Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1849-05-24
what i know of Farming,
BY PROF. J. J. MAPEs.
DEEP FLOWING.

entering Immediately upon the advan.
tages to be derived from Deep Flowing,
i, may be well to give the reasons why
pIoD'ng dtaH is necessary for encour-
aging the growth of plants.
The offices assigned by nature 10 the
soil are:
l. The mechanical sustaining of the
roots of plants, and necessarily of the
plants themselves, in proper position;
and at the same time that the mass of
soil should be pervious to the increas-
ing length Of roots.
2. The reception and retention of
those gases, fluids, &C., which Natures
laws supply to the soil, until the re-
quirements of growing plants shall ap-
propriate them.
3. Such mechanical condition of par.
ties as shall best tend to the ready par
ting with excessive quantities of mois-
iure and soluble excremen,itious mat.
tiers arising from vegetation.
4. Free admission of such compo-
nents of the atmosphere as, by combi-
nation with the constituents of the soil,
cause them to undergo changes benef-
cial to their general properties.
1t is well known that, if soil is disin.
tegrated but to slight depths, the roots
of plants, on reaching the compac. or
disintegrated portion, cease to be heal
thy, and refuse TO sustain the plant
thus meadows, when seeded down with
the surface only disturbed and not pro-
perly plowed, will soon run out-for
the under.soil, from not receiving the
influence of the atmosphere, remains
sour, and unified for supplying the ne.
cessary aliment at the termini of the
roots, consequently the plants die. If
meadows be deeply plowed, they will
last much longer without re-seeding;
and, when both SUBSIDIZED and deep sur
face plowed, the instance has not yet
occurred where re.seeding became ne
cessary. Lucerne French Clover will
grow for one, two, and sometimes three
years, on shallow-plowed land; but if
the soil be deep and free, as in some
parts Of France, il has been known 10
flourish with increased vigor for fifty
years. When Lucerne fails, the close
observer will find that its roots have
reached soil that has not been disinteg-
rated.
This effect is common to most plants,
and no error is more common than TO
mistake the length of roots of plants.
Those of the ordinary Corn stalk will
average to 6 feet in length; and if a
field be planted with Corn in hills 4
feet apart, no portion of the soil, TO the
depth disturbed by the pillow, of one
inch cube, can be found that does not
contain roots. Many Of them are too
small to be discerhed by the naked eye,
but still they exist, and their termini are
the only part capable of receiving nu-
triment. Even the common Onion has
roots IS inches long, and many Of these
will descend to their full length if the
soil has been sufficiently disinlegrated.
The roots of most plants descend gen.
orally an average of two thirds their
length, portion only maintaining the
horizontal position.
Soil has the power TO absorb and re-
tain many of the gases found in the
atmosphere until required by the grow
ing plant, and this retention is just II
proportion TO the quantity of surfacs'
of particles exposed; and, therefore, al
unplowed surface cannot avail of thi'
action, nor can shallow, plowed land re
ceive as much benefit from this cause
that more deeply disintegrated. Tit
} rationale of this action will explain
in future letter.
Compact soils will not permit tn
, water resulting from rains TO snte
y them, and shallow-plowed land will hol
5 a large quantity of water near its sur
face, when, from deep disintegraiion,
might pass downward to sub'soil CO
= pable of freely receiving it. Heav
x lodgmeut of water about the roots
il most plants is detrimental TO the'
growth, while large quantities Passin
over their surfaces without being n