Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-05-16
Thorough Tillage.

: AS means of farm improvement W
propose to call attention to a mechanics
requirement of the soil-puIyerizatior
i, On this point there can be no little di(
ference of opinion. Whatever may b
the doubts in regard to other systems
every one acknowledges, both in tlleor,
and practice, the necessity of thorough
comminution Of the soil. For this pur
pose the farmer plows aud drags, anc
one-ha!f Of the laagr on most farms i!
devoted to this work eIone. Some year.
ago, one of the most celebrated agricul.
tural chemists Of the world received two
specimens Of soil for examination, one
from Miami Valley, and remarkable for
its exceeding fertility another an ordi-
nary soil, and far less fertile; yet he
could detect no other difference between
the two than that the particles of the
Miami soil were much iuer than the 9th
er; and to this, no doubt, must be aurib-
uted its remarkable fertility. During
the latter part of the last century Jethro
Tull, who perhaps did as much as any
other individual for the improvement Of
agriculture, adopted the theory that the
roots of all plants live upon minute par
ticles of soil, and that repeated and al
most constant dllage, is necessary to Sc
cure large crop, and nothing else is re.
lulred. He believed manure to be val /.
Iable; bot only for its mechanical effects
Is diyider and disinttgrator of the soil.
which kept properly paIyerized, would
uppIy all the requirements of vegetable
.rowtb. This theory, though erroneous.
i'd much to call attention to thorough
uIture. and the success of Tull was such
5 TO induce, for time, a pretty general
ldorsement Of bis theory. Later inves-
.
cations have elected the troth, but have
OF lessened, in the opinion of good cul- {
vator7, the importance Of obtaining, and !
eeping up, during the lite Of the plant,
le finest possible tiltb.
A heavy clay soil wiz hold more i
loisture than Ioamy, or sandy soil
ct the clay will be The first to suffer |
ON drought, because ordinary prac- C
'e til never kept in as fine condition. t
the soil is well pulverized to a good a
'pth, crops will not suffer from droug hit il
zee in ten years; yet with ordinary Il
lture, the product Of almost every crop il
much lessened, almost every season, I
consequence of lack of MOISTURE "
here the particles are fine, water con- ia
unity arises from capillary attaaction ol
ring the day, even during one of our eC
vest Tines, and it will be found moist Ii
d warm, producing all the requisites er
rapid growth Of plants, while a lard, to
opy and hali-pulverized soil will be N
nd dry, often to the depth OF foot, th
eighteen inches. For some time it M
5 a matter Of surprise to US that crops oil
corn could be grown on the prairies IL,
bout culture, especially in hot, dry, ed
sons butan examination of the char wa
r of the soil, fine as powder to a great lin
tb, and fall of decaying vegetable
ter, made the causes plain. ga,
he farmer may learn from the gar we
ar many useful hints. Let a hot-bed GOO
tsrted in the spring, and, we will say, bet
ted with cucumbers. In a little Wit
e the plants are up, have their rough ma,
es, and are making rapid progress. not
G we have most Of the conditions fa- invt
bic to growth, a deep, mellow soil, cou
nth and moisture; but select one oug
t, and allow it to take its course and
out stirring the soil, or only occa- give
lily, ana in short time it will be- We
, stunted, make but little growth, wor
never become a vigorous, strong reaC
t. Give the others different course We
tighten the earth around alth,
every day, or every other day, with done
ingers, and draw the fresh earth to or v
items, and the difference in growth
be such as to convince every obser- Fl
Of the necessity OF frequent stirring In o
, soil to obtain for the plants a rapid cutti
th and full Development Another stem
cry pleasing test is to sow in the at th
n a little patch of any of our com cuiti
farm plants, as oats or wheat let a it in
De sOwn broadcast in the ordinary lowe
and receive no culture; the re- buds
Ter be drilled and the soil kept well uppe
ated during the season. In the make
case the plants will attain double the
ze Of the others, and the product apart
e from two to three fold greater, the 9
hing a lesson that will need no re- five i
IN, plant
----~+"----- lwell
TRoNoMIcAL OBSERVATIONS will |
Mitchell was once made famous in of ca