Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-03-13


Much IL said In our exchange papers
In favor Of deep ploughing-but gen-
orally we find that all such advice Is
from MN who have but very little
experience In the art Of farming.
AT this leisure season. We ought
to 90 into the inquiry whether we
should. as general rule. turn our
burrows twics ~ deep as our fathers
did, or whether II IL not moro prudent
to 60 deeper as the soil Is more worn,
In order 70 bring up to the surface new
matter which has not been exposed to
the influences Of the sun and the at
mosphere.
Some writer's are now contending
that we ought. as general rule, TO
plough TO the depth Of twelve inches
for Indian corn. Now We insist that
such writer's are leading farmers astray
Young farmers we mean. who 20 by
the book. and have but little experience
in the matter.
Indian corn. OF oil plants. requires
warmth. Hot and dry summers are
the most favorable TO the corn crop
Much heat Is required to mature II
properly before the tenth Of September
when frosts are expected. and when
corn ought to be filed out and harden.
ed. so 50 not to be affected by the frost.
The hottest summers are well known
10 be the most favorablellfor Indian
corn though not for the English
grains.
We very generally have better crops
Of wheat, rye, oats. and barley, In our
cold summer than in our hottest and
dryess, when corn yields us the larges,
harvests In 1916, when the corn
crop was totally destroyed, the English
grains were uncommonly good. We
knew a farmer in Main. who raised
ffty-fve bushels Of rye to the acre
10 that cold summer.
Now when the writers advise US u
plough to the depth Of twelve inches
in order to grow a good crop Of corn,
we have q right to inquire how they
came to this conclusion. Have they
grown many crops. and taken the frs
premiums on corn?-or have they OBJ
tanned small harvests only. and come
10 the conclusion that this Is owing Il
the want Of deep ploushing?
While we admit that farmers gener
ally fail to plough as deep as they shoe
do on their old fields. that have been
stirred for whole century. we objec
entirely to the accommodation OF those
writer's. who urge US to q contrary
extreme. As a general rule. corn viii
produce when the plough goes but 81,
to eight inches, than when it is forced
to 90 twelve inches. lfttl
Root crops Of various kinds. MAY
flourish better 10 a soil ploughed deep
Our seasons are long enough to matur,
them. provided they are planted il
due time. But our Indian corn. does
not require such deep pIoughing. II
fact, it would prove injurious. in most
seasons. to great dspth--for thi'
plain reason, that it would continue
green to long-that the stalks woulc
hold green till the frosts Of September
overtakes them, and find the ears un
prepared for cold weather.
Much depends on the nature Of the
soil. Our pine plains, or sandy plains
will bear a deeper furrow than III,
clay soils will; still. these plains may
be ploughed TOO deep for profit. ant
manures may be buried too deep fo
the benefit CT the crop, even in thcs'
porous soils-though there Is not III,
same danger Of loss3 here. as heav,
soils Astounding in clay.
Lands which have been recently
cleared and brought into cultivation
should not be ploughed very deep
II was an old practice. 10 break up new
grounds with a team of twenty oxel
and a plough Of asize in propotion 4
the team. The plough would Otter
: go to the depth Of twelve inches. an
turn up matter which never saw III
, light before. and never should hav
come TO light till IL was needed to b
mixed with the upper soil.
The modern practice Of breaking
new grounds with one or two yoak 9
} oxen. is not SO expensive by one hal
at the least, and the FIRST crops ar
much better. than when n very dee
r.