Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-01-23
NUMBER Z.
Deep Flowing.

Now is the time. for plowing deep, when. we
have the aid of winter freezes to soften and pull
verize, and no hot suns to scorch and bake the
EARTH Care should be takennot to operate when
the land is too wet. This is injurious either in
| winter or summer plowings The land is not on
ly injured but it is long before it can be relieved
from the harsh, crlisty formations produced by
such injudicious working. Where there is much
stubble or vegetable matter. a large turning plow
should be used, which viii break deep, and efec-
tually envelope all such matter; there to lie and
decay as much as possible before planting time.
hard or close lands, this operation is beneficial IN
keeping the soil open and light, and hinders much
waste by the washing of the spring rains. It. p
only in such cases as already mentioned that We
are the decided advocates for the use che large
turning plow in Southern culture. We think
| the free and indiscrminate use of these ploWs
have done great damage to our soils, and would
in most cases, when practicable, prefer deep plow
ing without changing very materially the order Of
the surface. The same benefits would be impair
ted to the growing crop if the andcoud be.broke
deep by some subsoH plow, leaving the surface
and the substrata all in the same relation, without
bringing any Of the underlayes to the surface,
and thesoil suffer much less damage and astmueh
longer. Our objection to the deep .turning of
lands applies only to the agriculture Of the South,
where winters are short, and the freeze too slight
for perfect pulyerization often. leaving the land
when the winter closes in rough, decomposed
state, which the clay and underlayers Of earth
unmixed, to burned by our early and long hot
summers suns. We are aware that few cross
plowings in the spring. seem to put all right !;
but We have noticed another thing, ako--that
since the introduction of the turning plow, there
seems to be premature decline Of our lands
days ofthe culture with the scooter and shovel We
remark, that we think most of the mischief has
resulted from the i'll Judged use Of this plowin the
culture of the crop; and that we were not fully
prepared to pronounce against Its use in bedding
and winter breakings. Indeed, we, hsrdly know
how we could dispense with its use IN, our prep
arations. 1t is a remarkable fact, that the Indi-
ans never wear out land. Perhaps it may be re-
piled, they never work enough to wear itsout.--
This will have to remain moqted question; but
if ifsettled,we think it very probable that much of
the reason would be found in their modes Of cua-
ture, and that the soil suffered less by the use Of
the hoe, than by our frequent dpturnings with the
plow. We shall not insist, Of course, that they
furnished models for our adoption, but these ne
suits may have in them LESSONS from which we
may learn something, and upon which we might
improve. It's painful and an alarming disclo-
sure, that the soil is very soon exhausted by ouI
modes Of culture, and it is time that We should
make the inquiry, and see if there may not be
no change for the better. Of the South