Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1890-10-24
FALL FLOWING FOR OATS AND BARLEY.

FALL FLOWING FOR OATS AND BARLEY.
Much has been written in favor of fall
plowing in the american Agriculturist,
writes Joseph Harris, but learn by let
ters received from readers that there are
points not yet clearly understood. In
repeatedly advocating fall plowing, what
was particularly in mind was not sod
land, but land on which crop of corn,
or potatoes, or beans, or roots had been
grown, and which was intended for oats
or barley in the spring. Little or moth
ing was said about plowing sod land in
the fall; on my own farm-of late years,
at any rate-I seldom, if ever, plow sod
land in the fall, and that not from the.
oretical reasons only, but because there
is not time and because, further, sod
land can be plowed in the spring at
times when other land is too wet and
sticky to work to advantage.
It is of great Importance to sow barley
and oats early in the spring. A few days
difference in tlme of sowing often makes
all the difference between good crop
and a poor one-and what a difference
that is all experienced farmers know. 1t
is not merely the loss of all profit from
our labors, but the lana is foul with
weeds and in poor condition generally.
NY own land varies considerably in char
acter. Much of it is rolling land, the
knolls being sandy, while the lower
edges of the knolls are moro or less
clayey, and the valleys between the knobs
vary from dark sand to a sandy loan
and clayey loan. Perhaps these terms
do not convey distinct meaning. All l
wish to show Is that the soil varies con-
siderably and requires different methods
of working. To get part of a field into
good condition for oats or barely in the
spring requires three or four times the To-
Dor required on other parts.
On such land as this (say field that
has been in corn the past season, and on
which one intends to SOW oats in the
spring. find an immense advantage
from fall blowing. AS soon as the corn
is cut. and while it is standing in stocks
in the field, if l have time / like to start
the plows on the land between the rows
of stocks, and finish plowing after the
corn and stalks are removed.
On strong land put three horses on
the plow and turn up a good, deep fur
row, and leave the subsoil on top, where
it is exposed to the ameliorating action
of the air and frosts of winter.
Such fall l-plowed land is cleaner and
much more easily prepared for spring
crops than If it had not been plowed. In
plowing for corn, my practice is to plow
around the field, and thus avoid having
dead burrows. But, in plowing in the
fall for spring crops, can, if necessary,
make narrow lands, and, by connecting
the dead furrows with the necessary out
lets, can get rid of large quantity of
water in the early spring. These mar
row lands, by running gang-plow so as
to fill up the dead burrows, are easily
leveled down, and, by cross-harrowing
with an Acme or other harrow, the land
can soon be got ready for the drill. l
drill in $50 to 200 pounds of superphos-
pilates with the barley and oats, and
have reason to expect good crop, and
the land, after the oats lor barley is har-
vested, is in better condition for plow-
ing for wheat than if it had not been
we'll and deeply plowed the fall previous.
Agriculturist.