The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-10-25

! raise no crop al all. Ii TWO or tnfcc lnCh-
es of soil is buried in the spring, under bed
of or inches of clay, and thus left with
out furthur aid or preparation for crop
season, the result would generally be as sta
ted. That shallow plonghing, enables the
farmer to get clear much more readily OF
the little soil or mould, he may have on his
worn-out lands, is susceptible of easy DEM
onstraton; nor is it less so, that either in
very arct or very dry season, the crop from
! this cause, generally suffers.
During The summer months. the greater
portion of the rains fall hastily; and when
ever the ground is not opened and pcrvnus
to sufficient depth to lmbibe the whole, be-
fore the surplus water can penetrate. and
be absorbed by the compact sub-solI a large
portion of the surface becomes fuid, and
rapidly passes off. or washes away" unless
the land is perfectly level. What remains,
after being so throughly saturated. has ten
dcncy 10 settle into a compact mass; soon
parting with its scan,y supply of moisture,
under hot summers sun. and rendering 1t
impcrvious to the roots of plants. If a
drought succeeds, soil in such state, can
afford but mcagre supply OF moisture to
nourish crop; and al period too, when
the greatest amount is needed. Nearly all
plants imblbc more Or less moisture from tho
earth by their roots; and if this support is
Withheld, they cano! continue in healthy
and vigorous state: indeed so necessary s.
this element, that many Of our grass seeds,
and plants. will Mt only vegetatc, but grow
vigorously for a considerable period, with no
other support TO their roots than what can
be derived from pure water.
am confident that in most Of our lands
that have become sterile. the cause is to be
attributed more to sh0lloW blowing and
icuAtiny array Of the little soil they possess
ed than to the extraction OF the vegetable
nutrimcnl. by the growth OF plants: in fact 1t
is almost a necessary consequence OF this
pc!nlclous practice. If the toiling farmer or
planter is able t, purchase dressing OF MN
craI manure, or fortunate enough to scraPc
together scanty supply ofvegetabIc mat
ter from the resources OF the farm, large
portion of it is carried off by the first dash
ing rain, to enrich still more, tho beds OF
creeks and 7irerS.
!iaving stated some ofthc disadvantages
which attend shallow ploughing VIC will
now briefly enumerarc some OF the advan
ta.cs of deep ploughng, when judIclonsly
pursued.
In the successful cultivation OF all our
crops. is necessary that ample foot be pro-
viicd, and IN an accessible form; and that
moisture, equally necessary. be administered,
in Dcilhcr too grcat nor too SmGH quantities.
This will probably be admitted by all and II
is presumed The admission will also be made
that the orca est amount Of nourShmCnt de-
rived bv all our field crops is from The earth.
Is deep p!ou.!,!uG, it rarely occurs that
fall oC rain is so great or sudden, Gs COM
pletelv to S0HlGtc the body of Garth acted
on bv the plough; and until such is tho case,
but little danger is TO be apprthcndcd OF
of ''waslling away" and just as little, that
plants will So soon rcGnlrca renewal OF mois-
turc, caused by evaporation. The soil much
LONGER retains its loose and frlabc texture,
and enables the roots readily to extend IN all
directors, in search of their appropriate
nourishmenl: fnr the same reason, deep lilh
admits of closer proximity OF the plants,
without sustaining equal nInry'trom drought,
and turning yellow; or firing, IN common
parIancc.
| would ask the advocates of shallow
pIoughing, or tho Sk'nnjng system, as II has
been aplIy termed. if they have not observ-
ed the beneficial effects Of carths taken out
| of cellars, wells. pits, &C., when applied to
very poor land? And have they not obscrv-
ch Iuxurant growth Of grass and weeds on
ditch banks and mill races; even to tho high
cS, points, when level enough to retain tho
moisture that falls! | have often noticed
such effects: AMI have almost uniinrml y OBJ
served, that if earth thus taken from below
the surface, was capable of being pulverIzed
bv frost or llagr, increased fertility was the
result. Such being tho case, Is there any
valid reason for surprising. that still nearer
the surface, 50 much difference can exist,
tina, while one WI render ihc same land stcr
lie, tho other will positively enrich 1t. II
advantage will result from mixing with the
SOL, the earth taken from many feet below
the surracc-and that such is the cause l
have had repeated c7;dcncc, and using 1t Tor
this express obj"ct-l cannot perceive why
portion of the same tcr,IIizIng property may
not be found in the GARTH only few inches
or foot below the surface. And last,
though not least in the catalogue of advan'
taees, the all important item of manure, Is
rendered more available; and consequently,
The land is both Immediately and permanent
~ benefited.
But deep ploughing alone, much as i, is
advocated will not speedily mike poor land
rich. |, also requires some judgment when
and to what extent 1t should bc carried
Lands that arc to be ploughcd much deeper
than usual, should be broken up in the fall,
no crop should be seeded tho ensuing sea-
son that does not admit of frequent plough