The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1910-07-21
BENEFITS OF FALL FLOWING.
Freezes Of Winter Tends to Sweeten
Dirt Exposed to Elements.


Dirt Exposed to Elements.
Except In sections where heavy and
cohtlnuous winter rains may be ex-
pected, 1t is advisable to pillow sod
land, by which | mean sods of tame
grasses, especially blue grass, In the
fall.
1t may be safely assumed that all
sods OF tame growths, especially blue
grass or timothy and clover sod of
long standing, will lbe we'll stocked
with larvae Of the different. kinds Of
worms; for example, one or more OF
the dozen varieties of cut worms, of
the three or four varieties of grub
worms, of the smaller snout BEETLE, es-
pecially where timothy has been
grown for several years; wire worms
and others.
All OF these, II the blowing is post
poned until spring, will be more or
less certain to damage the crop, es
pecially II 1t be corn, which is the
usual crop put on sod land. Flowing
| in the fall exposes these to birds and
the animals that prey upon them, and
to frost. the fall blowing itself pro-
tecting the future crop from their raw
ages. If to this is added thorough
pulverizing at intervals of week or
so from the time the ground is in fit
condition in the spring until corn
planting time, and delaying the plant
ing on old sods, especially blue grass,
there will be little danger Of any of
these larvae except wire worms doing
serious damage to the crop.
The thorough freezing, drying out
! by exposure to the atmosphere during
the winter, will go very far toward
breaking down the sod and promoting
the decay of the roots, thus preventing
the growth of the grasses in the seed
bed all of which is important in pre-
pairing fit situation for the corn
plant the next season.
Where the ground does not freeze up
and stay frozen in the winter these
benefits do not accrue, at least to the
same extent; and, besides, the sod, in
stead of being disintegrated, is run to-
gether by the winter rains until the
condition, instead of being improved
is more or less impaired. Hence, be-
low the frost line, or the line of con-
tinuous winter freezing, it is desirable
to pillow sod lands in the fall.
When sod land is broken up in the
fall it should not be narrowed imme
diately after being plowed. This would
: be distinct damage. 1t should re
main just as the pillow leaves it, in or
der to get greater benefit from thu
. frost of winter, and, in the drier sec
tons, to conserve moisture. The har
row should not follow the pillow excep
where it is intended TO prepare tn
seed bed Immediately by preventing
clod formation 1t may often be de
sirable, however, to run the disk owe
this land, before blowing it, not TO
the purpose of conserving moisture
but to make blowing easier and tn
work more efficient.
Speaking generally, it is advisabl
to pillow sod land in the fall somewha
deeper than in the spring. Where 1T
important to deepen the blowing thl
should always be done in the fall
There are sections in which it is undo
sirable to throw up much cold so
to the surface. BY cold soil | mea
soil that has never been stirred.
Exposure to the frosts of winte
tends to sweeten this soil and prever
any damage that would occur fro
throwing it up and planting a Gro
Immediately.
Blue grass and timothy sod may
- plowed any time when there is stuff
cient moisture in the ground from II
fall rains to do good Job. | wou
prefer to defer the blowing of Glow
sod as late as possible and yet cor
plete the work before the grour
freezes. No damage from wasting 4
! trates is likely to occur after OctoD
/, as the temperature is not hlt
enough to permit of nitrification goll
on to any great extent
The advantages, therefore, OF plo'
ing sod land in the fall are economy
labor by doing the work in a seas
when there is less rush and when t
flesh of the teams is harder throu;
~ summer work, the increased decor
- position of the sod, the prevention
~ damage from the larvae of gress-ree
ing insects, the conservation OF mos
IRE in regions where it is liable 10
scant, and the deepening of the s.
without damage.
These reasons are sufficient to 1u
on tifv the recommendation for fall plo
his ing in all sections where freqae
rains or an open winter are not to
,;tv anticipated.-H. T. NJ, Illinois,
-, Farm Progress. ..