Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1852-03-24
From the Ohio Cultivator.
Deep PlOwin.-Its Bene fits.

Deep blowing is generally recon-
mended by agricultural writer's. The
reasons given however, in support of
that practice, though strictly correct
as far as they 60, are usually confin-
ed to the mechanical effect upon the
ground, leaving untouched some OF
the most important considerations
involved in the subject. Deep tillage
is recommended because it preserves
the crop from being flooded by excess
Of moisture and likewise prevents in
Jury in the time Of drouth. 1t also
protects to some extent, winter crops
from frost, often so fatal to the hopes
of the wheat grower.
The reasons are strictly true, and
sre deserving of high consideration.
They have reference, however main
ly, If not entirely, to the mechanical
effect produced upon the soil. But
agricultural chemistry furnishes the
farmer with additional reasons in
favor Of deep tillage, quite as coyent
as those above stated, and of alto
gether a different character. 1t
teaches us that, with the exception of
minor substances, such as lime in its
multiform characters of carbonate
sulphate, phnsphate, &C., the soil it.
|ss3f, abstrActfy considered, coatain.
nothing that enters into, or promotes
vegetable growth--that the elements
of vegetable life andgrowth, are car
bon, hydrogen, nitrogen &c, which
are derived to the soil in gaseous
form, principally from the atmosphere
and rain water. This appears to be
abundantiy established.
Admitting the truth Of theory that
plants derive sustenation from gas
ses communicated to the soil from
the atmosphere and moisture, as well
as by absorption by the leaves, then
it becomes deeply interesting and inn
Portant inquiry to the farmer, by
what means he can with the greatest
certainty, make the largest drafts
from these storehouscs for the benefit
Of his crops.
One method Of proiiting by these
laws of nature, unquestionably is, by
deep blowing. The air will penetrate
the g'oand as deep as it is thor
oughly stirred. The rain will per-
haps penetrate little deeper. The
more capicious the receptacle he
made, the greater will be the amount
of air and water received to be acted
upon, Or elaborated by the soil; and
the greater will be the amount of their
GASEOUS properties yielded as food to
the growing crops. 1t also follows
that the ground should be frequently,
as well as deeply stirred before put
ting in a crop, in order that it may
be fully impregnated with the
principles OF vegetable nutrition
And it would seem to follow, that the
work bestowed in preparation for
crop of corn, for instance, would pro-
duce more marked results than the
same Labor Withheld until the crop is set.
Nature supLes the elements of veg
etable growth in profusion. The in
telligent farmer will endeavor to re-
ceive and profit by what is so album
dainty bestowed by kind Prov
den;e. In now way can this be done
so certainly as by deep and thorough
tllage. Earth raised from a great
depth, apparently destitute of.vcgita-
BILE matter, will, after exposure to the
atmosphere for time produce lux
urient crops. The fecundity must
result from its exposure to the atlnos-
phere. But it does not prove that
matter does not add to the
proIuctiveness Of soil. On the con-
trary, organic matter is another dis
tinct source Of vegetable nutrition,
which should be carefully attended
to.
From these considerations, the ad-
deeply stirring the soil is
clearely manifest. But as ordinary
blowing cannot be carried below
eight or ten inches, there may be ad-
ded to advantage, the Sudsou plor, to
open the earth to an equal depth-to
drain and mellow it, rendering it
pervious to the roots of the plants,
and subjecting it to the action of the
atmosphere and rain. In this way
not only IS the supply of vegetable
matter greatly increased, but often
times land made sterile by the pres
ence of noxious'oxides in the subsoil,
is rendered productive by the free
admission Of oxygen which acts as a
corrective. Nor does it disprove these
principles, that deep blowing on some
lands may be followed by diminish
ed crop. This is frequently the case
in lands which from their peculiar
lehara0tersor 3tera long continued SUI
perficial cultivation, have contracted
hard pan, i.npervious alike to water
and air. In such cases, if subsoiling
were made to precede for year or
more deep blowing, the unproduct-
iveness, when it might advantageous
ly be brought to the surface.
The farmer, then, who practices
the maxim that "deep tillage is supe-
rior tillage," draws more largely from
the soil itself, as well as levies a hea-
vier contribution from the atlnos-
phere and water, which may Justly
be regarded as an unlimited source
of yepeta HE nutrition w