Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1836-06-06

fore the Agricultural Societytt .Ibemdle, at
Their Anaaal Uccttng 1888.
In obedience 10 a resolution vi this Society, APP
pointing essaysts at their meeting IN October 1888,
| have the honor 10 submit tho following COMMUNE
cation upon the culture OF Wheat.
Although deep culture !, important, II not ndls-
pensable, with all plant, to permit their roots to
penetrate the sol freely N search OF food aud mos-
lure, and 10 allow tho water III heavy rains to sub
side without abradng and gulicying unJuaIng
lands, or drowning those that are level it may
bo doubted whether II be proper to effect this
by frequent ploughne, and mtermiIlns too per
tecily the surface with the inferior sol or clay. Ma
ture In all her operations manure, Oh the surface,
and form, there the soil which is best adapted to
the growth of vegetation, and If tins is not invert
cd by the plough she rciusates II ~ its original
position, as soon as the Land rs permitted to re-
main undi,afbed Sufficient length OF time, by d
process more rapid III warm weather, and on rich
coll where there i, much vegetable matter, and
slower where the Land Is les, fertile and the wealth
.r colder. Tins is >trikinsly cxemplGcd by fact
well known 10 mn,i farmers, VIZ That when good
land, ipaliienarlY clover land) with distinctly
marked safiaee OF dark soil /, ialowcd for wheat,
.own with the harrow upon one poushing and per
United to lie two III clover, after the crop
oil wheat, the dark soil is found upon the surface
occupying the position in which the clay was left
by the previous ploaghing, and the clay that which
occupied by the inverted soil ; change of
clay into soil and soil into clay. \ question nat
urally arises what good results from forcing the
land 10 this double process. should think uonc.
Economy OF labor, however, require, this to be
done as an expeditions mode Of dsposinp of the
vegetable matter, by burying it with the plough
but with one ploushns the necessity ceases for
that crop.
hav' said that this process more rapid on
rich soil, where there ws,Inueb vegetable matter,
aud In warm weather, on poorer soils, aud in
cold weather suPpos"it accomplished by the
gases evolved the decomposition ofthe vegetable
matter turned under by the plough. II the wealth
er is warm, and the vegetation green, ,ucculcnt
and abundant, the decomposition is rapid and the
quantity OF gas ischargcd is great. or these the
carbonic is deemed the gieat stmulant of ycgeta-
BILE lite, and being heavier than atmospheric air,
but lighter than the soil, il rises to the surface in
sinuatDg Itself into the intcrsccs of the clay
Drought up by the plough, saturatcs IL, and accom-
pushes The hrst process oil It's conversion into soil
Hence the cause OF well known fact that iallowS
made IN Jnn", July and early in August, become
many shades darker on the surface, although rA-
posed to the seorching rays of a summers sun, and
PRIOR 10 renewed grswtl, Of vegetation upon
Them Whilst it less frequently occurs on those
made IN September; and on those in October
rarely untii The neat year vegetation being more
nhaturcd, drlcr, less succueni, tho days shorter,
the nights longer and cooler, and every circun-
stance less favourable to rapid decomposition in
these months. A similar process has taken place
On the corn land after the cultivation of the corn
has ceased, aud before seed time. The fertile an
pcarance OF these lands at that time is familiar to
eVory one Ihls recently formed and forming
That the process must be effected by the &C
tion OF the gases is proven from the uniform fer
tility OF grave yards; here the bodies do not GENE
III contact with the surface il must be bv the
generated gas forcing lis way through the fresh
aug earth Would Ii culture of several feet make
poor land rich think not Manures never
sink. Upon light sandy soils with too small a
portion OF clay TO imbbe and retain the ras.s
they penetrate easily and escape RAPIDLY such
'equ,fe frequent applications of manure. BAT in
'"a''ef quantities II acts promptly, but eysno
- VIM me culture OF crop. Stiff CLAWS. def
~ aPI' 'e"' particles ARE not sufficiently per
ineds'e 10 The gas, the particles become comn,c,
'"ee,her by ram SO as to cxpel il before j, ca, h
suhlcicniiy imbibed; they clos. =, con,n,.,.,.,
over manures as 10 exclude the air. and ,r,.s, ~!
decomposition u ron such soils Manure n,o,rhI
unoer may be found two or three wears AFTER 70.
tanning It's original appearance, bur il, for,;,,,;
principle gone for such, straw, half r,,,ed rs
"u''s mat act as Temporary aporicn,, are hes,
Hahd or some substitute for it is necessary Car Il.
"'echah'ea ELECTS, as an aperient to every GOOD
son us excess makes quick soil, soon exhausted
ITS deficiency stiff slow soil. In add;A 'uS''"'
are no doubt chemical combinations in IN a'n
rendering some capable of fertility. others mo-,
i"e slery ofany soil may be Temporarily over.
come by the application of animal or vege,ahl.
manueres, but query9 Win not an or;g;no,
poor sol, II made ever rich by manures. Jeff IT,
i.seh without cultivation, lapse into its origi0a
asfh'y I; and will not one originally fertile wher
exhausted, become rich ifleft undsturbed long q.