The National tribune., 1896-10-01
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers

ran Flowing.
The blowing of the ground in the Fall
is advocated by some and condemned by
others. Its advocates claim that Fall piow-
ing saves much of the labor that would
have to be done in the Spring, aud ,has
certain soils are benefited by so doing, be-
cause the frost penetrates and reduces the
Jumps and cieds. Those who are opposed
to Fall plowing claim that the land should
be covered with some growing crop in
Winter in order to protect il from loss of
fertility by the soaking rains, which carry
away the plant food that is soluble in the
soil.
The matter Is one which every farmer
must necessarily consider as applicable to
his farm only, including the texture of the
soil, the previous crop, the liability of the
land being washed by rains, etc. 1t may be
correct to plow one field in the Fall and au-
other in the Spring, according to conditions
and circumstances, the cost being an inn
portaDt factor, as it may be cheaper at times
to plow in the Fall and renew the plant
food IN the Spring than to allow the land to
remain over Winter until the busy season
arrives. The farmer will always take into
consideration the gain or loss IN the matter.
Where field is in sod and is difficult to
plow some farmers turn the furrows and
leave them rough without attempting to
harrow, bat since the introduction of disc
harrow the sod is cut up and lime applied,
the land being plowed again early in the
Spring, by which practice the cut-worms,
which are usually numerous on sod land.
are destroyed. With the warmth, rain, air
and frost the sod is reduced by Spring. but
the question arises if there has not been q
loss of the soluble nitrates, potash, and also
of phosphoric acid.
Ii the land is heavy, somewhat level, with
clay subsoil, the loss should not be great,
while the gain to the farmer in having his
land under subjection in the Spring is an
item not to be overlooked. If the land,
however, is to be used for corn it may be
plowed in early Spring and worked while
the corn Is growing, as corn is gross feeder,
and will of itself greatly assist in reducing
the sod; but the best effects from the lime
are obtained by using it in the Fall, and ss
it works down it will aid in rendering
soluble large proportion of mineral matter
existing in the soil in an inert condition.
All soils must be managed according To
conditions. If the soil is cold, and there Il
no tile drainage, it is useless to plow in the
Fall, and if the soil is light and sandy, with
sandy subsoi1, there viii certainly not only
lie NO advantage in Fall plowing, but loss
of fertility. Subsoil plowing may also be
resorted to In order TO loosen the soil to
depth of a foot or more, and if the drainage
is perfect the loss Of soluble matter will not
be in proportion to the gain in the plant food
set free in the soil by the aid of warmth, cold
and air. which penetrate as the water il
drawn away below and prevented from re
naming near the surface.
Very heavy soils must sometimes neces-
sarily be plowed in the Fall, but there are
farmers who believe in blowing in the Fall
only once in three or four years Others
prefer to plow very late in the Fall and ap.
ply manure in the Spring. then working the
ground with disc harrow or pulyerizer.
What the farmer aims mostly to avoid n
washing of the surface of the fields that have
been plowed, by heavy rains, and where this
can be accomplished Fall plowing and the
use of lime, with an application of fertilizers
in the Spring, viii be an advantages in the
saving Of labor when he is busy, az we'll
as enabling him to have his soil in the fness
possible condition when the time arrives fa
seeding down for crops.
Storing Apples.
The approach of the apple harvest brings
up the subject of the proper disposal Of the
fruit when gathered from the trees. The
apple crop will be large in many sections Of
the country this year, and prices viii be
likely to rule low-for the FIRST part Of the
Winter, at least Much fruit will undoubt-
edly be stored in the hope Of better price
later en-. 1t Itisimportant, therefore, to adopt
such plan of storage as viii keep the apples
sound and plump, and in possession OF tha
best possible favor. A cellar just moist
enough to keep the fruit from evaporating
any Of its OWN juices, and capable Of being
held at low temperature-justa above the
chilling points an almost ideal place for
the storing of apples. But the location 10
not all. Large quantities should not b
heaped together, nor should apples be keps
in barrels, bins or boxes where the air cannot
circulate freely through them And tendency
toward decay is sure to be augmented undss
such circumstances.