Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-09-20


| quantities. That DEEP PLoUGHISe is calcu-
lated to promote these ends, believe will not
be hard to prove, particularly the first, and
third
The quantity of earth operated on being
great, 1t very seldom, if ever happens, that
any fall of rain is so great, as completely to
satuiate it and until that effect takes place.
or nearly SO, very little change is to be ex-
pected in the disposition of its parts: and
therefore when the redundant moisture eva
porates, it leaves the soil as it found it, except
a small crust on the surface: the succeeding
ploughings, instead of being applied to repair
the injury the soil has sustained by great falls
of ram, 60 to the further pulverizing and
opening it suitably to receive the capillary
vessels of the plants. Thus the pasture be-
comes not only more extensive, but far better
adapted to promote the growth of plants.
With respect to ALimErT, naturaiists differ
widely in their judgment respecting its nature
and composition: My opinion is, that the food
OF plants has not yet been fully ascertained
by any. This, however, we all know. that
manures of all kinds, contribute in some way
or other to the growth of plants: whatever
may be their food, will not pretend 20 saw
that it is communicated to soil by the mode Of
cultivation under consideration; but this |
will say, that it is far better calculated than
the contrary practice shallow plouahir,o, to
retain the quantum originally found therein or
afterwards applied to it; and further, if dews
are nutritive, the superior openness of the
texture in this mode, qualities it to derive e
veiy advantage to be expected from that
sou ce.
But perhaps the most valuable of all the ef
feels resulting from deep ploughing is, that it
in great measure preserves an equal quaint
ty Of moisture In the soil for as we seldom
have a rain SO great, as to produce an unheal
thy stagnation OF water about the roots of
plants set in soil seven or eight inches deep !:
so on the contrary, we scarcely ever have a
drought of SO long continuance as to extract
all the moisture to that depth; for it is to be
remembered, that after few inches nearest
the surface, moisture is extracted, by slow
degrees thus for instance, if it requires one
hot day to dry the first inch, probably it will
require three for the second. six, or more for
the third, and so on, perhaps nearly in geo
ETHICAL progression.
Thus it appears from the foregoing obser-
vations, that by this mode of practice the
great loss sustained by WASHING, an evil so
much to be dreaded in this country, is avoid
ed that whatever manures are applied are
safely deposited, and will act with full effect !:
that the growing plants are abundantly sup
piled, during the whole of their growth, both
summer and winter crops, with an open soil.
for free extension of their roots, and also.
with regular supply of moisture; go that
their growth is at no time impeded by any
small irregularity OF season the depth of soil
being to them, with respect to wet and dry.
what the ocean is to small islands, with res
pect to heat and cold; the means of tolera-
bly, regular temperature.
can readily anticipate the remarks Of our
sticklers for old practices, on what has been
advanced. This reasoning (say they well
applies to rich deep soils but in poor shallow
soil, ''let him beware of the yetIosc clay the
dead earth, lest the value OF this land proves
to be the price of his too adventurous expert
mentsn But let me ask them, have they ne
yer seen the effects of earths taken out of eel
lars and wells, when applied to poor land
have they never observed the luAuriant growth
of grass and weeds, at the edge of bank,
taken from a mill-race, or large ditch, and
frequently on the very top, Wien iiat enough
to retain moisture? for my own part, [ have
long been in the habit of observing these
things and do not recolect that ever saw a.
ny earth taken from considerable depth be-
low the surface, which was capable of being
pulverized by frost or tillage, without evident
advantage, even clay has been applied to clay,
and sand to sand Seeing this is the fact, is
their any good reason for supposing that as
we ascend towards the surface, such a diffe-
renee will be found in the properties of the
EARTH that this will render the same land ste
rilc, that the other will enrichp l confess |
see none; cannot even see, why we may
not with propriety suppose, that the first six
inches of earth next below the usual plough
ing, should be possessed of all the fertilizing
qualities, that the same kind of earth would
be, if found six feet below
1t would seem then, that by this mode of
cultivation (deep ploughing) on exhausted
lands, the quantity of soil would not only be
increased, but actually enriched. On lands,
covered with two or three inches of rich