The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-09-25
q MH I GUA! NILA AL, .
DEEP TILLAGE vs.. DROUTH

they are growing. To attain this perfectly,
there is but one way-frcquent stirring and
cultivation-but it can be greatly promoted
by proper preparation OF tho ground lc-
fore tho crop is sown or planted upon it. If
land is deeply ploughcd and thoroughly
pulverized, and at tho same time prepared,
either by the nature Of the suLsol or urder-
draining, for the ready passing off of all
surplus water, it will remain for long time
in MT t and mellow state. But shallow
plough or that with retcntvc sub
soil at {. distance below the surface, is
always f become comparatively ster.
lie undel ale influence of dry weather. 4
heavy rain falls, completely saturating the
mellow portion of the surface soil, making
it too wet for the favorable growth of plants
at first, but the surplus water has no outlet
through underdrains or porous subsoil; it
must pass away by evaporation, and the
surface becomes baked and hard under the
process. Whereas, had the soil been deep
and mellow, larger portion Of moisture
would have been retained; the surplus
would have readily passed off, and the cartl,
have been left i'll the condition most favor
able to- rapid vegetation.
| The effects of deep and shallow tillacc
upon the moisture of the soil, is readily OBJ
scrvable by every farmer We have had
occasion to notice it since commencing this
article. Taking up the hoe as an intcrudc
to the pen, we found in spots, where the
plough had but just skinned the surface.
that the soil was baked and dry at least
six inches deep, (as far as we dug among
the stones,) while not three feet distant,
where well ploughed, at two inches deep it
was moist and fresh. Passing through tie
corn field, we found the hills near stone
heaps or stumps were wilted, and almost
burned up by the heat, while those on the
open and well plougbcd space around were
fresh and vigorous. Ihe fineness of the
soil also has considerable influence; any,
thing like Jumps, however small, will not
retain moisture like that well pulverizcd
and deep. This may he frequently noticed
ON head lands. where the soil is always in
finer tilth from tho more frequent passage
of the plough.
Some years since, in preparing piece of
ground for the crop, portion of it was
thoroughly subsoiled, SO that the whole
soil was stirred to the depth of eighteen
inches, and made fine and mellow. The
remainder had only the usual preparation,
and to this day slight drought affects the
shallow part, while ono long continued and
severe is scarcely felt by the crops where it
was deeply titled.
In greater or less degree this is found to
be the case on all soils, and proves conclu-
sivcly that subsoiling is not for one year
that its effects will continue for many years.
1t has been found, wc would remark, that
ploughing ten inches in depth, or even
eight, upon porous subsoil, would act
very beneficially in preventing the effects
of drought.
loed crops need not suffer SO severely
from dry weather, as spring grains and
grass must do. The soils must be kept
clean and mellow by frequent cultivation,
which all farmers and gardeners know is
very beneficial in this respect It is true
that the evaporation of moisture is greatest
from light soil, but it is also true that it
receives moisture moro readily and largely
from all the sources which supply it.
There is little or no dew upon the beaten
path, while the path at its side drips with
wet The fresh turned earth receives q
much larger supply than that upon which II
hard crust has formed-it penetrates farther,
an dhence passes off more slowly. OF flight
showers, this is also true. Hence the
more mellow the soil, the less it suffers
from lack of rain when covered with grow
ing plants.
Deep and thorough tillage is the best
preventive of the effects of drought, and
the best preparation for growing profitable
crops, whatever be the character of the soil
or weather.-Moor's Rural New Yorker.
Gooa.-A young man from, the town of
s., in Richlapd county, Ohio, having
determined to. celebrate the "Glorious
Fourth" visited Cleveland on tha. occasion,
accompanied by a fair dsmsel. The young
man never having been much from "hum," !"
was somewhat unaccustomed to the usages
Of this world" lie put up" at the Wed
dell and ordered dinner, which, ip due time
being announced, the young gallant boldly
walked in to sumptuous repaat, leaving
the young lady alone in the sitting-room.
After partaking of meal that |" astoniahsd
his bowels" lie returned to his companion
who was rather surprised dat this proceed
ing--and remarked !: The dinner ,ca.
dar,.sd good, why .don't you buy you some p,
The above is an actual fact, which we can
yopch for. The young lady wac sixteen
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