Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-04-23
want of the requisite amount of moisture in the soil Il
prevent its temperature from becoming too high.


prevent its temperature from becoming too high.
All nearly all these excesses and defects might
and have been remeded moderated 10 great extent
by introducing deep and thorough SYSTEM Of tiHage
A wise and improved system of managing labor,
would dictate that the twenty horses taken in the oh-
er case for Illustration should be coupled and attach
ed TO half the number of ploughs and consequently
qure only Ten hands for theft management; Thus. IN
the first place. will appear that just half the expense
of manual labor will be saved; and in the next place,
the double-team, with turning plough cutting from
ten thIteen inches in width in siubbe ground, and
from twelve fifteen inches wide in greehsward, with
one hand will break up greater area IN gwen time
than two hands with single poughs, provided The lat
Ter shall plough "close enough TO disturb The whole
surface. The mean depth OF the furrows OF the hst
class turning ploughs in fair hands, may DC taken at
six inches. although always exceed seven; there,
fore, it will be perceived that with half the number OF
hands using improved implements. and allowing the
same 10 the horse. just twice much earth will
have been cleanly and systematically broken in the
use of the common one.horse bu f.ongue.
For sake of illustration, will reduce the two sys
TENS figures. Allow the labor of negro and horse
to be worth one dollar per day. and we have, upon he
southern plan for our supposed number of ploughs
and horses at dollar per day for one week, one
hundred and twenty dollars equal to dollar per
for breaking land to the depth of three inch
Now, If it be worth one dollar per acre 10 break
land three inches deep. it is certainly worth twice
much, two dollars per acre, 10 break it SIX inches
deep, our calculation then would stand thus:
Under the old System.
20 horses and hands, one week, ploughng three inch
~~f' Under the ,rnprorcd system
20 horses and ten hands, week poughng six inch
Labor of ten hands saved at 80 cts per day 80 90
Deduct value of weeks poughng under old system $20 90
Balance in favor of Improvement $50 90
Nor is this ALL Tn adopting the improved style of
OlOu0hlnp. "A
soil for The uxuriance of the Of plants growing
thereon below the action of frost in winter and the
injurious effects of the in summers but its value
agrea stoehouse for the absorption and retention of
rain water in times OF excess, preventing washing 10
certain extent, retaining the moisture below the inAu
ence of evaporation, TO be carried up by capillary at
traction in times of drouth, with the various nutrient
principles which il holds in solution 10 be gathered up
by the spongoles and assmilated by plants, thus i'll
creasing directly their vigor and growth the time
when shallow ploughed lands, previously explained
have lost all their moisture by evaporation, and the
plants growing upon them are entirely unable TO de-
rive from the soil that susenance essential 10 vita
ty.
Where The common southern process of ploughing
practiced the refuse of crops and other vegetable
matter, such stubbles, stalks pea-vines crab
and other grasses, manure from the farm yard,
pens, &c, is scattered about the surface, per-
haps, often occurs, the grass and stalks are
hauled by the poughs into piles that nothing at all
will grow under them, and 10 say nothing of the loss
of this great of vegetable NATTER the nconve
nence of it is SO great that many occupants of land
Q would not call them farmers,) collect it into large
heaps and burn it, thereby destroying entirely The veg
etabe portion and leaving the mineral incomhust-
BILE ingredients of the wherever a bunch of this
&c troublesome refuse" might happen to have bee:l
gathered. And after all this, remark "Orr lands
of late seem 10 gather bad can't work them
We must have fresh land if compelled to go 10
Oregon for it,"
On the other hand. the improved farmer starts his
ten double ploughs with his ten spare hands before
them, with hoes ground sharp. knives for the pur-
pose, cut ing stalks into pieces about foot in
length and if any accumulation of rough vegetable
matter should not be turned under, one of the spare
hands at in the furrow be covered by
the next round. Thus every portion of the work is
carried on with the most perfect system, ease and
teams which is object of the highest consideration
d. JOHNSON.
Calhoun. Co. Jnnuaru 1852