Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-03-21
SUB.SOILlNG.

iasiler even to Smell of the basket.
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SUB-S0ILlNG.
IT is too late in the day Of progressive
improvement to inAct upon our readers an
essay upon the benefits and nature Of sub.
soiIing. We trust that most Of our farmers
are well posted upon this important subject,
and we only throw out a few hints upon its
practical advantages.
Aswe are not-strictly speaking-a farm
ing people, but might more properly be
styled planting people, we have. not the
time to test thoroughly the benefits OF sub
soiling. The farmer, or rather planter, who
is engaged in the raising Of Cotton, is com.
peIled from dire necessity, to make Cotton
the chief object of his attention. So far as
the culture of Cotton is concerned we have
but little or no use for the sub-soil plow, ex-
cept it be in giving the land that thorough
preparation, which is regarded by all good
farxnzrs as the most efficient labor bestowed
upon the crop.
1t is we'll established fact, that it takes
about fourteen months in the year to make
Cotton crop; and when that time is sub
tracted from the term of an ordinary year,
it is obvious that most of our planters will
have but little time to sub-soil their land.
\ very great benefit may now be derived
from the sub-soil plow, if used in planting
Corn. We would here suggest, that the
farmer has more time in planting corn, both
to subsoil and manure, than in any other
stage of The crop. AS the present spring
has been one unprecedented for weather IA
vorable to the preparation Of land, &C., we
presume that every farmer has at least 80
DAYS in which to sub.soil, manure and plant
his corn. In the ordinary mode, it will not
take more than or 8 days to plant the corn
crop, and If we would spend th-ibble that
time in manuring properly and subsoilng
thoroughly, before planting, the corn would
,heu be in the ground full early, and we
would be sure of yield in autumn, to cor.
respond with the amount of labor bestowed.
We believe the new Iron Plow to be the
best subso plow now in use. lake this
pluw aud run sub soil furrow in the wake
Of one n,ade bv the common scooter, and
thea i,ed on it and plant, covering with
double plo~. Then side your corn with
the same sub.sol furrow as deep as the
stou,est mule can draw it, aud plow out the
row with II long scooter, for the first work.
ing The second working should be good
hoeing The next working should be siding
with 4 wiug.scooter. not too near the corn'
followed with another subsoi! lurrow, plowed
out with the wing scooter The last plow.
ing should he with sweep, and you will
then perhaps have "corn to sell and to
keep" If you don't believe it, try it, and
report your failure.
We extrac, the following from the South.
ern CuItivator:
Deep Subsoilug is the very thing for
corn, in any and all kinds OF sandy soils.
Il do not mean turning up" for that have
proved, to my sorrow, will not do.) Last
year plowed around my corn with a small
subsoil plow, made at my shop, as near like
genuine subsoil plow as could remember,
having never seen but one. 1t struck my
fancy that sandy lands could be helped with
such; and rs | HAD no chance to send for
one, had to make them at home. WAS very
cautious not to allow them to lean either
way, as there was danger Of cutting the
corn roots, and used them next to the last
blowing | gavo my corn before laying by,
Just as close as they could be run to it, and
Just as the drought was beginning to do
haru,. The land is a very light, sandy soil,
which my neighbors said was worn out.
This was my second crop on it, and gath
cred little the rise of twenty-one bushels,
measured corn TO the acre, besides peas,
and what the squirrels ate off Of it. This
looks small by the side of the rich prairie
and river bottom ands-but it must bo re-
membered that this is (said to be) "worn
ou, land" and the first experiment. What
satisfies me that the subsoling is what made
my corn, is, that one of the very nelghbors
:hat ridieuled my fancy notion, " made an
entire failure on the same kind Of land,
where nothing but Il lane divides u.s.
Ny mode of farming differs from every
one in my neighborhood; therefore am the
general laughing. g.stock for all-but | think
the smiles are vanishing, aud turning to as
tonisbment and wonder. Last year my farm
was visited from several quarters; and it
was given up by all that my crop could not
be surpassed do not claim to be farm.
er, but desire to make myself one, and
thiuk | shall, if your very useful paper
lives, to which am much indebted for my
success in tho main, so far.