The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-02-23
IQruultur0l.
From the Farmer and Planter.1
preparation and Culture of Land.

wv "'l'c "oiN OeIoTe, ana 100 much work
after plantug,'
lhe above quotation is taken from an:
article over the signature Of Clifton in
the Cotton Planter AMI Soil for January
instant 1t contains, in nut shell, i'm
portamt truths. My e,gn in sending up
my annual contribution 10 the Furn,cy
and Planter, is 20 90 somewhat more
drtfnsely into this subject
On all sides it is agreed that plowing
stirring the souls necessary in tending
our crops; but many do not appear To
have any clearly defined object in doinr
SO. i isa practice that has been handed
down from sire 10 sou; aud the farmer OF
the present generation does it because he
learned it from his prede, cssor. do no;
say this sneeringly; groat respect is due
TO 'ong established customs. They are
most generally. the result Of maturcd and
well tried experiment; and stand with
those who are opposed to haStv and un.
tested innovation. But this doctrine
must not he carried too far we live in
progressive age, and certainly have yet
much to learn
And now, Mr.. Editor | have Opened
up II subject which, properly discussed.
"ouil fill Il volume; but / must be short;
page or two Of your journal is rs much
as | can claim.
Let us inquire, what are the objects Of
P'o"imGl The frs, objects OF blowing is.
to prepare the land for the growth Of the
intended crop: this is ofe called breaking
up. What we can aim at here. is. to
prepare bed loose enough for the roots
ct plants TO spread in every direction. 1t
IS clear, then, tha, lie sol! should Lc fine.
y crumh.od, auI !oo>cnpd deeply; AS
the roots Of plants are Hkclv to 90: this
IS th" first object. The secend is, to ad.
mt ot tie descent Of raiia ami dews. SO
AS to supply tie necessary moisture. \
third Is, TO admit the atmospheric air.
which acts IN various WAYS: |. GermI.
nation cannot take place wi,hou, it. 2.
lh" decomposition Of the vegetable mat.
'crs TUNED under, cannot take place
without i; and ,. It helps to ibera,e
"n'h'y salts. and Ia form new comhiina
,i"ms, which favor (h fact are necessary
~ tho growrh OF plants. Some or these
""d@a 'f u"t'"n, ""S th~ir eft .n,s ara
pretty well understood oi-snme Of them.
perhaps, are not fully understood. But
have not room to cnlrrgc. From tn.
above, however, it vii. appear that ,ce
Mo"Id brcok up o"r ia"ds Morough and
decpiM
The MoDH OF BnEARNG Up.-Everv
one must decide THIS for himself Much
VIII depend upon the nature and condi.
ton Of the soil. Generally, when there
Is n good growth Of weeds, or other vrpc-
table matter to be turned under. it should
tie done with turn pow, siugIe or double
horse, la.Iowel, wien the snhson is
close, with Il coulter or scooter. SO as TO
loosen, but not bring It up. View often,
when IanL has been long pIowed to a
certain depth, hard pan or crus' forms
AT t"tN depth, ana this ought, hy all
means, to be broken up. When there is
HC.c or u" litter, or where there is a
tough .ol Of grass, :he scooter or coulter
Is very good instrument f"r breaking
ur; perhaps as good H. any.
lHE TINE OF BREAKixG Up.--On this
su'jert thcrc scems..lo bc much difference
Of opinion. llnclu.e to think. lha: ON all
s'nbh.e lands, whc" there IS u gooa coat
Of rc1cinbie matter, Ihe earlier it is turned
the hctter-early IN the tail or winter,
Whenever and as soon as oiher necessary
business will permit. By doing so, We
expose the Iarr OF insects, which are apI
to intest such lands, to The winter freezes
the fros,n heIP to Puver,He the soil, and
the vegetable matter is un unlcrgoing decay
ana producing various chemical combina.
tons, useful 10 tie Intended crop. In
clear lands, snd perhaps in some stiff
ciays. even. although they he in stuLble.
would prefer breaking up late, so Iale
as just 10 finish the operation at planting
time. SO much Tor breaking up.
: 10 complete the preparation for Your
crops, as soon AS YOU are done sowing
oals, commence laying off vour cotton
ground, with deep scooter furrow; on
/ this scatter your manure, AND ri1Ce with
two deep t~ster iurroNs: finish The he
when yon come 10 plant. For the corn
crop, AS Tar as your manure will 60, adopt
the very same process, except as to finish
ing the beds, and even there, il 1t is no,
already well broken up. In low ground.
;he bed should always be completed
before planting. Ga my high lands
that portion which cannot manure
my practice has been To run a deep hori
. zonIa' scoot"riurrow in Iaying off, anC
Oh each side OF this, about a foot distant
/ another deep scooter iurrow; thus leaving
two ridges. When | come to plant,
/ open with shovel, and cover with two
scooter iurrows, splitting the two frs
ridges, and making one in the centre
By this mode I hare thorough stirrin,
Of the soil When he corn is planted.
CULTIVATION OR TILLAGE.--lt is her
that think our farmers are most at fault
They prepare their soil for tie easy sprea,
OF the roots and spongioles of plants, ,anc
then, in their after culture, cut these cfi
as II they were useless appendages.
we study the mode Of life and growth O
the plant, it would seem wrong to th
. Sty.r.l.es A