Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 August 1883 — EARLY PLOWING FOR FALL WHEAT. [ARTICLE]

EARLY PLOWING FOR FALL WHEAT.

The American Agriculturist s vs: The first object gained by early plowing is time for the proper preparation .of the seed-bed. All possible fertility should be made readily available. To be so, it should be soluble, arid division aids solution. The ground becomes hard in July and August, and, if plowing is delayed too long, the Boil breaks up in hard lumps. If plowed early, it will turn up moist and fine. Rain and air are nature’s two great disintegrating forces. # Seeds germinate quickly and plants grow rapidly in a firm seed-bed. The increase of insect enemies of wheat makes late sowing, coupled with rapid, vigorous growth, desirable. Hence the importance of a firm seed-bed, which also prevents much freezing out of the plants. To make the seed-bed firm, it must first be fine. It is not hard soil, but compact, fine soil that is desired. It may be compacted with the roller and harrow; but if the farmer, by early plowing, can gain the aid of a heavy rain, it will save him mnch labor, and it will do the work of preparing the soil far better than he can alone. Another object gained by plowing is the destruction of weeds. They are robbers of the wheat, and the sooner, their growth is stopped by plowing, the less plant-food they will take from the soil. Early plowing will destroy them before 'they mature their seeds, and thus prevent perpetuating their kind. Late plowing permits of a large growth, and when this is turned under by the plow, it is impossible to compact the seed-bed, and the green manure affords a harbor for enemies. Early plowing admits of a better application of manure. Manure is most needed in autumn, and to be at once available to the roots of the young plant, it must be fine and near the surface; not on top of the ground, but thoroughly incorporated with the upper layer of soil. If the ground is plowed

early, the manure can be applied io the Surface, and the work of preparing the seed-bed will fine it and mix it with the Boil. Commercial manures-should be sown with the grain. Early plowing admits of atmospheric fertilisation. Whether it directly adds the elements of fertility to the soil or only frees and unlocks that which it already possesses is immaterial. Plowing the land exposes a greater surfaoe and permits of the easy passage of the air into the interior of the soil.— American Agriculturist.