SPADING AND PLOWING 



99 



become warm at an earlier date, and at the same 

 time the loosened soil tends to hold water in the 

 lower soil for future use by the crop and allows the 

 soil to take in spring rains more readily. If a cover 

 crop or green manure crop is to be turned under in 

 the spring it should be done early so as to prevent 

 the crop to be turned under from pumping too 

 much water out of the soil and thus interfering 

 with the growth of the crop for which the land is 

 being prepared. 



There are some particular advantages to be gained 

 by fall plowing in heavy soils : 



Immediately after harvest the land is usually dry 

 and easy to work. 



The soil plowed at this time and left rough is 

 acted upon physically by frost which pulverizes it, 

 and chemically by rain and air which renders plant 

 food available. 



Insects are turned up and exposed to frost and 

 birds. 



A great number of weeds are destroyed and the 

 land is more easily fitted for crops in the spring, 

 Fall plowing should be done as early as possible, 

 especially in the dryer regions, to catch all water 

 possible. It is not advisable to plow sandy soils in 

 the fall lest plant food be washed out of them. 



When possible a cover crop should be put on fall 

 plowed land where there is likely to be loss of plant 

 food by leaching. 



