Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 November 1876 — Fall Plowing for the Cutworm. [ARTICLE]

Fall Plowing for the Cutworm.

I have been somewhat interested in reading different articles bn the subject of fall plowing that haye been published in several periodicals during the past few years, and in the meantime have profited from others’ experience. A year ago last fad I had a piece of land that I wished to plant to corn the following season. It had been down to grass for three years, the clover having been killed out the spring after it was seeded. The June gratis came in that, with the red top formed a stiff sward.' Some years before I had tried corn on the same field under similar circumstances, by plowing as early in the spring as the weather would admit; but each time the cutworm would destroy the first-planting, making iknecessary to plant the seeond time about the first of June, which \s too late for this innate. This time, in hopes of holding ese dread destroyers in check, I flowed j>y land in October. You will rebiember that it was a very dry fall, and when I finished plowing the whole field resembled a bed of dry ashes. The next spring proved to be a very late one to most farmers, but for me it did very well. The water passed from the surface of the ground very rapidly, and ere my. neighbors could plow at all I could cultivate my piece with trood effect. The results were that I had no trouble in planting early; my crop did not suffer from the drouth, which was very severe in this part ofthe State last season; while the cutworm scarcely made itself manifest ky the destruction of a single hill. I might name many other adyantages to be dented from fait plowing, but I have only time to consider the one—the cut worm destruction. There seems to be two theories as to how fall plowing proves a remedy for this pest. Some hold that the larva is turned to the surface, where it Is left ex. posed to a temperature sufficient for its destruction. Now a portion of this statement I admit as a fact, for there must be a general resurrection, but when unprotected larva can survive a temperature of thirty degrees, as I know they can, we may be slow to credit the freezing method of destruction. I am, however; ready to believe .that there is no more sure way to ward off cutworm injuries than to thus enter into partnership with the birds, in which it is our part of the task to plow the land early ih the fall, so that bluebird, robin'and blackbird lhay have a cutworm feast before leaving for a more genial climate. Deep harrow ing br oultivating, as early in the spring as the season will admit, will insure a Thanksgiving repast of the same nature. I feel very sure that from thia, cause alone would originate the unquestionable fact that fall plowing is an advantage. Our early spring birds being much put to it for sufficient Todd for themselves and brood, will, with this opportunity, become chief abettors in cutworm destruction. That the three birds above-named do merit the loudest praise for such valuable service we ail have personal proof.

to be practiced, except in the garden. As this plan implies a ioes of at least one **tock for each larva, it is veiy prudent planting to practice the advice of the poet: “Two for the blackbird, two for the crow, two for the cutworm and four to grow.”—ri. A. Crane, in Grand Ijedge (Mich.) Independent.