The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1858-06-16
DRAINING DEEpRNs THE SOIL.


DRAINING DEEPENs THE SOIL.
The effects Of thorough draining in deep
ming the soil, are readily seen in compari-
son Of the characteristics Of those wet and
retentiye, with those either naturally or arti-
ficially Of a. porous nature.
! All heavy soils must be shallow from the
influence of stagnant water-of water which
saturates the surface, not being able to pass
away BY filtration. Every fall Of water gives
mortar-like consistency to such a soil, and
as the moisture passes Oft by the slow process
Of evaporation, il becomes baked and brick
| like, instead Of light and friable.
| II plowed when wet. il is entirely unfit for
the growth Of crops; il stirred when dry, it
turns up ia clods and Jumps in either case,
il is only after much labor that any finely
pulverized earth is obtained TO support and
nourish vegetable growth, and an inferior
crop is ever the result. Saturation without
filtration, kills the productive power of any
soil--makes it hard, shallow and sterile, how
ever rich in every element of fertility il may
| be, when Differently situated in the single
circumstance Of drainage.
| Porous or we'll drained soils, on the con-
trary, never retain, even if they become sa-
turated with water. The surplus moisture
filtrates at once into the drains, leaving the
surface loose and lriabe. Such soil can be
plowed at any seasonable time, and turns up
mellow earth, readily fitted as seed-bed for
any crop.
Such soil invites the roots Of plants down,
Offering them food instead Of stone-like
earth, and every year deepens the area of
4 ,nt.I che full Ianfh tc
reached TO which il has been drained.
That draining deepens the soil, We will
bring a single instance TO show-one which
confirms every point stated above.
Ii is condensed from a letter from that
pioneer drainer and pioneer of good farmers,
John Johnston. near Geneva, n. Y, and was
published in the Country Gentleman Of Jan.
l9, 1854. He says:
Last Spring concluded TO pow clayey
field, containing forty acres, only once for
: wheat, and that after harvest. Previous to
draining il was one of my wettest fields, and
lin dry weather, even in April and Nav, was
very hard TO plow, often having TO get the
Golfers aud shares sharpened every day,
when we used wrought-iron shares. Owing
to the great drnught before, during. and after
harvest, GOT large plow made, so that
} could put two or more yokes OF cattel and a
pair Of horses 20 il if necessary. Immediately
after harvest we started for the field, oxen
and drivers, .plowmen and horses and be-
sides. new shares on the pows, took otheI
new shares along, expecting 10 be obliged "a
change every day.
When we got 10 the field, had one mar
! put pair Of horses before the large plow
and try TO open the land with shallow fur
row.
lie went seventy rods away and back with
out even a stop, except when the close
choked the pillow. | then put the pillow dowi
4 to eight inches. and after one round, I,
: nearly ten, and he went around without an.
le trouble.
. Ills iurrow was over nine inches deep. an,
laid a. perfect as could be. then had on
woke nl Sxen put behind my smallest horses
: and pair Of horses before each Of my Othe
plows. and they plowed the field with per
feet ease, only changing shares twice.
Although the field was undoubtedl
pInwed at the rate Of nine inches deep, ye
the clover roots vent deeper, and the Ian
plowed up as mellow as any loan; wherea,
had il not been drained, il would have brok
up W luHNr - 80 Aht hNua'S - ~ - y
oxen. A lew years ago, neighbor broke U
a field about the same season, and simila
land, but not drained, and after culti,atin:
rolling aud narrowing. he had to employ me
aud mallcts TO break the Jumps, before i
could yet mould 10 cover the seed and aitC
he al did not get the third Of crnp of eth,
wheat or straw. Nv wheat Looks as well !
. any ever was, aud doubt not il will be
: good CROP
Those farmers, and they are not few. vi
:. have had experience 10 the cultivation
: clayey soils when dry. or IN any state, vi
ii not wonder that Mr.. Johnston exclaimed, ,
finding this great change in the depth a.
Irability Of this Clas bed, - never was mo
= agreea6ly surprised 10 my liie-in fact. b
my men been plowing in gold dust. as th,
DO 10 California. should have been no mo
ing pleased" This great change was the sir
.n pie effect Of thorough drainage--the soil,
~ anger compelled TO remain saturated vi
water, lost its brick aud mortar charact,
aud became live or al least an active a
= productive soil, ready 70 reward the labor
The farmer. County Gentleman