The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-11-07
FLAT CULTURE.

Ger every land.
FLAT CULTURE.
For number of years there has been d.
versity Of opinion in regard to two strongly
contrasted modes Of culture, the one termed
fiat culture. and the other hiling; the distiu-
gulshing feature Of the first consisting 10
leaving the surface of the soil level, that Of
the latter consisting in drawing masses Of
earth up to the plants in the form ofhilIocks
or ridges, according to the mode of planting
adopted. As usual, something may be said
on both sides Of the question. Judge Buel,
We believe, was among the first to give a
special direction to the system of fiat culture,
and since his day il has made very consider
able progress among large class Of inteli-
gent cultisators The subject may be thought
to pertain more generally to the farmer, and
somewhat out OF place here; but we are far
from regarding it in that light il concerns
all who have kitchen garden, however small
The kitchen garden IN our estimation, is no
mean thing, to be put aside in corner. aud
spoken OF contempiuously it contributes es-
sentiallv to the necessities and pleasures Of
all, and deserves a more prominent place
than il has heretofore occupied In the gar
den. moreover. have been initiated most Of
the improved modes Of culture that have adj
ded so much to the productive industry of the
land. The garden is The school in which our
best lessons are learned and the principles
there demonstrated. when judiciously and
iateligently applied 10 the broad surface of
the farm, give Us our best results.
Culture, then, be il Hat or otherwise, con
Germs the gardener even more than the far
mer. When our attention, many years ago,
was first called to the subject OF f,t culture,
we determined TO give 1t a fair trial bv the
side OF the common system, noting carefully
time. abour, and general results. We be-
gan with corn, then beans, next potatoes, &C.,
aud with results so satisfactory that we at
last adopted the principle uf drawing earth
up to no plants, except for the purpose Of
blanching. After considerable experience,
We do not hesitate to give " fat culiure'
distinct approval. II Is the system for our
dry atmosphere. warm sun. aud frequent
drosths, a, the hlling system may be the
best for the moist climate aud wet snils of
England, especially where those soils are un-
drained. Both systems have their advocates,
those OF the billing system prepanderating
bu, the other is making its way slowly, but
surely, and we have no doubt il will at no
distant day meet with hearty approval
throughout the country. The advocates for
chilling" principally claim that il "retains
moisture. decreases the evaporation" and
strengthens" the plant. but how they do
not explain; but we question the truth Of
these points. Il is manifest tn us. aud il ac-
cords with observation. that a plot Of ground
with level surface kept well pnlyeriZed,
will retain more uniform degree nf moisture
than one broken into hills. 1, j. precisely
10 time Of tlr0uth, when We are dependent
upon a small amnu, Of moisture contained IN
the atmosphere, that the advantages OF (" flat
c0lture" make themselves manifest. Tue
leaves of plants condense the moisture of the
atmosphere, and iu different modes shed il
on The ground, but principally by means OF
the stalk. Now il We take curn. Tor exam.
pie, which has been hilled. this moisture, so
much needed is thrown of from the plant.
and very little Is absorbed; in fact. these
hills and ridges make good watersheds, and
becoming baked during drs weather. lose The
power of absorption. Where llat culture"
prevails, the soil can always be kept open
aad porous. aud its absorbent powers more
fully retained In regard to " decreasing
the evaporation" by hitting, il is 50 transpar
ent that evaporation is increased by the up-
Grafton. that We leave that point without fur.
ther comment for ihe present. It's well un.
derstuod that hlIing and ridging were intro.
dueed 10 get rid Of surplus moisture. Hill.
ing. also, It is said. " strengthens the plant,
the word being generally used N mcchani.
cal sense Tor example, IL is c0ntended that
corn. when hilled, is less liable 10 be blown
down. We know. however, that such j. not
the fact; aud. so far as maintaining an erect
position is concerned, facts are all in favour
Of fiat culture. paradoxical a. il NAV seem
70 some, corn that has been hiliei will blow
down sooner than that which has not and
when both are down, that which has been
grown BY fiat culture will soonest aud more
fully recover itself, because il has less ress. 4
tance TO overcome.
Bot we must how be content with stating I
what we conceive 10 be the advantages Ui
/" Hat culture" as compared with killing" I
leaving details Tor another occasion; these L
advantages are principally the following: II \
demands less labour for a given amount oI
results; il admits % a mpre thorough culti.
,atiun of the soil; Il lessons the evils Of
drouth IL admlts ol the continued use Of the 4
best.impro,ed implements OF culture; aud, [
not amnng the least Of Us claims. it presup
poses thorough preparation of the sill. such
as drainage where needed. deep powing,
thorough stirring Of the soil. &c. Ilil.ng,
undoubtedly, has iis place and it, advantages,
and these are chiefly found ina moist climate
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