The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-05-31
for tbe turner's.
PlOWing.
BY A. G. COMING.

:, W 20 knows how and when to plow
To understand the one simple matter Of plow-
ing, is one of the great things necessary to good
farming. If there is among all your intelligent
readers, a man to be found who knows all about
splowing, he ought to write book for the IN
.struction of the rest of mankind.
s4s In my intercourse with farmers, it has become
very evident to me that there is no settled and
understood theory of blowing. Concerning the
fftimes aud depth of plowing, every man has his
ideas; and there is no common understanding OF
any settled principle of action for different soils
and the soils of different attitudes, and different
inchnations, and different exposures.
-. There are "a thousand things" to be. known
about this one important part of the farmers
work. ~ >:
= The different kinds of soil, from the lightest to-
the. heaviest, will vary the necessary work OF the
plowrnan. Tbesman who would plow stiff, clay
soiIs, in thesame precise manner thatshe would
( light, SANDY soils, is the man who would perhaps
$ live to learn to do differently.
Those who write about plowing, if am not
much mistaken, take into view too few'items.
sWesee but little from the pens of the best wri-
tiers, except upon the questions of shallow or
deep plowing, fall or spring plowing, sod plow-
! ing, stubble plowing, subsoil plowing, DC.
! Ifwetake up the single subject of fall plowing
the whole matter requires that we consider the
kind of sol, the present state of the SOIL how it
will be exposed to the frosts of winter, how it
will be effected by washing in the spring, how
It may be exposed to the action of wintry winds;
and, in addition to this the farmer is to consider
whether the turf will be more readily decompos-
ed and the soil more readily and suitably pre-
pared for use the next season. for the production
of the peculiar crop which is desired
If we are considering spring plowing, the sub
iect involves a great variety of peculiar points,
as to the dryness and warmth of the ground be.
fore blowing, how deep each particular piece Of
ground should at the time be plowed, how the
furrows for each different piece should be turned,
what kind Of plow will do the work best, what
will do it easiest, what will do it quickest, and
what piow, considering these points together,
should be used and how should the plowman
hold the plow, to secure the best performance in
the shortest time, and with most ease to himself
and his team.
If we are considering the depth Of blowing,
very many things are to be considered, and ought
to be understood There must be considered,
the state of the soil and the amount of manure
to be put upon it for an immediate crop, for the
production of what may be necessary the first
year; ;the depth necessary for the continued fer
tiity of the soil, the depth necessary for ground
much exposed to drought, for land much expos
ed to wet, for sidehills where heavy rains are apt
to wash them, for long cultivated land which has
never been pl5wcd deep, and for land which has
never before been plowed. Besides, there is the
question between the action Of the Subsoil Plow
and the Michigan Double Plow.
five inquire whether furrows should be laid
flat and smooth, it must be considered whether
the peculiar soil or the peculiar season of the
year. when the peculiar soil is piowed, has any
bearing on the question.
All these things, and very many others, have
relation to the subject of plowing.
There are certain fixed laws in nature, which
the well instructed plowman must understand.
These are not to be regarded as either acciden-
tai or providcntia They do not happen. They
are as naturally to be expected as the moons
changes are They should, therefore, be consid-
cred and understood.
There are also probabilities to be anticipated
by the farmer These relate to the heat and
cold of the seasons-to wet and dry-and to
other circumstances which we may call Prov-
dental probabilities.
To know how, and when to pow, requires that
a man should be a wise man, man Of under
standing, and a real philosopher Agriculture
calls for the services of such men.
Only one out of many among men are ac-
ouainted with the reasons in favor of deep plow-
inr. Few consider the difference of soils, and
the location and the situation of soils, as regards
the subject Of fall plowing.
90 to farmer, and ask his opinion in refer
ence to the practice of fall plowing. He sgrcat-
ly in favor of it, and is eloquent in advocating
the practice. 60 10 another and find him
strongly opposed to the practice. Both are tl,ri-
wing farmers and each tells me that he has
proved his theory ty years of practice, in which
he has tried both ways. Both this does not
settle the question. find that the peculiaritie;
Of the SOIL and the other circumstances whicl
have an influence upon the different soils, quite
explain the matter. 1t is not proven, that The
nractice is useful under all circumstances, no
useless under all.
Farmers have got very much to learn, ant
whoever understands this matter fully, if an
man dos, owes to tn" public something whic
will open our blind e?y"s.