The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-04-24
Agricultural.
From the Farmers Monthly Visitor.
DEEP PLOUGHlNG.

DEEP PLOUGHlNG.
All practical farmers are aware that where the
soil buried and the poor strata beneath BROUGHT
the surface by very deep ploughing, little or no
crops can be expected the first year, unless manure
is very freely applied to the surface. The reason
for this is apparent, and strikes the minds of all
who have had much experience, for where sterility
and poverty are on the face of the land nothing
can be expected This alsoreveals another impor-
tant truth in agriculture, and holds good with ma
nure as well as soils: it is the decomposition OF
animal ar vegetable substances that ncurishes vege-
tatipn and this il effected most rapidly when expo
sed to the influence of the atmosphere. But if
deep ploughing, which invariably places the soil
nasty out of the reach of the most numerous
ropt of growing crops. induces loss and unproduc-
tiveness, it does not exactly follow that deep
ploughing il an error in farming. five wish to
rear an orchard, does not experience teach US to
dig deep and wide, and that side by side trees will
grow more than twice as fast in the deep stirred
mellow earth? If true in relation to trees, should
il not also be apt to be true in the annually planted
crops. Is il not very generally true that from
desire to farm mare land than we can well pre-
pare, both manure and labor fall short Of their
wonted return. How productive arc Dur little
garden spots, where the ground is completely pull
versed and the manure well mixed; and these
little spots of land are no better naturally than
all the rest of the farm? If these are generally
admitted facts, then why shall We not without
L., a. fha pnada ltc
are SO decisively advantageous! Simply because
we cannot Our farmers do not want dscernment
and judgement; they well know that compared
with Europe land is cheap, and labor dear, and
that their interest lies in farming as they do adopt
ing from time ia time the improvements that sci.
ence and experience are daily unfolding. Inmany
parts Of the old world, where labor is cheap and
and land dear, large ie Ids are entirely trenched to
the depth three four feet every stone and root
isremoved, and the land thus treated with manure
and care, are rendered highly productive.
In the west. where the emigrants frdm abroad
sit down side by side with the Americans upon
new lands, the difference is very remarkable in the
mode of cultivation and the comparative success
The European cuts his trees one by one entirely
oil. The American, always the better axeman,
cuts his only about two thirds: at last he els large
tree to the windward, and like row ofbrcks they
60 on knocking each other down. The American
fells his so as to break good deal of the upper
branches Of the trees This the foreigner does not
dream OF. Nextthe foreigner goes to work digging
up the stumps, while the other who does not miss
the ground they cover permits his stumps to rot in
their places. When the winter comes one wants
corn, while the other has an abundance. Here it
is not considered that the most thorough work is
always best. There is a practical point beyond
which there is as much sacrifice az is found in the
not reachingit. That the mellow open deep stirred
earth holds and retains mere moisture than hard
shallow ground. we all know. That moisture 10
Indispensable to the growth of trees and plants, is
equally true; and this is most easily gained by the
roots in deep stirred cultivation. Every year, 1t
appears from the result of experiments in sgrcul-
ture that the greatest benefits are derived from the
subsoil, or coulter ploughs; and shall we not find
in this implement similar benefits to those derived
from trenchng' Thisplough strs the ground
Deep but does net bring the subsoi to the surface
and the coulter or bull tongue plough asit is some
times called, does not require much strength.
single horse with great ease will follow the ordi-
nary plough in the same furrow. BY pioughlng
and cross ploughing in this manner the land may
be deeply aud effectually stirred, and am inclined
to the opinion that il any farmer doubts the bane-
fits, and will try it with any crop, he will doubt
no longer.
This mode OF ploughing also seems adapted to
our habits of extensive farming, The labor is
much less than trenching; very boy can manage
the coulter plough, and the easy draught makes it
appropriate work for boys and colts. Our ploughs
generally are tor our country greatly preferable to
the English, and with the same number of horses
we do more work than they. We use two horses
for the same purpose that they use three, and with
our two we plough from one quarter to one third
more land in day. Perhaps they do their work
rather better; they spend more time in leaving no
sod unturned five 60 on with our improvements
as we have done, we may hope not only to surpass
them in agriculture, but we may not much care
where boundary lines are now marked. P.
GRApEs.-At an agricultural meeting recently
convened at Boston, a Mr. Merriam exhibited five
different kinds of grapes. which had been grown in
the open air. and in perfect state of preser-
walton, the flavor being as good as when picked
r. al. ,,ol .,,~