The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1846-05-09
ROOT CULTURE.


Five things are essential in the culture of root
crops first, dry soil second, rich soil third,
deep soil fourth we'll .pulveriZed soil and,
fifth, good after culture.
By dru soil, we mean a soil that is not wet.
Moisture is beneficial to all crops, and is indeed
indispensable to their growth but standing ooG-
ter is detrimental to all root crops, though It re-
pose upon the subsoil, and appear but occasional
ly at the surface. Hence when roots are to be
crown upon soils that are tenacious or fiat, or
upon those which repose upon an impervious sub
soil, the land should either be previously under
drained, Or should be thrown into ridges, and the
burrows kept open for the free passage OF water
in heavy rains.
rich soil is as essential to good crops, as nour
ishing and abundant food is to the fatening OF an
imals. We all know that lean pasture and coarse
forage, although they may keep, will not fatte1
cattle. 1t is equally true that although farm
crops will live and grow upon poor soil, the
product and profit will be greater on rich one.
Hence the maxim, verified by long experience,
that it is better to cultivate one acre OF rich land
than three of poor. Ordinarily speaking, good
dressing of manure will double the product OF a
root crop.
A deer ,oorked soil is necessary for all tap
roots. not only that they may penetrate freely,
and increase their length and their volume, but
that their radicles their mouths - which are
principally upon their lower extremities, may
find food for the parent plant. Even the turnip
and notato. in deep filth, send down their roots
to great depth, for food and moisture.
The authorization of the soil is essential to the
termination of the seed, to the free circulation OF
moisture and air, and the admission of solar heat,
all contributing to the thrift OF the growing plants
If the soil is lumpy or coarse, and does not come
in close contact with the seed, to keep it moist,
the seed cannot terminate F.; the roots cannot free
" extend in search of food nor can this food be
popularly prepared, and transmitted to the plant,
unless the soil be so pulveriZed to permit the
free circulation of air and moisture through all
its interstitces, and through its mass The air
and dews, we repeat, are charged with the ele-
ements of fertility, and the more freely they are
permitted to to penetrate the SOIL the more pene-
fit they will mpart to the crop
Good after culture implies the keeping OF the
Ground free from weeds which rob the crop of
its food, thinning the plants to proper distance,
keeping the surface mellow, or open to atmos-
pheric influence. If tie soil is dry and rich, and
deeply pulverzed, the labors of the husbandman
will vet not avail much if he neglects either to
destroy weeds, to thin when necessary, or TO
keen the surface loose and open But these lat
fer reouisites to success may easily be got along
With r thew are attended to in time, and with
the nroper implements. The potato ground should
he we'll narrowed, to destroy all the young weeds,
and TO pulverize the surface, before the shoots
have all broke ground. 1t may afterwards pc al
most wholly managed with the pillow and cultiva-
tor The beet. carrot, and ruta baga, if sown, as
thew should be, in rows, should be cleaned in
like manner and for like purpose, with the Gull
tivator, as soon as the rows OF young plants can
ba readily distinguished One hours labor, in
this way, will destroy more small weeds, and cor
respondingy benefit the crop, than three hours
Labor will effect upon large weeds. 1t is easier
to destroy the acorn than it is to eradicate the
oak. To crowd plants, is like oyerstocklng pas
tnre ar endeayoring to make fat animals from
half rations of food. 1t is dividing among many
that food which is required to perfect one 1t
moreover tends to exclude light, heat, and Tree
circulation of air, essential to the development
Of vegetables and the perfection of their growth.
Hence moderate number Of plants will give
better product than great many, upon the same
Ground. in crowded situation. This is hard
lesson to teach to some farmers, IN regard 10 root
A young man residing in Cincinnati was day
-, nf a