The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1859-03-16
Prom the .. G. Farmer and Planter.

4
PREPARATION AND CULTURE or LAND
The prevailing error think to be this |.
Too little work before, and too much work
after planting"
The above quotation is taken from an ar
ticle over the signature of " Clinton" in the
Cotton Planter and Soil for January last.
i contains, in nutshell, important truths.
My design in sending up my annual contri-
button TO the Farmer and Planter, is to 90
somewhat more difiuse!y into this subject.
On all sides it is agreed that plowing-
stirring the Soils necessary in tending our
crops; but many do not appear to have any
clearly defined object in doing so. Ii is a
practice that has been handed down from
sire to son and the farmer of the present
generation does il because he learned it from
his predecessor. | do not say this sneerinp.
ly; great respect is due to long established
customs. They are, more generally, the re-
suit Of matured and well tried experiments; /;
and stand with those who are opposed 10
hasty and untested innovation. But this
doctrine must not be carried too far we live
in progressive age, and certainly have vet
much to learn.
And now, Mr. Editor, have opened up
subject which, properly discussed, would fill
a.yolume ; but must be short page or two
Of your journal is as much as can claim.
Let US inquire, what are the objects Of
plowingi The first object Of plowing is, to
prepare the land for the growth Of the intend
ed crop; this is often called breaking up.
What we aim at here, is. to prepare a bed
loose enough for The roots Of plants to spread
in every direction. II is clear, then, that
the soil should be finely erumbled, and loosen
ed deeply as deeply as the roots Of plants
are likely to go; this is the FIRST object. The
second is, to admit Of the descent Of rains
and dews, so as to supply the necessary
moisture. third is. to admit the atmos-
pheric air, which acts in various ways: I.
termination cannot take place without il.
9. The decomposition Of the vegetable mat
ters turned under, cannot take place without
il; and 3. Ii helps to liberate earthly salts,
and form new combinations, which favor lin
fact, are necessary to- the growth Of plants.
Some OF these modes Of action, and their et-
fects, are pretty well understood--some Of
them, perhaps, are not fully understood. But
have not room to enlarge. From the above,
however, II will appear that zoe should break
up our lands thoroughly and deeply.
THE NODE OF BREAKING UP.
E,ry one must decide this for himself.
Much will depend upon the nature and con-
dition Of the soil. Generally, when there is
good growth Of weeds, or other vegetable
matter to be turned under, il shonld be done
with turn-plow, single or double horse,
falowed, when the subsoil is close, with
coulter or scooter, so as to loosen, but not
bring itup. Very often, when land has been
long plowed to certain depth, hard pan
or crust forms at this depth, and this ought,
by all means, to be broken up. When there
is little or no litter, or where there is tough
sod Of grass. the scooter or coulter is very
good instrument for breaking up; perhaps
as good as any.
THE TINE OF BREAKING UP.
On this subject there seems to be much
difference Of opinion. ] incline to think,
that on all stubbe lands. tchen there Is a good
coai Of fpegetabr matter. the earlier il is turn
cd under the better--early in the fall or
winter, whenever aud as soon as other neces.
sary business will permit. BY doing so, we
expose the larsa Of insects, which are apt TO
infest such lands. to the winter freezcs--the
irosts help to pulverize the soil, and the
vegetable matter il undergoing decay, and
producing various chemical combinations,
useful 10 the intended crop. In clear lands,
and perhaps in some stiff clays even, although
they be in stubble, would prefer breaking
up late so late as Just TO finish the opera.
tion at planting time. SO much for break.
Ing Up.
10 complcate the preparation for your
crops, as soon as you are done sowing oats,
commence laying of your cotton ground,
with deep scootcr.furrow; on this scatter
your manure. and ridge with two deep twis.
ter burrows; finish the bed when yeu come
TO plant. For the corn crop, as far as your
manure will 20. adapt the very same process,
except as to finishing the beds, and even
there, II il is not already well broken up. In
low grounds. the bed should always be CON.
pleted before planting. On my high lands
that portion which | cannot manure, my
practice has been TO run deep horizontal
scootcr-fu -furrow in laying OF. and, on each
side OF this, about foot distant, another
deep scooter.furrow thus leaving two ridges.
When come 10 plant, open with shovel,
and cover with two scooter. burrows, split.
ting the two first ridges, and making one in
the centre. By This mode hare thorough
stirring Of tie soil phau The corn 10 planted.
CULTIVATION or TILLAoE.
II is here that think our farmers are most
at fault. They prepare their soil for the
easy spread OF the roots and spongioles Of
plants, and then, in their after culture, cut
these oF, as if they we're useless appcndages.
five study the mode Of life and growth Of