Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-04-28

L
vision of nature that, as these worms increase
so do the parastical foes which feed upon ane
DESTROY them. But for this the consequences
would be terrible indeed to ell the hopes Of the
agriculturist.-National IntelAgencer.
From the American Farmer.
PROFITABLE FARMING.
Farming to be profitable, must be thorough
| It must be we'll done i'll all its departments. Tt
have good land, or to expend money in buying
manures, and have the ground insuficiently
drained, and imperfectly ploughed, and careless
! ly cultivated, is very wasteful economy. On the
other hand, to be at the cost of fencing anc
draining, and thoroughly ploughing and cultiva
| ting poor and unmanured soil, is a heart break
| ing business In either case the work is hal
done, and had as we'll have been left undone. II
does not pay. In farming, as in other affairs
"a thing worth doing at all, is worth doing we'll.
The first necessity of soil for cropping, is its
thorough breaking and loosening to certain
depth, not merely to make room for the roots o
plants to extend and ramify, but to ensure tc
them ample and fresh supplies Of air and scater
Water is essential, both as the food of plants
and as the medium through which food is admin
istered to the plant. 1t must be always and
everywhere present to the roots. Nor must it be
stagnant water; which, if not directly poisonous
becomes indirectly noxious by preventing the
influence of fresh air. 1t must be neither toe
much nor too little; just so much as a well con
stituted soil will hold by its power of capillary
attraction, and be not too wet or too dry. The
proper preparation of the soil, therefore, i'm
plies drainage wherever the water lies within q
few inches of the natural extension Of the roots
Otherwise there will be excess of moisture; evapo
ration will make the soil cold and unkind. The
rain water, instead of passing through the soil
warming it and depositing new supplies of am
monia and carbonic acid, and opening the pas
sage for atmospheric influence, flows away over
the surface, wasting its stores, and washing away
the finer particles Of the soil.
The proper preparation Of the land for the
growth of plants, implies next, the turning and
breaking with the pillow 10 a depth not less than
six inches, and as near to twelve as may be done
by gradual deepening. Nor need there be SO
much timdity on this point of turning up the
sub-soil as is usually exhibited. 1t may occa
sionaly contain principles hurtful to vegetation
until it has been for some time exposed to the
action of the atmosphere. 1t is better, therefore
that such plowing be done early; if before OF
during the winter, the better. With all ordinary
soils, however, we should have no fear of break
ing up, even in spring, to the depth Of eight OF
ten inches, and should expect with confidence on
immediate increase of crop. The proper after
cultivation of the crop will keep this subsoil on
the surface and not mix it during the first season
with the body of the soil. 1t will thus be out oi
the range of the roots of plants and act rather
as mulch for the more fertile soil.
A deep soil is absolutely essential as q safe.
guard against the excessive droughts of our sum
mers. 1t is a protection alike against excess
and deficiency of moisture. 1t is like the wool
len cloak of the traveller in IEsop, defense
against the blasting winds Of winter, and the
blighting heat of summer. By its greater pow
er of absorption and retention, it lays up more
ample stores from the bounteous atmosphere
When we consider well the increased capabilities
in this respect, of we'll deepened SOIL its pow,
ers of receiving and holding for future use the
elements which are furnished from the atmoS
phere, and that these elements constitute more
than ninety per cent. of all cultivated plants
and bear in mind too, that the subsoil contains
all the mineral elements which we expect to fnd
in new and uncultivated soil, as much at leus,
as the surface soil had originally, and more than
has been washed down to it by the rains, we al
most excuse the man who considers deep plough
ing universal remedy for the faults of bad cu
tivation.
But profitable culture requires not only due prep
araton of the soil, but ample supplies of the food
ofplantsin in an available condition. Plants, as well
as animals, must be fed, and we'll fed, if we would
grow them proGtably. They must have the right
sort of food, and enough OF it. 1t is the business
Of the intelligent farmer to ascertain, as far as
he can, what clements of food exist abundantly
in his soil, and what, therefore, it is his interest
to supply. Soil analysis, which promised so
much in this direction, years ago. will not help
him. 1t is for all ordinary practical purposes OF
no avail. But the indications of chemical in.
vestigations may prove useful.
Of the organic food of plants, water composed
of oxygen and hydrogen,) and carbonic acid,
carbon and OXYGEN furnish large portion Of
the clements, and these are supplied abundantly
from natural sources. That portion of the or.
ganic elements which seems to be Gefcient in the
natural supply. is nitrogen. Though forming a
does not appear that plants are capable of ap.
proprating it from that source, or that it yields
anything 10 their growth, except so far as it may
exist in the air uncombned, in the SOIL the re.
suit of animal or vegetable decay, and convey
in the dews or rains. That the supply from the
sourcesse is insufficient, if not for food, yet for
other useful and necessary purposes, except in
highly cultivated soils, rich in humus, is made
apparent by the extraordinary effects usually
produced by nitrogenous manures. However
undecided we may be, as to how such manures
act, experience has determined their value, and
fixed the price Of ammonia above that of any
other element of fertility.
Of the mineral elements, that which is es.
teemed of most value, on account of its scarce.
ness, especially upon soils which have been de-.
voted to grain culture, and its necessity for all
cultivated plants, is phosphoric acid. This is
supplied in bones and the Mexican guanos chief
y, and regulates their market value. Other
mineral manures, most frequently used, are car.
Donate of line sulphatc of lime, (plaster of pars
and potash, usually in wood ashes). OF all
these the farmer can best judge for himself which
is most likely 10 afford his crops the deficient
elements Of nutrition, A large portion Of cul
tvators have come to consider it essential to use
something beyond the farm supplies of manure.
1t is o question of economy Of great consequence
to determine for what he shall spend his money.
He should use the best information and the be t
judgment he can upon this point. But let him
not fear to be liberal. Let him be sure not to
withhold that which is essential in the fear of
having to pay for what is not essential. If he
will work his land well he need not be afraid of
the cost of manuring well. These two grand
elements of success must cooperate if We will
farm proftably.
MIXTURE TO DESTROY BuGs.--Mix half pint