The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-11-10
From the Ohio Cultivator.
Deem (uIture:

| IL. hOSSU II.
From the Ohio Cutivator.
Deep Culture:
IT'S BENEFITS-HOW EFFECTED.
1t seems strange that, at this enlighten-
ed epoch in the history of American agri-
culture, whole communities of farmers
may yet be found who are as Indifferent
regarding the adoption Of an enlightened
system Of agriculture as are the old-fash-
ioned Castilian farmers of Mexico. Being
blest with a fruitful soil, genial climate,
and strong, free, and energetic govern
ment, there are thousands of the cultiva-
tors Of the soil OF these United States, who
appear willing to simply vegetate, like the
plants they cultivate from day to day.
without putting forth an effort to avail them
selves Of the blessings that would flow
from higher and more perfect state of
civilized enjoyment. Happily, on the
other hand, there are many who are will
ing and anxious to make the business of
agriculture something more than mere
source Of drudgery, who in truth make it
the only paradise that intellectual man
should desire to aspire to, and to men OF
this class do we at all times feel willing to
extend cordial helping hand in promot-
ing the cause Of improvement. ..
To make the business Of agriculture
really profitable and interesting, great
variety of interests will have to be closely
and carefully attended to, the failure of a
single one of which will materially de-
range the whole machinery. While it re-
quires strict attention and due perform
ance in the fulillment the laws that gov
ern animate and inanimate nature, yet the
whole subject, to man Of sound intellect,
who at the same time is a close observer of
matters and things, as developed in the
immense laboratory, as spread out before
him on his extensive feds, in growing
crops and numerous focks, will appear
simple, and may be understood and illus
trated with as much perspicuty as the
simplest problem in Euclid.
No interest or branch of farming re-
quires more attention than that of plough
ing. This. in fact, is the foundation of
good husbandry; and no man can be con-
sidered true disciple Of modern improv-
ed agriculture, who neglects this branch.
Good ploughing does not consist merely
ploughing neat, straight, and handsome
ly laid furrows, resting upon each other ilr
a certain line Of inclination, having uni.
formly the same proportions as it regards
width, thickness, and lap at the interstices
these are merely essential features, that a
careful, tidy farmer requires to be observ-
ed by his workmen; but it firther consists
in knowing precisely how to deepen and
mix the soils. so as to combine the various
elements existing in the soil or added there
to by art, so as to adapt it in the greatest
degree to the various crops cultivated
Some soils, owing to the peculiar comb-
nation of the elements of fertility in the
subsoil, would be materially damaged by
deep ploughing; and again other descrip-
tions of soils, by simple operation of
deep ploughing, will produce succession
of heavy crops without the application of
manure that would astonsh such as have
not given the subject much consideration.
Some plants require a deep soil to send
down their lateral roots in search of the
requisite food, to perfect their growth; and
other classes of plants spread their roots
near the surface of the ground. From
these facts it must be clear that system
of ploughing land adapted to one descrip-
ton of soil, or for one class of crops, /,
would not be adapted to another descrip-
t;on of soils or for cronS reouirinU the |
soil to be in different state of tilth.-
Soils are found in such great variety of
combinations that it would be difficult.
within the short space usually given to ar
ticles like this, to give anything like an ac-
curate description of them, and the sys-
tenn of ploughing adapted to each. Our
office at this time, however, is to speak
more particularly in regard to the advan-
tages of deep ploughing, and upon what
soils it would be found most advantage
Gus, and the manner in which it can be
the cheapest and most efficiently executed.
Most clay soils, as well as those that are
usually denominated clay, vegetable and
gravelly loans, will be greatly benefited
by deep ploughing. But in all cases it
would be advisable to experiment in deep
as in most other branches that
may be new to the farmer, upon small
scale at first. so as to clearly understand
the benefits that in reason may be expect
ed from this branch Of improvement. The
average depth of ploughing land in Ohio,