Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1891-08-29
Narst4 x#srtstts,
Proper Seasons for Cultivation.
Cor. Country Gentlemen.

Much is yet to be learned about |
blowing, as to the time it should be
done, the condition of the soil, and
the different kinds of soil. Indis-
criminate working of the land has
been too prevalent in the past, and is
still carried on to hurtful extent.
1t is important that all land should
not be wet, though there is a great
difference in soils as to the hurt re-
ceived. Sandy and peaty soils are
least affected, for the reason that they
speedily part with their excess of
water. They may Therefore be plow-
ed at any season, allowing those soils
to be plowed first that are more eX-
acting in their demand, the most
exactlng of all being clay. Too
much care can hardly be exercised in
its treatment. If quite compact or
tenacious, or badly hurt by previous
abuse, and it is desired to get it in
the best condition that working will
admit, plow it in the fall. The drier
the ground, the later the work can be
done, and the rougher the surface, so
as to expose it to the elements, the
better.
Heat and moisture have an excel.
lent effect upon the soil'in preparing
it for the use of implements in re.
ducing it. This may be aided by
manure, and more materially in sum-
mer than at any other time. l con-
slider summer the best time, in my
experience, for working all kinds of
soils. But let the work be done, not
when the soil is dry, but when sul-
ficiently moist (not VET to reduce it
to mellowness. The fallow is an eX-
ample of the benefits of summer
working, and it may be improved by
doing the first blowing in the fall, if
clay, instead of in Juue, as is usual,
and by working after a rain in sum-
mer. The difficulty is to get time,
in the crowd of other work, to do it.
But it is the true way of reducing an
obstinate clay soil, the treatment
also clearing it of weeds. If care is
taken, our loans may be plowed al
any season; quite light soils at almost
any time in any season; but clay re-
quires, for its best success, the aid Of
all-the cold of winter, the freezing
and thawing of spring, and the heal
and moisture of summer. This with
the help of implements, worked wher
the soil is moist, will put our clay
in the best condition, so as to greatly
increase productiveneSs, and with thu
aid Of manure make the highest re
turn.
The point after this is to keep thu
land in this condition; never to pillow
or work the soil when wet, especial
ly in spring, when the sun bakes ant
spoils it. Early fall blowing SHOULD
be done when the ground is DIR!
enough, for when wet it has SINH
lar effect as in spring, drying to hard
ness, though in less degree. Lat
fall blowing, if dry, is the best tina
can be done with clay; but it is risk.
to defer it so long, as the land then j
usually wet. Yet 1 have know
land (clay,) plowed late in the fall, o
even in winter, when moist, do vel
and even better than that beside
Plowed early when dry. The chance
are that in late fall or winter pillow
ing, the frost will take immediat
effect, and the snow, should it IA
then, and even be heavy, will not b
able to pack it. This packing, thi
dense condition, is the great difficult
with clay. tOur efforts are to be en-
ployed in preventing it. Frost an
heat, and their alternate action j
spring, aided by vegetable materit
or sand mixed with the soil, are OF
means TO improve it, and keep
improved. 1t is then one Of our yer
best soils, not costing more to put
condition than other soils, unle
sand is used, only greater care mu
be exercised in timing the worl
AllIthis is done with much greater az
vantage if the soil is drained, as thel
will be less water-the great enem
of clay-to interfere.
1t is easy to hurt land; it is muC
less easy to correct it when hurt, an
in the operation to correct it, more
less expense is incurred. Better PIT
in less land if a wet spring, and pr
pare the remainder for buckwheat,
some other use. 1t is not uncommC
for farmers to put their land sOwn
spring grain to buckwheat afterwar
a,o,, cuo,,, A., LII -,