Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-11-17
AGRICULTURAL
D6eping the Soil,

tIIC OVu'
Every practical farmer is aware of the adj
vantage of attaining a deep soil, and yet We
~ few adopt any measures or efforts to Sc.
sure them. Alluvial lands, which are the
result Of regular periodical deposits of sedi-
ment, or mineral detrita intermixed with veg
ctable organisms, are generally of this char
acteT. If we examine their texture we find
that the vegetable mould, or that portion
containing the staple of the soil, is Of variable
depth often from two to four and some six
feet and we also find, when such lands are
protected effcctually from foundations by
dykes or barriers, that they produce more
abundantly, and for a much longer period
without the assistance Of manure, than the
best upland soils do with all the manure and
labor that can be bestowed. In fact, alluvi-
al bottoms may be considered inexhaustible:
under a proper and judicious management
they may be cropped indefinitely, and as
they are almost invariably free from stones,
stumps and other impediments, and are
mostly of a light and highly pulverulent tex
tuTe, they are perhaps the most desirable
and profitable lands a farmer can possess
But the vegetable structure, or staple soil Of
any farm may be increased gradually in
depth, by ploughing and manuring. In
England where most Of the soil is worked to
perfection, and where all gardens and corn
fields are generally improved by spade Gull
ture, which consists in digging the earth two
sPits' deep. e. twice the depth of the
spade blade, the light soil of the under stra.
tum, which is thrown to the surface during
the operation, becomes dark, and being mix.
ed with manure, animal or vegetable, loses
gradually its normal character, and becomes
merged in the vegetable mould, or produc
ing medium of the field. We have all of us
seem the soil from deep excavations-wells
cellars, &C., change in a few seasons, from
a light sandy hue, to the dark and rich foxy
or umber color Of the surrounding surface
soil and this, indeed, where no artistic eff
forts have been made to improve its charac
ter, or capacity it in any way for the produc
ton of cultivated plants. All earth, in al
exposed position, absorbs from the atmos
phero certain elementary substances, recog
niEed as the food of plants. These Rrifet
substances affect not only the color, but tn
phsyical character Of the earth. The fine
it is divided or broken up, the more imme
date and copious will be these absorptions
and the more ~throughly will the soil be ca
paciied to sustain and perfect a crop. A
to subsoiling, | have no doubt that it Wi
prove of great advantage on many soils, bu
what l most desire to see, is a gradual deer
ening of the vegetable medium, or mould
and which can only be effcctually and pc
manently secured by penetrating annual
somewhat deeper with the plough which wi
bosom and bring to the surface a fresh pc,
ton of the substratum to be ameliorated b
tillage and atmospheric influences, while
the same time, a corresponding portion {
the partially emaciating surface soil will
turned down to recuperate by rest. Thel
is no fact in farming more clearly and stronj
y fixed than that soil which possess deptl
possess also, in an increased degree, the pow
er of withstanding drought. Crops on sue
soils, rarely fail for want Of moisture, eve
in the dryest seasons, and remain perfect
green and fourishing, while those on sol
underlaycd with impcrvious clay, compa
gravel, wither and often die. Where rotal
culture is adopted-and there is no 'counte
vailing reason why it should not be-thc fir
quency Of the ploughings will enable t.
operator to accomplish the work Of deeper
ing the soil, without any extra toll. By i
creasing the depth Of Teach subsequent ploug
ing one inch, allowing the first seven inchC
il FIVE Years B, will will haze 2gals q o sell br Q ms f. e.
which will be amply sufficient for all prac
cal purposes, and fully ensure his crops fro
the many unfortunate and often fatal enec
experienced by h~usbandmen as the result
a'poor and shallow soil. 1t has been erl
n%eously supposed by some, that the dark c.
or of tho surface soil or vegetable mould
it is called, is the result of colorino, matte
contained in the manures. They imaci
that these infltrate or wash down duri
rains, and thus impart their color to the s.
through which they pereolate. But we
this the case, we should find the peculi
color which is regarded as Indicating al
characterizing the surface mould or stratu
Of vegetable earth, extending to indcfni
depths. Water sinks into porous soils to
great distance, ard particles Of oxydiz
earth, or mineral matter, would penetra
many yards below the surface, perhaps du
ing a single storm. Waters impreonat
with mineral salts no doubt frequently
impart a tinge to soils through which tn,
~percolate, but such a cause is utterly ina
equate to afford a solution to the pionom
non now under consideration, and by mt
will be regarded as equally unphilosophic
and absurd.
lie that of fha plouob x~o.JI IL.