Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1841-11-11
From he Southern Planter.
FALL PLnraatNa.

The following article, from the Geneset
Farmer, on the subject Of fall ploughing
seems to us judicious and well timed. j
COMEDIES, TOO, with our previously formed
opinions on The subject, which. We believe,
are those also of a majority Of farners..-
! nd ye,, we understand ,ha, some of our
mo.t practical meu, aud best Informed
farmers. are opposed 10 The system. Mr.,
William Wicki;nm. We understand, con-
demus il, and Mr. E. Winston expressed
TO Us his determination 10 abandon II. we
should he much pleased to learn The OBJ
iec,ions of either OF these gentlemen Ton
system that is so generally approved. ~
NAV he, that their land is Of the porus
character alluded TO in the last paragraph;
n, any rate, we should be glad 70 be ~.
f0t!ised upon the subject.
The following are the reasons given i.i
favor Of fall ploughinG:
"1'he practical Farmer say,. the more
scientific opinion is in fovnr of fall plough
ing, because to the action Of air and mois-
,nre. i, adds ,ha, Of frost, whose sceptic or
dividing quality is second only 10 that OF
The plough itself. Ia clay soils the pre-.
para,iou should never he omitted; because
ON ,tuse the aciion of the frus, is greater,
aud because one ploushing OF this kind,
may save ,wo ia The spring, when time is
every thing.
1.-The Monthly Genesee Farmer. vol. l..
page $50. in an article on this subject. says:
"lst. 1t is one Of the established princi-
pies of philosophical agriculture, that the
snil derives much Of its productive proper
~ frnm the air, and lha, chemical cham
ges aud combinations are cnns,autly going
on, by which fertility is much Increased.
These alternative effects oil the atmos-
phere. aud these changes of the qualities oi
The soil, are the more active aud efficient as
new surfaces are exposed 10 uew ac'ion,-
For instance, much greater quantities ol
carbonic gas will be absorbed by given
surface of earth. ifIhe earth is frequently
stirred, than if il was allowed 10 remain
with a single saturated surface. Plough.
inc, by exposing new surfaces to the action
Of the atmosphere must be productive OF
essential benefit; and as fall ploushing
generally takes place AFTER crops which
have partially exhausted the surface OF
some OF its nutrilive aud absorbent quail.
ties, its service in aid Of spring crops is
greatly enhanced.
I'D. There is always on land more or
less grass, weeds, s,ubble. or other vegeta
BILE matters convertible into mould by fer.
menlaliou and decomposition, process
which is greatly aided by being turned un-
der The surface of the earth. Fall plough
ing renders such substances much sooner
available in Advancing the growth ofcrops.
than they would be if left uncovered du-
ring the winter, independent Of the great
lnss necessarily sustained by the washing
away OF the lighter materials and their dis
PERSON by the winds.
I'D. Nothing acts moro efficiently on
moist soils in promoting vegetation, than
high pulverizaliou; and fall ploughing nids
this operation most essentially. Lands
that if ploughed in the spring only, will
ifploughed in The fall. be found loosened
in texture and fitted for early operations iu
the spring OF the year. Frost is the most
clIicien, disintegrator ofthe soil with which
The agriculiurist is acquainted, and b,
should avail hinselfof its valuable labors
in all practicable cases.
18th. The earlier The ground can DO pre-.
pared for the suitable reception Of spring
crops. such as corn. spring wheat and bar.
lay, lhe better il will be found for The cult.
valor; aud iu nine cases ou, of the ten
early sown crops nre The heavies, and
most productive.
18Th. Ploughing land acts moro efeciu,
ally in destroying insects than any olhsl
mode ofsTeatmen'. and fall ploughing fol
this purpose is preferable 10 any o.her.-
Those insecls " hicb produce tho most mis-
chief to the farmer. Such as tho fy, cu
worrn. grub, &c. cannoi resis, the frost o.
our winters. if promalurcly exposed to i!l
action by fall plnughing. The cut worn
which accumulaies 10 such numbers 10 ole
| meadows and pastures, 10 thus destroyed
aud crops planted on them ssYrd'