The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-08-19
REASONS FOR TILI.AGE

Does any one inquire the reason why ~,
pillow, and harrow, and dig and hoe? A Yer,
sensible Inquiry. We DO these things partly In
order to bring the ground into proper me
ehanical condition for receiving seeds and for
growing plants By the long continued fallinn
OF rains, the soil becomes compact and hard
30, also, the covering of a heavy body Of snow
IN winter brings e ground into a sodden and
hrmer state This Is the case especially OH
clayey soils. Run the pillow, or work the spade
through these compact masses of earth. and il
VIII rcuder them porous, easy 10 till with The
hoe, and prepared to receive whatever seeds
we may wish to grow
Then, again, tillage benefits the soil chemi-
eally. 1t opens the pores so that it imbibes
thOse iertilizing elements which the earth con.
talns. The atmosphere is a stOrehOuse of ear
oOnic acid aud ammonia, but the earth cannot
De enriched by them largely, until it, bosom i
opened by cultivation. The soil. too. contains
mineral and animal substances in a state of
partial decomposition. which need the agency
OF the atmosphere to resolve them into 0ood
Iood Tor growing plants Jethro Tull was DO
mere theOrisL
90 IN reference 10 needful moisture When
the SOIL Is we'll disintegrated. and the air ena-
oled 10 circulate freely among its particles
there will be deposited a greater amount az
\
this moisture will he present just in proportion
TO the depth and thoroughness of the tillagr
hence 1t comes to pass that SUBSIDIZED lands
seldom, II ever, suffer in the severest droughts.
Ihe air descending to the roots of plants.
moisture follows with il, carrying along am
monia to feed them with food and give them
greater vigor. Ii is sometimes objected that
very deep blowing Injuries a crop. by bringing
up to the surface hard cold clay. which is hurt
ful TO vegetation. Very true. Such blowing
Is nurtiul. and We do not recommend il. The
true method Is to deepen the soil gradually
setting the pillow point only an inch or two
dee per every year. This will accomplish the
END IN a short time, and do no harm. The trnr
metnod OF subsoiling is 20 run the common
pillow hrst then follow its track with the sinh
soiler, breaking up the lower stratum. but not
hiting II out of its place. Or a. one SAYS
let It travel under the surface soil rs a mol
might pass along without turning II over Sc
And 80 IN trenchinV land for gardening. the
true way Is, not 10 throw the bottom soil ON
tne TOP IN any considerable quantity. but 10
oreak up The lower stratum, mixing manure
Win II II convenient. and then returning II Ian
ITS original place. cover il with surface soil
doubtless many farm which its owner con-
sders nearly worn out. might be rendered for
tile by deep blowing The surface has been
seraleneu over Tor many years and this is in
deed exhausted. yet underneath this lie rich |
stores OF prOductiveness as vet untouched
Not q few northern farmers have gone soutb |
ward within ten years past and bought M AT /
q low price, worn out land and bv good hon. /
est PloWlng and subsequent tillage. have real
lIed good crops for several years. and that too
without enriching with additional manure
IN england, six and seven inches in dentb i.
considered fair and reasonable plowin5. ana
suosoll work goes down eighteen and tWentv
lneheS. With Us, the average depth does not
exceed Tour or i've inches and subsoiling does
nor ge' deeper. generally than twelve 10 IF
SNA incnes. There Is room for improvement
- anu IN due time We believe it will be
msde--Awsriean Agrie,slturist.