The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1853-11-30
From .lle w.akias Farmer.
DEEP AND SJ3,soIL PLoWlEa.
Beil-E,.,.if. M..i.ile 90. Ala. !
June II. 1883.


pRsF. Jas. j. MArXs-Dfar Sir
Since about the FIRST ii March, Ne have
suffered a drought unprecedented at
this season. For nearly fur months
there has been bnt one ram. and far
over three not a shaver suilicieid Go
la, the ,lnst. you can Judge oi' the ef.
lects Of such drought IN sectiun
where skinning the surface Is the uni-
,rrsal practice | know many fields
uf corn Tram which aiozcn good roast
ing vars cannot be found IL the acre.
As am the only one IN my neighbour
hond who has enjp.cd roa a>tln, ears and
water melons this season, and nv ras..
illustrates the benefit Of deep working.
| will dwell little on it, Abont tie
first Of March. prepared a patch for
melons. by spadins the ground 4 good
fourteen inches IN depth. On thls !
planted corn Ia rows eight feet apati
aud from two 10 three feet IA the rows,
and meluns between the rnws. The
melons were the crop AIMED at, aud the
corn was planted as an accessory Tor
shade to the melons and roasting rtrs.
4 patch was prepared in still grelnd
in like manner, with tie add.tion oi
open bitches, abnut the middle Of the
same month. and planted. No other
culture was gwen. than Keeping the
surface mellow aud free of grass With
the hoe. From both these pairbes |
have enjoyed aud am c,goying both
mclons and roasting ears. Of FAR size
and excellent qualils, although patch
No. ! received but one ram, IA after
il was plaute.l) and M. has j been
wet since the sees III the
-rAuai. -. -~
To show the depth TO which britain
roots will descend in dry season,
will state that from field planted in
beets, carrots and parsnips, about the
last Of January, and which received nd
rain since the Sd or 4th day h March,
| pulled parsnip. the root of which
measured three feet six or eight inches,
the end breaking Oft at point where
twas OF the size of my little finger.
frequent specimens have dug meas.
uring from two and half to three feet
III spite Of the drought, have had fine
bcc;s alsu Irnm the same field, though
| confess the crop has not turned out
as had reason toexpect when lplant'
cd, nor as it would haze done with i
good season. Of the three, the carrot.
seem to have done the best, though boil
my beets and parsnips are quite a.
! goud as are generally seen in this sec
tion. The ground IN which they wcr
planted, had been thoroughly workc,
to an unusual depth ; in quality it is !
: fine light loan.
~ Having confined myself so far t
! facts, permit me to indulge little il
4 atheory. see with surprise that North
! ern farmers object TO the sub soil pillow
], on account of their turning up the sui
!. suiI, and that these are now Improve
. ss.as merely 10 ,lisintegrate it withm
/, turiaKg it up. How i, this: Is no
spade culture admitted to be superic
to anx,1pther, and is not the trenchin
Of grouna, tn 4 .reat depth (the 50
being completely esersed, resorted
in gardens as the Nerr best means
improving them? nq,kShat the NOR
perfectly the sub soil IS Brought to tn
!, surface the better, and give the follow
y ing as my reasons foi that opinion:
! list. The sub isoH being merely diy
=. de,l at the depthis sf fourteen or mo-
~.lincNes, aud lett at ehat depth, will |
but littfe Affected By the atmospher
and rain admitted. u course Of tin
: it will again pack and sgsume its 70
= mer condition, or ,cry hear it. Ii,
!. the contrary, it be br5fght to the 81
lie face, it will receive benefit By all Il
ameIiorative Influences Of the atmu
phere, rain, solar heat, &c. lttextu
will be changed, and finally it will b
come surface soll. But the top s.
turned, undergoes no deterioration b
:. by its porosity, greater than that ot
~ !, sub soil however well divided, it W
: admit the atmospheric influences er
to the soil under it.
ID. The abMe positions being C
rect, it follows that the land will
more easily sub soiled again when
uuired, and also that less freque
use Of the sub soil plow will be needc
fr. Sd. The sub soil containing a gre
nd er portion Of alumina. ut not Of rarb
:, :, and eulphatcs,) is the best calcuiat
" to retain the ammonia received IL,