, 1864-03-26
Ghe c6armer's Corner.
Communications on Agricultural subjects, from
subscribers and others, are iHritcd for these
columns.
Preparation and Culture of Land.


Preparation and Culture Of Land.
"1he prevailing error think to be this :
Too little work before, and too much work
lfter planting"
The above quotation is taken from an
article over the signature Of "Clifton," in
The Cotton Planter and SoH for January,
instant. It contains lin nutshcIl) import.
mt truths. My design in sending up my
annual contribution TO the Farmer and
Planter, is to 60 somewhat more ditluscly
into this subject.
On all sides il is agreed that plowing-
stirring the SOILS necessary in tending
our crops; but many do not appear to
have any clearly defined object in doing so.
1t is practice that has been handed down
from sire to SON; and the farmer Of the
present generation does il because he learned
it from his predecessor. do not say this
sneeringlJ; great respect is due to long
customs. They are, most gen
orally, tho result Of natured and well-tricd
exper ment; and ] stand with those who
are opposed to hasty and untested innova.
tion. But this doctrine must not be car.
ried too far-we live in progressive age,
and certainly have yet much to learn.
And now, | have opened up subject
which, properly discussed, would fill vol.
ume; but must be short; page or two
Of your journal is as much as can claim.
Let US inquire, what are the objects Of
blowing? The first object of blowing is,
to prepare the land for the growth Of the
intended crop; this is often called break.
ing up. What VIC aim at here, is to pre-.
pare bed loose enough for the roots Of
plants to spread in every direction. 1t is
clear then, that the soil should be finely
crumbled, and loosened deeply; as deeply
as the roots Of plants are likely to go;
this is the first object. The second is, to
admit Of the descent Of rains and dcws, so
as to supply the necessary moisture. a
third is, to admit the atmospheric air, which
acts in various ways: l. termination can.
not take place without ii. ?. The decom-
position of tho vegetable matters turned
under, cannot take place without it.: and Q.
II helps to libcrate eaIthy salts, and To
form new combinations, which favor lin
fact, arc necessary toy thcgrowth of plants.
Some Of these modes of action, and their
effects, are pretty well understoOd-soTe
Of them perhaps, arc not fully understood.
But J have not room to enlarge. From
the above, however, it will appear that We
should break up our lands thoroughly and
deeply.
b, MODE OF BREAKING UP. ...
Every one must decide this for himself
Much will depend upon the nature and
condition Of the soil. Generally, when
there is good growth Of weeds, or other
vegetable matter to be turned under, it
should be done with turn-plow, single or
double horse, fallowed, when the subsoil
is close, with coulter or scooter, so as to
loosen, but not bring it up. Very often,
when land ha. been long p!owed to a Ger.
tain depth, hard pan or crust forms at
this depth, and this ought, by all means, to
be broken up. When there is little or no
Liter, or where there Is tough sod Of
grass, the scooter or coulter is very good
instrument for breaking Ut; perhaps as
good as any.
TINE OF BREAKING UP. r
On this subject theie seems to be much
difference Of opinion. | incline to think
that on all stubble lands, when there Is o
good coat of vegetable matter, the earlier
L is turned under the bettcr-early IN the
Fall or Winter, whenever and as soon ~
other necessary business will permit. BY
doing 50, We expose the larve Of insects,
which are apt to infest such lands, to tho
winter freczes--the frosts help TO pulverize
the soil, and the vegetable matter Is under
going decay, aud producing various chemi-
cal combinations, useful TO the intended
crop. In clear lands, and perhaps in some
stiff clays, even although they be in stubble,
! would prefer breaking up late; so late as
just to finish the operation at planting time.
So much for breaking up.
To complete the preparation for your
crops, as soon as you are d0ne sowing oats,
cUmmence laying off your cotton ground,
with deep scoOter.fiirrow on this scatter
your manure, and ridge with two deep
twister furrogs: finish the bed when YOU
come 10 plant. For the corn crop, as far
as your manure will go, adopt the very
same process, except as to finishing the
beds, and even there, if It l. not already
well broken. In low grounds, the bed
should always be completed before planting.
On my high lands-that portion which |
cannct manure-my practice has ben to
run deep horizontal oter.fIrrow in
laying oil, and on each side Of this, about
D foot distant, another deep scooter-!urrow /;
thus leaving two ridges. When ! come to
plant, open with a shovel, and cover with
TWO scooter furrows, splitting the two first
ridges, and making one in the center. BY
this mode have a thorough stirring Of
The soil when the corn is planted.
CULTIVATION or TILLA0E.
It is here that | think our farmers are
most at fault. They prepare their soil for
The easy spread Of the roots, and spongioles
Of plants, and then, in their aiter culture,
cut these oil, rs if they were useless ap
pendages. II we study tho mode Of life
and growth Of the plant, it would seem
wrong to the simplest apprehension, 10 be
cutting oil these feeders; and all sound
expel ience (Iny own aud that Of many 9th.
prs) proves this TO be so. The doctrine
should be deep preparation and shallow
culture. To be more particular, would
a