Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1848-10-19

the purpose, they should be adopted for
the land thus reclaimed is often the most
profitable for cnllivalion; and where the
Iexpense of brick, or tile, is too great, or
suitable stone cannot be had TO construct
trunk drains, good substitute is generally
within reach, by IL to Is inches in depth
OF small loose stones; covering first with
leaves, straw, or small brush, to prevent fill
ing the intererstics with the returned earth.
Logs or poles, laid lengthwise, also form
good under drains but are more liable to
clog from decay.
The next important step in my opinion,
in "Renovatng Worn ont Lands, isto plough
deep, and thus expose neac surface to the
action Of frost, and atmospheric influence,
in order to make a soil in place of the one
provided by nature; but which either from
cupldty, or bad perhaps both
man has destroyed. 1t is considered one Of
able end: and although sub-soil ploughing
Is fully approved of, it is considered less
importan, than to break up the earth from z
to 10 inches, if the subsequent treatment is
properly attended to.
The writer is we'll aware, that there is 4
strong feeling of prejudice in the minds of
many individuals, against this practice
What are the arguments of the advocates of
shallow ploughing? They say in so many
words, tour soil is only few inches deep,
aud if we do not plough shallow, we shall
turn up SO much clay or dead earth, as to
raise no crop at ALP If two or three in
ches Of soil is buried in the spring, under a
bed of 5 or inches of clay, and thus left
without further aid, or preparation for crop
that season, the result would generally be,
as stated That shallaw pIoug hing, enables
the farmer TO get clear much more readily
of the little soil or mould, he may have on
his WORKOUT lands, is susceptible of easy
demonstration nor is it less so, that either
in very scet or very dry season, the crop,
from this cause, generally suffers.
During the summer months, the greater
portion ofthe rains fall hastily and when
ever the ground is not opened and pervious
to sufficient depth to imbibe the whole,
before the surplus water can penetrate, and
be absorbed by the compact subsoil, a large
rapidly passes of, or washes away"
unless the lands perfectly level. VIVA.
remains, after being SO thoroughly sat-
u,a.cd has tendency to settle into a
compact mass; soon parting with It's scanty
supply Of moisture, under hot sum-
mer's sun, and rendering it impervious to
the roots Of. plants. If drought sue
ceds, soil in such state, can afford bu,
a meagre supply of moisture to noursh
crop; and at period too, when the
greatest amount is needed. Nearly all plants
imbibe more or less moisture from the earth
by their roots; and if support is withheld
they cannot continue in healthy and vi
gorous state: indeed SO necessary is this
element. that many of our grass seeds, and
plants, will not only vegelale, but grow vi
gorously for considerable period, with no
other support to their roots, than what can
be derived from pure wafer.
am conf dent that in most of our lands
that have become sterile, the cause ix to be
attributed, more to shalloav ploughing, and
masking ascay of the little soil they possess
ed. than to the extraction of the vegetable
nuliment, by the growth of plants; in fact
II IS almost a necessary consequence of this
pern!cious practice. If the toilng farmer or
planter is able to purchase dressing ofmin
eral manure, or fortunate enough to scrape
together scanty supply of vegetable 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, the beds OF
creeks and rivers.
Having stated some Of the disadvantages
(which attend shallow ploughing, we will
now briefly enumerate some of the advant-
ages of deep ploughing, when judiciously
pursued.
In the successful cultivation Of all our
provided, and in an accessible form; and
that moisture, equally necessary, be admin
istered, in neither too great nor too small
quantities. This will probably be admitted
by all, and it is presumed the admission will
also be made, that the greatest amount of
nourishment derived by all our field crops is
from the earth. By deep ploughng, it rare
ly occurs that fall of rain is so great or
sudden, as completely to saturate the body
of earth acted on by the plough; and nn,i
such is the case, but little danger is to be
apprehended Of ''wasbing away;" and just as
little, that the plants will so soon require a
renewal of moisture, caused by evaporation.
The soil much longer retains its loose and
friable texture, and enables the roots readily
to extend in all directions, in search of their
appropriate nourishment; for the same rea-
son, deep filth admits of closer proximity of
the plants, without sustaining equal injury
from drought, and turning yellow; or fir
ing, in common parance.
would ask the advocates of shallow
ploughing, or the SHINING system, as it has
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