Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-06-03
AGRICULTURAL.
Deep RlOuaghjslg.

An entire change oi opinion has taken place
in most Of Eastern Virginia in relation to the
preparation Of the soil for anticipated cropping
Formerly we had plouehs Of the most diminu-
tive capacity, with which the surface Of tho
4, earth vas scraped to the depth of few inches.
and into this riscrably prepared land, seed WAS
cast with reliance on faith. rather than works,
for rcturn. IL was no uncommon thing for
farm OF Eve hundred acres, with half that guam.
thy seeded in wheat, to produce barely enough
to Keep BODY and soul, Of proprietor and ser
wants together, year after year. iIhout dol
lars addition to the Golfers Of the proprietor
a new era has daw ned. and now we find
ploughs Of the largest size brought into use
PIoughs " hich turn up a furrow Of twelve
inches, and then with a subsoil plough loosen
The eArih'six inches lower. Applications Of
= plaster, and clover crop turned under. have
5 worked wonders. and where barren spots ha. e
htlero appeared.there arc now growing iuxu.
: giant crops Of wheat. Anathemas have been
lipoured out upon lands. and they declared un.
Worthy Of working. simply through the igna-
rance, or ~hat is worse. Incidence. Of their
A on ners Nature supplies the elements ofvege
table grow ih every where in profusiop. yet soils
may lack one of the constituent clemens no
cessary to the growth Of Wheat or other crops,
which chemical analysis discovers. and which
can be supplied from come other QUARTER.
Deep ullage preserves the crop from being
flooded by excess Of moisture, and in times Of
extraordinary drouth supplies the root with
insigoraiing supplies from below. We have
ulso seen land made and kept sterile by poxious
OH les, " hich might have been benefited and
greatly improved by the fres admission Of oxy-
gen " hich acts as a corrective. Those " no
have observed therank growth on earth thrown
up on sides Of bitches might learn practical
lesson in r,gari 70 the utility Of bringing up the
= soil frorbelow. and iessoa which they would
do well to practice upon. 40 ' 81
Agricultural chemistry teaches US. says .
writer on this subject. that with the exception
Of mineral substances. such as lime in its multi
form characters Of carbonate. sulphate. phos.
phaie, &c, tia soil itself, abstrac,ly considered,
contains nothing that enters into. or promotes
vegetable growth-thai the elements of vepet-
able life. aud growti,. Dire carbon. hydrogen.
&c, which are derived to the soil in q gaseous
form. principally from the atmosphere and rain
water $780,. .sf-5es ssss1
=. Admitting the truth ofihe theory that plants
derive sustentation from gases communicated to
the suil from the atmosphere and moisture, az
well 40 by absorption by the leaves. then it he.
comes deeply interesting and important in
- quiry to the farmer, by wheat means he can
With the greatest certainty. make the largest
drafts from these store houses for the benefit Of
his crops. eA -
= One method Of prof;ing by these laws Of ma.
sure. unqucs,ionaLly is by deep ploughing-
= The air will penetrate the ground a. deep as it
- thoroughly stirred. The rain will penetrate
s . lille deeper. The more capacious the ~
ceptacle he made the greater will be she a.
mount Of air and water received to be acted
upon. or elaborated BY the SOIL and the greater
win be the amount Of their gaseous properties
yielded as food to the growing crops.-Fred-
ericks6urg Herald eTasFu