Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-04-25

BIZ GEO. E. wARINe, JR.
The first question concerning the prepar-
alton of the soil should be How can ]
strengthen it? 1t has an arduous task to
perform and unless fortify it in those parts
which are most subject to the plant it must
be weakened This weakening may not be
apparent at once but in one year, or in ten
or more years, it must be very evident. A
soil may raise good crops without manure,
but it must be very good soil to endure this
course for long time, and in any event it
must sooner or later suffer from the practice.
This being the case, we should manure every
field on which We expect to raise a crop, no
matter whether rich or poor. In applying
manure, We should bear constantly in mind
that all undecomposed organic matters pro-
duce,in decaying, fertilizing gasses,whose in
variable tendency is to escape into the air,
and that, to secure their greatest action, they
should be plowed under the soil, when these
resuitent gases viii be absorbed and retain
ed for the use Of plants. Mineral manure
on the contrary, such as lime and plaster,
have tendency to settle in the SOIL and
should consequently be applied to its surface
after blowing. Having spread our organic
manure over the SOIL We should proceed to
plow it, and in this work we have certain
rules for our guidance. No lands, except
very light sands, should ever be plowed
while wet, as they work moro easily, and
are left in much better condition when tol-
erably dry. For spring work, the more
completely sod can be covered and the more
smooth the surface can be left, the better
viii be the plowing-other things being
equal; because the object being to produce
m even and friable surface, free from grass
or weeds, the course to be pursued is just the
opposite Of that which should be employed
in the fall, when the object Of plowing is
simply to leave the surface so rough that
the largest possible amount of soil shall be
exposed TO the action of frosts.
In spring plowing, the surface plow should
be run as deep as may be without interfer-
ing with the smoothness of its furrow, pro-
yided, in case the subsoil is much poorer
than the surface soil, that so much of this
be not elevated as will interfere with the
early growth of the plant. When this
marked distinction exists between the sur
face soil and the sub-soil, the surface furrow
may in all cases be run one or two inches
deeper than at the previous plowing with
advantage. The loosening of the sub-soil
by the use of the sub-soil plow may be made
highly proyitable in all soils not containing
an excess of water. The sub-soiler should
follow in the furow of the surface plow,
and be run as deep as possible. This will
ensure to any crop full supply of water
and viii greatly extend the feeding surface
offered to its roots.
In no case should the aggregate depth of
the surface furrow and the sub-soil cut be
less than fifteen inches when this depth is
attainable. Narrowing, as means of at
tainng an even surface, is, on a majority of
soils, eondemnable practice. Still, as near
ly every farmer in America employs this
means, and as they cannot be made to aban-
don it by coaxing or driving, we can only
recommend that the surface of the soil be
left in blowing so as to require as little of
it as possible. The wedge shape of the har-
row tooth causes the soil to be compacted
below the immediate surface which is pull
verized, while the necessity for passing re-
peatedly over the soil to complete the Oper-
alton, causes further compacting by the feet
of the team. Could the harrow frame be
furnished with eultivator teeth, it would be-
comes a more sensible implement The eul-
tivator teeth, being large at the bottom, ele-
Eate and loosen the soil, like double plows,
while the spaces between the teeth are so
small that once going over the ground in
most soils viii complete the operation.
The harrow, however, even with this en-
proyement, is primative tool, and must in
time be radically changed. Perhaps a
cheaper modification of Croskili's Clodcrush-
er Is. destined to occupy its place in general
use. Having our land manured, plowed
and narrowed, it is in condition to receive
the crop, and when in this state of prepar-
alton it is usually esteemed perfect. Many
soils-indeed all that are not very wet or
very stif-are susceptible ofthe roller. This
having broad surface of contact, does not
compact the soil to any great extent, while
it completely pulverizes the upper portion of
the soil which is to receive the seed, COM
pletes the leyeling process, and presses all
small stones into the soil, so that if the land
is to be moved, no impediment will be offer
ed to the sythe or moving machine. If the
roller can be used after seeding, it hastens
and insures the termination Of the seed,
because it congresses the earth more closely |
about it and excludes the air more perfectly
which tends to aid the process of sprouting. |
Ny own roller is preceded by heavy rake,
which assists in pulverizing the soil and
covers the foot tracks of the team. This
rake is supplied with foot-brake, so that
the driver may raise it at pleasure to pass
over stones or 70 and from the field. l con-
sider it a very valuable addition.
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