The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-11-08
for tbe farmers.
From the Working Farmer.
Deep and SUb-sOI Flowing.
BELL -EsPoIR Mobile CO, ALA.
,Juae 81. 1858.

PRoF. Jas. j. MAPES-Uear ST.:-Slhce a.
bout the first of March we have suffered
drought unprecedented at this season. For
nearly four months there has been but one rain
and for over three, not shower sufficient to
Law the dust You can Judge Of the effects Of
such a drought i'll n section where skinhing the
surface is the universal practice. | know OF
many fields of corn from which a dozen good
roasting ears cannot be found to the acre. As
Fam the only one in my neghborkood who has
enioyed roasting ears and water melpns this
season, and my case illustrates the benefit Of
deep working, will dwell little on it. About
the:frst of March, prepared patch for mel
ons, by spading the ground good fourteen
inch in depth. On this | planted corn in rows
eight feet apart, and from two to three feet in
the rows, and melons between the rows The
melons were the crop aimed at, and the corn
was planted as an accassor for shade to the
melons and roasting ears. A patch was pre-
pared in stiff ground in like manner, with the
addition of open bitches, about the middle of
the same month, and planted. No other cul-
tire was given, than keeping the surface mel
low and free of grass with the hoe. From
both these patches have enjoyed, and am still!
ENJOYING, both melons and roasting ears, Of fair
size and excellent quality, although patch No.
received but one rain, Just afterit was plantcd)
and No. 2 has never been wet since the seeds
were put in the ground.
TO show the depth to which certain roots
will descend in dry season. will state that
from field planted in beets, carrots, and pars
nfIis, about the last of January, aud which re-
ceiyed no rain since the 81 or 4th day Of March
pulled parsnip, the root Of which measured
three feet eight inches, the end breaking off at
point where it was the size of my little finger.
Frequent specimens have dug measuring from
two and a>half to three feet. In spite of the
drought, have had fine beets also from the
same field although confess the crop has not
turned ont rs had reason to expect when |
planted, nor as it would have done with good
season. Of the three, the carrots seem to have
done the best, though both my beets and Pars-
nips are quite us good as are generally seen in
this section The ground in which they were
planted, had been thoroughly worked to an un
usual depth; in quality it is a fine light loan.
Having confined myself so far to facts, per-
NIT me to indulge little in theory. l see
with surprise that Northern farmers object to
sub soil plows on account of their turning, up
the sub-soil, and that these are now improeed
so as merely to disntrgrate it ithout turning
it up. How is this! Is not spade culture ad.
mitted to be superior to any other, and is not
the trenching Of ground to a great depth (the
soil being completely reversed,) resored to in
gardens as the very best means of improving
them? Ihold that the more perfectly the sub.
soil lie brought to the surface the better, and
give the following as my reaSolis for that opin.
ion:
lst. The sub.soil being merely divided at the
depth of fourteen or more inches, and left at
that depth, will be but little affected by the
atmosphere. aud rain admitted. In the course
oftime it will again pack and renew lis former
condition, or very near it. 1t, Oh the contrary,
it be broug hit to the surface, it will receive and
benefit hy all the ameliorative influences of the
atmosphere, rain, solar heat, &c. Its texture
will he changed and finally it will became sur.
face SOIL But the top soil turned, undcrgoes
no deterioration but by its por"sity, greater
than that of the sub-soil however well divided,
il will admit the atmospheric Influences even to
the soil under it,
I'd. The above positions being correct, it fol
lows that the land will he more easily sub.
soiled again when required, and also that
less frequent use Of the sub.soil pluw will be
needed.
3d. The subSoil containing a greater portion
Of aInmina, (ii not OF carbon and sulrhat.s,) is
the hest calculated to retain the ammonia re-
c.ived from the atmosphere in rain, &c, and
the most efficient in preventing the evaporation
of the volatile manures applied to the soil.
4,h. If the soil is of too light texture,
bringing the sub soil to the surface will prove
. corrective in most cases. II the soil be too
stiff by thorough di>imlcgrati"n aud frequent
.xposurc of the different strata t. the atn,os-
nbere, the too great tendency will be des-
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