Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1853-10-27
AGRftcuETt AL.
SUBSOILING.

BY The British agricultural journals, sub
solling is represented as having already
accomplished worders. In America, the
practice has not as yet prevailed to any We
~ considerable extent and much doubt ap-
pears TO be entertained in some sections, as
to its utility. Some experiments, however
have been made, and the results, in almos,
every instance, have been favorable. |! ie
asserted BY its advocates, and by those who
have practically tested its effects that lands
before deemed almost if not wholly worth
less, for ordinary purposes of vegetable pro-
duciion, have, by This process of ameliora-
ton, become the most productive. Where
there is good depth of vegetable mould
the application of the subsolI plough is or
dinariIy considered snperfuous; but Oh
lands here the active vegetable formation
IS thin, the deepening of the medium, is al
ways important if not indispensable; and
here the subsoil plough produces its legiti-
mate and most valuable effects. One Of The
clearesi, and, in our opinion, mos. irrefrag-
able evidences Of The beneficial effects Of
deeply stirring and pulverizing the soil, is
deducible from the we'll known fact that the
earth thrown from deep excavalions,-such
as cellars, wells, &C., will, if exposed for
some time to the emendalory and ameliora-
ting action of The air and The elastic gases,
imbibe principles of fertility, and become
'ndued with The powers of vegetable pro-
Effectiveness, even without The assistance Of
manure. When first thrown up, such earth
is essentially sterile, and for considerable
length of time, remains in wholly barren
state but in process Of time most obvi-
Gus change is wilnessable, and the surface
graduslly becomes finer, and ultimately
clothed with various kinds of vegetable life.
Subsoiling, therefore, as il will increase the
depth of vegetable medium, and add TO the
resources of the soil by the conversion of
effst substances into active agents, must ne
oessarly prove beneficial, and this to a de-
gree propor,ionale to the depth aud disin-
tegralion Of the soil improved. In most Of
the countries of continental Europe, spade
culture is prac'ised. The cheapness Of la
Dor there, renders the adoption of this prac-
tise economical, and by digging the soil to
the depth Of fourteen inches, or two feet, as
is often the case, the latter is kept in fine
tilh, and a free range allowed to The roots
OF every description OF crop cultivated
Rarely, if ever, with us, is the vegetable sur
face Of our fields worked to the depth Of a
foot, from eight TO ten inches being the av-
erage or maximum depth. This is an error
in our practise which cannot be too soon
remedied; it is rendering poor lands poorer
and must necessarily diminish the profit Of
ell farming operations so long as i, conin-
ues to be p.acised. Subsoll ploughs are
now on sale at most of our agricultural
warehouses, and are so cheap as 10 be
within the reach Of every one. They sre
strong, durably constructed, and will las,
for many years. One plough in neighbor-
hood, would probably be adequate to the
wants Of all, so that i. could be owned in
company, each individual bearing his pro-
portionaI part of the cost Of purchase and
repairs.