Winchester journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1862-1863, 1863-07-10
REASONS ron TILLAGE.

Does any one inquire the
reason why we plow, and har.
row, and dig and noe? A very
sensible inquiry. We do these
things partly in order 10 bring the
ground into a proper mechanical
condition for receiving seeds, and
for growing plants. By the long
continued falling of rains, the
soil becomes compact and hard.
SO, also, the covering Of heavy
body ct snow in Winter brings
the ground into a -odden and
hrmer state. This is the case
especially on clavsy soils. Run
the plow, or work the spade
through these compacted masses
Of earth, and it will render them
porous, easy to till with the hoe,
and prepared to receive whatever
seeds we my wish TO grow.
Then, again. tillage benefits
the soil chemically. Ii opens
the pores. so that it Imblbes those
fertIIizlng elements which the air
contains. The atmosphere is a
storehouse OF carbonic acid and
ammonia, but the earth can not
be enriched by them largely, I'M
oil It's bosom IS opened by cuiti-
walton. The soil, too, contains
mineral and animal substances in
a state oil partial decomposition,
which need the agency of the
atmosphere to resolve them into
good food for growing plants -
JeIhro Tull was no mere theorist.
So in reference 10 needful
moisture. When the soil is we'll
disintegrated, and the air enabled
10 circulate freely among It's
particles, there will be deposited
a greater amount Of water than in
stiff, unbroken ground. And
this moisture will be present just
in proportion to the depth and
thoroughness of the tlllage.-
Hence u comes to pass that sub
solled lands seldom, II ever. suffer
in the severest drouihs. The air
descending TO the roots of plants,
moisture follows with il, carrying
along ammonia TO feed them
with food and give them greater
vigor. IL is sometimes objected
that very deep blowing Injuries a
crop. by bringing up to the
surface hard cold clay, which is
hurtful to vegetation. Very true.
Such blowing is hurtful. and we
do not recommend il. The true
method is to deepen the soil
gradually, setting the pillow point
only an inch or two deeper every
year. This will accomplish the
end in a short time, and do no
harm. The true method OF sub
soillng is TO run the common
pillow first, then follow its track
with the subsoiler, breaking up
the lower stratum, but not lifting
II out of Its place. Or, as one
says, "let it travel under the
surface soil. as mole might pass
along without turning i over. y
And so IN trenching land for
gardening, the true way Is, not &c
throw the bottom soil on the tor
in any considerable quantity, but
10 break up the lower stratum,
mixing manure with it if con.
venient, and then returning it to
Its original place, cover it with
surface soil.
Doubtless, many n farm which
its owner considers nearly worn
out, might be rendered fertile by
deep blowing. The surface has
been scratched over for many
years, and this Is indeed ex.
hausted; yet underneath this, lie
rich stores of productiveness as
Vet untouched. Not a few
northern farmers have gone
routhward within ten years past,
and bought up at a low price
worn out land, and by good,
homes. blowing and subsequen!
tillage, have realized good crops
for several years, and that too,
without enriching with additional
manure.
In England, six and seven
inches in depth is considered fair
and reasonable blowing, and sub
soil work goes down eighteen
and twenty inches. With US,
the average depth does not exceed
four or five inches, and subsoil-
ing does not get deeper generally
than twelve 10 fifteen inches
There is room for improvement
here; and On due time we believe