
plOw is unfavorable TO plant growth i'm
case the season is dry. II affords
good place for field mice and other
vermin to live and multiply In. With
the stubblc is generally buried the
seeds OF many noNious weeds which, IL
they do not gcrminatc 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 1t was plowed
under is now generally conceded by
farmers who have tried both methods
Of disposing Of it, Droughts have madc
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 il was planted. Chicago
Times.