Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1860-06-12
HOW DEEP SHOULD We pLow.

E1O" DEEF SAOOLD " K FLO"!
This depends, first upon the richness
Of the soil; second, upon the depth to
which it has been previously plowed;
third, upon the character and quality Of
subsoil; and fourth, upon the crop which
is to be planted.
If the soil be sufficiently rich, it is
best that at least an inch of the soil beneath
should be upturned to the atmosphere,
at each successive plowing, and exposed
to the action of the elements. If the
land has been what is called "run' pretty
hard, and the farmer has no manure with
which to restore the exhausted constitu-
ents of the soil, it can hardly be said to
be best to plow deeper than the previous
culturists of the same fields have done
But, as soon as suitable stimulants to
vegetation can be applied, we would ad-
wise the gradual deepening of the cul-
ture, until from nine to twelve inches
becomes the habitual thickness Of the
overturned furrow.
If the subsoil be gravelly and light,
there is not as great call for deep work
ing as otherwise, nor is the use of sub
soil pIow as much demanded But soil,
no matter of what character, lying upon
fat, level subsoil of hardpan clay, needs
to be made of a good depth, either by
upturning, or by a gradual encroachment
upon the underlying clay. The sub
soil plow should also. follow the other
plow, and thoroughly loosen the brick
like substratum upon which the furro W
rests.
The deeper we plow, the farther down
we bury the seeds of noxious weeds,
which have often gathered upon the sur
face about to be overturned. The more
we allow the air to circulate among the
loosened particles of the soil, the better
is the drainage in wet season and the
more perfect the irrigation in dry sum-
mer. But by allowing the air to perme
ate freely the texture of the soil, we also
bring into contact with its constituents
the carbonic'acid in the air, the ammonia
of the atmosphere, the nitrogen and ele-
ments which the soil needs to maintain
It's integrity, and support the crops we
plant upon it. This deeper plowing Ell.
ables the roots of the plants to penetrate
far deeper, while the loosening gives
them wider range; and whether it be
food or moisture which they seek, they
are far more certain to be fully supplied
In seasons of excessive rain, the shallow
plowed field, where the earth has only
been loosened to the depth of four OF
five inches, are easily saturated with
water, causing the death, or at any rate
the very sickIy appearance Of the crop;
while the deeply stirred land has per.
mitted the penetration of the fluids to
the depth of many inches washing dowr
richness and uourishment to the deepes
roots, and while all the land has suf
fciency Of moisture, compelling upor
none greater than a proper amount o
Wetness.
Root crops require more thorough
upturning of the soil than the almos
universally cultivated Indian corn. We
think that the raising Of this purely
American product has exerted an inju
rious influence upon the agriculture o
this country. Farmers can, by merel,
scratching the surface of their land (say
not more than five inches deep, raise
under most circumstances, excellen
crops of maize, especially upon newl..
cleared soils. This ease of cultivation
has led our agriculturists to slacken il
the preparation of the land for all othel
crops, until shallow plowing has almos
become the rule instead Of the excep
ton. In the older country of Europe
where land is more valuable and labo
more plentiful than in our newly settled
hemisphere, they have learned to improv
every foot of the breadth of their lands
and also more inches of the depth thai
we dare to mention. Cultivation is ia
deeper than with us, and, as conse
quence, crops are both surer and larger
Root crops are raised which would chal
lenge admiration at any of our Stat
Fairs, and grain produced in quantitie
unprecedented on any of our shallow
plowed and carelessly cultivated fields
Let US, as speedily as possible emulat
our European cousins, in their careful
application of manures; in their use O
every foot Of surface, leaving none fo
weeds or fence corners; and in thei
depth of misunderstanding to the grow
ing crops land that drinks water of tn
rain of Heaven, so that neither more 0
less than they desire of the soakin
moisture, of the fruitful showers and tn
rain from Heaven, shall be supplied t
the absorbing rootlets Of the GROWN
crops.--Gen. Fdr7eer.