Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-05-29
0RICULTURAL.
From he Aagrsta Ga.) cnitirafor.
Deep Flowing.


The farmers Of Ohio, as we learn from
the Cultivator, are waking up on the sub
ject of Deep Flowing. Numerous pre-
nums are offered for implements that will
turn burrows from nine to twelve inches in
thickness and many break the subsoi
six inches deeper by running the subsoil
pillow Immediately after the surface pillow.
Experiments have demonstrated the utility
of stirring the earth to the depth of Is inch
es; and Judging from the energy of Amer
lean character, we expect to see deep til
lagc bccomepopular and generally success
full. The Legislature Of Ohio has done
much to promote improvements in agricul-
turc, by appropriating $9,250 a year for
the support of an efficient Agricultural So
ciety in every county in the State. Its
Board ofAgriculture acts as a working
head, and the whole machinery is getting
into active operation.
The mechanical part of farming needs
reform quite as much as the theoretical
but while so many are striving to 60 20 the
root ofthc matter in blowing, care should
be taken not to extract from the soil vastly
more Of the elements Of fertility than is re-
placed therein. Our Buckeye friends may
dig and scratch and skin their land in a
way that will render deep piowing a curse
instead ola blessing. Suppose all the raw
material for making corn and wheat, oats
and potatoes be removed from the surface
Of the earth to the depth of two feet; what
then This raw material forms about one
part in thousand in the soil, regarding
potash and phosphate Of lime as the test
ingredients. Can skinning our mother
earth Is inches deep be better for her than
If the operation was performed to the depth
Of six inches only! If a good deal Of the
elements ofcrops are consumed and wasted,
less must remain.
Having stated the case fairly, so that all
may see that something more than deep
hllage is needed, we still contend that no
one can give good reason for blowing
four inches deep, that will not apply with
equal force in favor fplowing eight inches.
Ground broken eight inches is less liable
TO wash than it is when plowed only four
inches. Men of experience will confirm
the truth Of this remark in all the States,
and all must admit that the clements of
crops are valucless except to form the pro-
ducts Of rural industry. The grand de-
feet in American agriculture, as now con-
Quoted, is, not so much in the mechanical
part of the business, as in the neglect to
husband the things that really make human
food and rainent. In the popular under.
standing, bag of cotton weighing 4OO
pounds, is nothing before the plants grow
that yield the cotton. 100 bushels of corn
in the crib can be seen and comprehended
by all; but the ingredients consumed to
form the grain, which existed in the soil
very few stop to consider in order to learn
their true value. The agriculturist should
have correct idea of the necessity of help
ing the land which is to help him. Among
the millions of farmers in this extended re,
public, how many are willing to help the
land as much as the land helps them. We
fear not one in a Thousand. Nine planta-
tons in ten lack lime; while not one plan
ter in ten supplies the lacking mineral. On
many plantations, FIVE bushels to the acre
would do great good in supplying calca.
rcous natter and we commend this poin,
to the readers attention.