The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1859-05-11
PHILOSOPHY OF PLoUGHING.


Toacertain extent the rationale Of plough
ling is perfectly obvious. Thus, it is plain
that in order to the growth Of desired crop.
Everything else must be supplanted that
the natural vegetation must be subdued, and
that the plough is the most efficient imple-
ment for the doing OF this work.
\ In the second place, it is equally obvious
that the proper covering Of the seed requires
a pulyerization of the soil. and it can hardly
fail TO have occurred TO the dullest mind, that
the young and tender rootless Of the growing
plant can extend themselves more easily and
more luxuriantly in we'll -loosened than in a
soil firmly packed.
But that ploughing should be the means
of rendering the soil more moist. freer from
certain noxious compounds, and really more
fertile, may not be quite so clear-though
each Of these propositions is just as suseep-
tible Of proof as any Of those referred to
above.
That ploughing should tend to render the
soil more moist in dry weather. is shown BY
bare reference to two facts and two prin-
ciples. in natural philosophy.
The facts are these: First. the atmosphere
always contains the yapor of water; and
secondly, the earth when ploughed is more
permeable, both by the vapor-laden atmos.
phere and the water in the earth beneath the
surface.
The prnciples-familiar to every school
boy-are the following: First, the yapour
Of water when brought into contact with a
body much cooler than itself, ceases, in ODE.
dience to the law Of condensation, to be
yanons anu lnnaar aud haco,noa yuatar us,.
ally called dew, or, when frozen. frost, "a
principle identical with that which covers
the cool harvest jug with dampness at sum
mer noon.
The second principle is that involved in the
phenomenon Of capillary attraction. and IL
lustratrd by the rising Of oil in the wick Of
the lamp. or water in a lump Of sugar or
sponge. If the wick, the sugar, or sponge
we're as dense as marble or iron, neither
the oil nor the water could ascend so
as to wet the whole mass: they must be so
porous that the fluid can permeate the
little tubules or pores of the substance.
Putting together the facts and the princi.
plies. isit not apparen. that the properly laos
ened soil will draw moisture from the va
pory reservoirs above and the watery chan.
nels below more easily than if compaots
wHEs SHOULD We PLouGHs
This will depend upon the climate, the
nature Of the soil, its condition, and the
character Of the plant TO be grown.
/ In a climate like ours, where cold winters
succeed warm summers. heavy soil is
benefited by ploughing in the sutumn--par-
ticularly ifIt has been worn BY long.continu-
ed cropping, and the nature of the crop to
be grown the succeeding season requires
early seeding, and the previous crop was in.
tested BY insects which burrow in the soil
For, il long worn. the soil must be to some
extent, exhausted OF the elements at first in
available form, and imperatively demands a
new pulyerizatoh or communication Of the
minerals contained, which office the freezing
process is especially fitted to perform. Aud
/ IL heavy, and to be sown to crop maturing
early in the season, il would most likely re-
main too wet TO plough, so late in the sea.
son as 10 prevent early sowing.
The question Of iime and fedu should also
/ be considered in discussion ot the subject
OF fall.ploughing. Since if II is desired TO
make an early seeding Of a large number OF
acres, and the farmer sheuld be without the
requisite men and teams 10 do the work
early enough in the spring, il IS plain that.
however unnecessary IL may appear, for other
reasons, economy would dictate that por.
tion, at least, Of the work should be done in
the fall.
hut if. on The other hand. the soil be very
/ light and ssndy--if the crop TO be grown
will bear late pIantins--if the area be not
too great for the ability OF the plowman. and
the soil be Tree from destructive insects.
then there is no urgent demand for fall
ploughing. Indeed. IN case the lands are
high and exposed 10 high winds-whieh
might blow away the soil. if loosened by
ploughing--or low, and subject to injury BY
spring freshets, autumn plOughing would be
damage rather than benefit.
To speak more specifically Of the time IN
relation 70 the condition Of the soil, We would
urge the importance Of deferring the work.
in any event, until tits 50 dry as not 10 pack
as the furrow is turned, aud afterwards bake
in the sun. Much land is materially injured
FOR years BY once ploughing while wet.
now SHOULD ug PLoueHi
We do not mean 10 inquire whether the
burrows should be so crooked that man
without a large phrenslogieal development
Of locality would necessarily fail 10 make bis
way from one end 10 the other, OF whether
every two rods there should be left a balk 4
foot wide, though We confess that these
points are worthy no little consideration in
this country, where straight and well.turned
furrows are about as scarce a. honest politi-
eisns we propose 10 discuss the more dir
cult and important subject Of depth.
As a general rule, We recommend deep