Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-03-26
Prom tie American AgrieulturIst.


AT first thought il would seem surp,isipr. tbst
practical men should differ rs they do On his topic
For instance, We have before US d II well yyr,et
communications about half Of which cohtend sropel
Ia faver Ct going down to the bottom" while me
otaer halt assert inst TO pillow btl0w four or fSe
inches IS not ouly useless. but actually isiuvoas e.
most crops We caOroi give these eonmuuicatinnsi il
detail, bui We venture the assertion hat b,,h parie
are correct in TIER c,nelusisIs Thtv reason f. m
different 'ints Of oberratiOa Lei Us examine Tic
ma ter a lille.
l. All pants consist of three parts-ihe miau
stem aad rs branches he leaves v sse oaise is 10
collect the principal food noufishment fr m the
ar; and the roofs which collect The water fsap)
from the ground keep The the plant moist to sup
Ply ie juice, and 10 SIS vehicle for carving 10
different part OF he lants the food gathered by he
raves. Inc roots also serve as support u hOll
the plant in its place
2. The roots take in whatever Hquids thev are
brought in contact With. They are Increased in
size and number by the direct application. TO tbs1
OF food or stimuiants (mAuures They are also
injured by comirg in connect wi Ii suth soluble Toi
sonous material as they cant absorh.
3 The coRiGct Of Recessoryto dsairoy foxi4z0
certain poisonous mineral salts fouhd.a aH sois-pdr
ficHlariy the parto salts Of iron
Now then. suppose we have a soil from which air
hiss been shut out, by lie comracness, or hy The
constant presence Of water moisture in its pores
To brake up and pulveriZe such a soil derply IS 10
invite he growth OF the roots downward 6slopo The
usual access Of Is. These deeper penetrating roots
then absorb some Of the poisonous (unoxod.zs y
mineral compounds The consequence is the sruc
lure, not only Of the Toyts, but of the whole plant
Is figured Ga such sell it very oten happens
that shallow blowing, which only disurbs the thiu
surface portion immediately ia contact with the air
will be preiefabls for the tine being 60 going down
deeply at once The true curse is to 20 onlg halt
an inch TO an inch de, per every year and bring up
little OF the under coil 10 in contact with air.
IN he f. hs e. l.,t-
TO mJure the growing crops. Every one nus have
observed ihat The sci thrown cut ola beCp well will
81 first grow nothing; aad yet after contact with air
Tor year or tWu CT more, it becomes quite equal
the Of / surfsoe soil
Let us row lock to another class of soils-those
which are open, porous, and by reason Of good nat
ufai under Drainage part Of he year free fr,
standing water 10 The deplh f foot or more la
fhis case he cir win have pene:rael deeply, aud
Destroyed poisonous mineral mp Unds. Deep pillow
lsg will not loosen a mass If Tgerous material
but On the contrary will invite dlwn the roofs Of
plants where they viii find supply If moisture
even When the suriace Is p2rched with drcuth. To
sir such soils only the surface, would tend to
shallow growth Of roots, ana Bhen The surface dries
up, The plant fails 10 get moisture enough 10 supply
the waste Of Wa'er ty evaporation FROM the leaves
in soils of this character il manifesy desirable
nay, important to plcW deeply.
IL - oElng 10 such diversity Of condition. in Soils
that pratical men reasoning only from their xperi
enee have been led 10 exactly opposite views il
gard TO deep add shallow PlOsing Literally, what
is one mans meat, is an 5theF's poison. Add this
remark has wider az piiostion than the q1es-
tiOn Of Tl0Wng. The manures 81 pTopriate TO Tar~
tcnlar Soils differ widely as does the treatment
required. Quacks in md cine recommend one kind
ct pits as cure for all kinds Of disease. Gu cks
10 agricGl lure, In Ike manner, prescribe plr:icu
lar treatment or manure just The thing for all
soils snd TJps if ingenious. they each make
cut plausible gumeuts supper their pret,nsOus.
Ia regard 10 pgowing deeply. the true theory is
TO provide deep thoi ouRh draLsge fer all sol
natur4lly dry to a considerable depth from the
lace; and hen, Jy degrees break up the subs0il in
Ill deep b'd Of dry, warm, posed soil is
cured When This is done, plants viii send down
and fp-esd widely Of roots that win sup part
corresponding growth Of vegetation above the sur
face, ard as beiole remarked, crops will be in
dtpeadent Of 70 mere surface effects of drouths or