Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-06-15
SubsOil Flowing.
BY D. JOHNSTON.

form, yet very ilnperfectly understood in the
South, will be recognized under the head Of sab
soil ploaoing, which does not imply, as is too Of
ten supposed, the turning up of the soil to pro-
digious depth, but is performed by an implement
of very simple construction, following in the fur
row after surface turning-plow, elevating the
subsoi Tor the strata of earth below the reach of
an ordinary turning plow,) allowing it to fall
back upon its original foundation, but not into
its original position, as many descriptions indi-
cate.
Thus the soil may be brought to proper state
of porosity, to any reasonable depth, to admit
the penetration of the atmosphere, and perco-
lation of water, without producing the results
so much dreaded by most southern cultlvators,
that of bringing the so turned barren clay to the
surface, which operation would fall under the
head of trench plowing.
The writer will agree that trench blowing pro-
per is not applicable to general husbandry, nor IS
it advisable but there is method by which the
soil may be deepened by i version without de-
terioration, but with advance of two varieties OF
plowng above referred to. Suppose for exam
pie field to have been broken to the depth of
six inches with the surface plow, and subsoiled
to the depth Of nine inches or any other practi-
cal depth, the heretofore impenetrable subsoil
has been rendered porous and is therefore sus-
| ceptible of being pierced by the roots Of plants
growing thereon, and is also capable of absorb
ing air, water, carbonic acid DC, which it will do.
Thus, it must appear obvious that a portion of
the subsoil, adjacent to the original surface which
has been turned down upon the pulverized sub
strata, must have become enriched from natural
causes which certainly follow that operation al
so much inert fertility existing in the snbsoil will
be brought into action, noXious compounds de-
stroyed, and new formed favorable to vegetation,
by uniting these constituent elements in some
proportion among one another; or some of the
aforenamed elements may unite with others in
duced into the soil by its great mechanical i'm
provement, thereby ensuring to the farmer the
| greatest possible advantage to be derived from
whatever traces of fertility may be existing in
| the soil or atmosphere.
now propose that the next surface plowing
extend one inch deeper than the original, or to
the depth Of seven inches, bringing to the sur
face one inch in depthsof the suhsoil, raised by
the previous sub-soiling, and rendered to some
extent fertile BY some, or all of the various
changes referred to above | would also here
recommend that as much vegetable matter of
chatcuer form, as possible, should turned down
during the second plowing, e., at the time of
turning up the one inch in depth of improved
sulsoil, and be thus brought in contact with the
second strata of sub-soil. By this means the
temperature of the whole mass will become ele-
vated as well as by admission Of the suns heat
through the porosty of the OVERLAPPING surface
SOIL In the decomposition Of the vegetable
matter turned down, if it be considerable, much
good willresult. not only from the degree Of heat
produced, but from the mingling of elements
composing two highly contrasting substances,
brought in juxtaposition, neutralizing and des-
troying such as are prejuoicial, and outstanding
in the great storehouse mechanically formed by
the farmer such as are truly available to the
growth of vegetation trust that it will thus
be seen that any farmer wishing to improve his
SOIL may by exercising the rules above laid down,
with proper judgment and skill, permanently i'm
prove its texture to the depth of one inch every
year, until he shall arrive at the maximum ca
pacity of his implements for deep tillage.
have before stated that good crops, could be
produced on new lands, without observing the
minutie of cultivation, but every adept in the
science will agree with me, that as the soil be-
comes exhausted the product deterorates annually,
until not enough is realized to defray the ex.
pense of cultivation e. e.. take old fields thrown
out of employment in Maryland Virginia, the
Carolinas, and perhaps some portions of our
own beloved State, we may enquire, what is the
cause? 1t is this! The whole product suscep-
tible of removal, has been carried off the land,
no more to be returned; that which could not
be removed, has not been plowed in and saved,
but with the most soluble and, therefore, the
most Immediately available ingredients of the
soil has been washed down the nclinations of
the surface TO some adjacent stream, over the
subsoil so admirably fitted for soater bed, in
addition to its natural tenacity, by the conden-
sing and solidifying friction Of plow-shares for
years. Over this impervious bed, may be seen,
shower after shower hurting into oblivion every
element Of fertility, whether natural or artificial.
Therefore the whole strength of the soil has not
been exhausted by cropping. 1t will also APP
pear obvious that the sub-so cannot have be-
come extremely rich from filtration, for, as the
removal of all fertile elements of the soil, by
washing, implies soluble condition, it necessa-
rilv follows, that such removal must be in the
direction of the fluid holding such elements in
solution; but the subsoil being, as nine-tcnths
of them are, nearly impervious to water, the
conducting fluid Of the mineral, animal, and
vegetable pabuum of plants in solution, the Only
Of arc in which II can be assipated, it is clear