The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1911-10-04
THE ADVANTAGE OF
FAIL FLOWING
- A. H. Snyder. Extension Department
Iowa State College.

- A. II. Snyder, Extension Department.
Iowa State College.
There is best time for blowing
and there are reasons in plenty to
support the claim that this best time
is the fall of the year.
On the majority of farms there
comes a time between harvest and
corn picking that seems just suited
to blowing the sod and stubble land.
While it is true that the ground is
usually hard to plow at this time,
because of it's dryness, it is also true
that the teams are well seasoned for
the work and there is likelihood that
there will be the sore shoulder
trouble that usually comes when
work begins in the spring. More
over, when the sod and stubble lands
are plowed in the fall, more time is
left in the spring for the proper
preparation of the seed.
Land that is plowed in the fall gets
the full benefit of winters freezing
and thawing. One needs only to OBJ
serve the crumbling which takes place
along highway cut or embankment
to see the effect of freezing and thaw-
ing on land. The farmer who has soil
fully exposed to this action saves
much disking and narrowing in the
spring and at the same time has a
finer and better prepared seed bed.
Land that has been plowed in the
fall has higher temperature in the
few inches of surface soil than land
that is spring plowed, and this diff
ference in warmth is distinct ad-
advantage in giving the crop an
early start.
Fall blowing helps to destroy noxi-
GUS weeds and harmful insects. BY
fall blowing many weeds may be
turned under before they have ripen-
ed seed and some of the seed in the
ground may be caused to sprout so
that its growth is later killed by
freezing. Still other seed may be
brought to the surface and so ex-
posed that it is killed during the win
ter. Many of the eggs and larvae Of
such insects as the wire worm, white
grub, cut worm and others are de-
stroyed when turned up by fall
blowing.
More rain and melting snow soak
into plowed land than into land which
has not been plowed and much of this
extra supply of moisture may be
saved by an early disking or harrow
ing. No disking or narrowing should
be done in the fall and the land should
be, left as rough as possible. Then
it will hold much more snow and at
the same time prevent considerable
loss of soil by blowing.
As between early fall blowing and
late fall blowing, there is something
to be said for each.
The reasons for late blowing of sod
in the fall may be stated as follows:
First. It is more effective in kill
ing weeds and insects.
Second. 1t gives the benefit of fall
pasture.
In favor of early fall blowing these
reasons may be given:
First. More weeds are killed. One
crop is plowed under before it ripens
seed and another crop starts and is
killed by frost. Late blowing would
not kill either crop, as the first
would ripen seed and there would b.
no growth on the late plowed land
to be killed by frost.
Second. Any growth of weeds or
volunteer small grain is very effective
in holding the soil and preventing
blowing. Late fall blowing has no
after growth.
Third. Having the stubble plowed
early, gives time for blowing sod
later.