The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-11-13
THOROUGH TILLAGE.


THOROUGH TILLAGE.
The following remarks. which we cullfsom
one Of our exchanges. are alike applicable TO
the garden and the field. We have more |
than once adyerted to the subject Of deep til- /
lage. and do so again because we know that
j. is q matter that cannot be too often i'm
pressed upon the mind. The fatal fault with |
most young gardeners is. that of commencing |
to plant without due regard to the preps-
ration Of the soil. Many SOW with view
OF doing afterwards that which should have
been attended to beiere--thai is TO say, they
will work place wide enough to receive
The seed. and depend on finishing the work
after the plants have come up; others believe
that IL they work Immediately around the
plant they are doing all that is required
another class account themselves FIRST rate
gardeners il they keep their vegetables free
of weeds. All this NAV have done well ID
the time Of Adam. but we 20 upon differ
ent theory now, and thai is. never to put d
seed in the ground until il is broken pp as
lar down as tools and strength can go-but
read the following:
| We have several times endesvored TO I'M
press upon our agricultural friends. the poli-
cy Of pitching no larger crops than they can
till we'll. The old custom Of scratching over
large surfaces. is ruinous alike 10 the farmer
and the land he culiisates. II sounds well,
we admit, TO say that certain man has so
many acres in corn. and so many in wheat
and rye and oats, but il by concentrating his
labor and resources his neighbor produces
double the quantity Of grain on half the num-
Der Of acres. the lstter is wiser and more eco
nomical OF the two. and will be able TO show
the largest return in profit at the end Of the
season. Whenever operations are carried on
upon an extensive scale, either there must
be q corresponding field force TO justify il,
and corresponding increase in the amount
of msnures and fertilizers used, Or the cul-.
iure will be slovenly and the product far be-
law what il ought to be. Now, with com
petent force and thorough tillage upon lin
tied area. the perfect manner in which the
soil j. worked and placed 10 a condition to
be acted upon BY atmospheric influences.
will enable the farmer TO obtain excellent
crops and 10 maintain his land 10 gond con-
, dltion. by the addition Of one hall Of the ma
nure or fertilizers which he would End II
necessary 10 apply to the same soil under
other circumstances. Under the system of
shallow ploughing aud careless after culture.
there is not only great loss of the fertillzing
matters applied TO the soil, by the escape Of
their volatile gasses. but also in consequences
Of the imperfect manner in which they are
incorporated with the soil
Jethr0 Tull's once famous theory was that
manuring might be abandoned altogether. il
the land was deeply ploughed and kept well
and frequently stirred during the growing
season Of the plants which had been seeded
! upon il. His extraordinary success won over
many converts 10 his doctrine. and for 4
number Of years those who praciieed on the
new system found their crops largely in
creased.
i The system Of husbandry practised al Loi,
7 Weeden, England, i based upon slmilaI
theory, but Is carried out even more thor,
oughIy and systematically.
: Az Lois Weedan, the spade has supersed
ed the plough, and the crops are seeded il
alternate strips throughout the entire field
the strips which are lett fallow this year be
ing seeded down the year following; but do
ring The growing season all the field !, work
10 ed alike. IL heavy compact elays. like thos'
81 Of Lois Weldon. this complete disiniegra
y tion Of the soil to depth considerably be.
). ,ond that which IS usually reached by III,
= plough, has enabled the enthusiastic expert
mehialist TO raise forty or more bushels q
:. wheat TO the acre upon the same land for
: succession Of years, and without any sensi
bic diminutien in the product. and withou
the addition Of any manure whatever. Iii
70 easy TO understand why this should be 30
.. The Luis Weedon clays, though intractabl,
2 under the plough. IRE naturally very ienlle
and when compiefely pulyerized under III,
system of spade husbandry which has beer
adopted. are not only rendered susceptible
10 atmosphere influences. but readily yield
Z, Up their soluble constituents 10 the wants D
" The growing plants.
Il So long IS due proportion Of those con
stitusnts is contained 10 the soil. the crop
will continue to be good. hut each succeed
: ing crop dsrins the soil Of q certain portion
: Of them. and the time must rome-a few
g years hence perhaps--when fertilizers will
be required TO restore the waste, or other
wise the land will become gradually barrer
from exhaustion. But although the theor,
: Is pushed loo far, the lesson which has thu
% been taught is an important one. IL shaw
sf the value Of thorough tilage. and indicates
The manner in which certain soils repuriet
to be sterile can be al least improved. an,
perhaps. with the aid Of little mannre. b
rendered capable Of bearing heavy crops
of We do not plough deep enough, OF til assid
.. uously enough. We lay too little stress up
" on the value of atmospheric influences. ant
forget that the more completely, IN our hc