The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1863-05-22
Philosophy OF Deep Flowing

There was a time when the cultivu-
ted soil was merely scraped, when the
ponderous plow drawn by four horses
laid bare tho earth but q few inches be-
low the surface. But the memory Of the
"oldc,t inhabitnnr hardly goes back to
that easy going time, and now monufuc-
lures successfully out-do each other in
the production OF implements by which
tho soil is thoroughly and deerly pulycr-
iscd. That deep pl,ughipg ia beneficial
TO the soil is admitted by every intelli-
gent farmer, but the particular soil most
benefited by il, and the proper time for
the performance OF the operation, urc
SUBJECTS ON which q variety OF opinions
prevail. Stiff clay soils are the most
bsncftted by deep plowing, and tho re-
suit, are still moro satisfactory when the
subsoil 10 of the snlno nature ms the SUI
pcrsoil. III the farmer cannot extend
the superficial area Of his farm. he can,
at least. add the eubcal contents Of its
protu, tive portion. by thoroughly break
ing up the subsoil Il is exposed 10 the ac-
,ion OF the air, the mineral iood of the
plants becomcr liberated from its latent
state and made available, and the sour
ness, which Ia frequent property OF the
subsoil disappears.
In the working VI stiff soils, the lubor
expended in phlvoriIing will be higaly
productive but care should be taken
that the quantity of subsoil brooght to
the surface Ia not greater than a winters
frost IL afiicient thoroughly 10 disinte'
CRATE. Il the land hes been recently
drained, and the underlying soil exhibits
a bluish tint, not mere than ono and
half inches should bo turned over on the
surface soil, II too largo quantity ol
the infcrtilc soil should be brought up,the
fertility of the land inay DO seriously Inn
paired for several years. The remedy
In this case Ia the repeated and careful
tillaRe Of the surface soil and the ubun'
dAnt application Of manure. II, however
the subsoil plow or tho spade, and no,
brought in quantity TO the surface, the
pulvtrization moy bc advsntageously y
made to extend to much greater depth
and a small poLIon may from time to
time be brought to the surface In course
Of tillagc.
Deep cultivation Is inapplicublc in the
case OF sandy soils, except when tbey
rect upon a stiff subsoil, which however
is rarely the case, IL there be simply q
thin strata Of stiffelsy beneath the sandy
soil, il should not always be broken
through, ss il may prevent the moisturs
passing awpy too rapidly as drainage
When iriable soils rest ON chalk, gravel
or sand, deep plowing should not be per
formed neither 10 the operation dcsira
Bile. bvI the reverse Is the case, on any
kind OF highly msnured land. We have
sften known tho manure 10 be plowet
in so deep that its decomposition tool
place only after the lapse Of seyora
years. Manure to be efficient must DO q,
close TO the surface ~ possible. in orde,
that atmospheric infiuenees mar dccom
pose il spsediy and that the nourishmen
saoraed by il may be within easy access
Of the roetlets OF the plants. The prope
season for'aesp blowing is in the autumn
in sr6sr that the soil may be exposed I,
the winters frosls and rains-those po
ten, sgents BY which the dormant ele
ments Of fertility arc set free aud mad
available for the summers erop,-Ay
Rspfsr.