The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-02-14
Mixing Soils.


pTacticed by our farmers, and yet there are
great advantages to be derived from such a
process. In many localities there is need Of
such work; for all soils are not properly pre-
pared for the cultivator in a natural state,
and skill and intelligence are necessary to put
them in condition to produce profitable
crops. We well remember a circumstance
that happened many years ago in this coun-
try. A farmer dug well and was compelled
to so deep into the hard earth in order to oh
tain sufficient supply OF water. A large
quantity of what is called pin gravel was
thrown up. 1t was of blush color and very
hard to dig. The soil in the vicinity of the
well was strong, but heavy, once having sus-
tanned a fine large growth Of beech trees.
This well was dug in August, and the follow
ing spring the owner planted field OF corn
adjacent to it. The earth thrown from the
well had not been removed and in planting
the corn many hills were made on the ground
covered with this pin-gravel, so that the corn
grew quite near the well. The farmer told
his boys lot to plant too near the well as no
corn would grow upon the earth thus thrown
up from the depths below.
The boys were not so particular as their
father, and planted some thifYh hills on this
gravel The corn came up and the terder
blades were darker green than any others
in the field at the first hoeing. Much sur
prise was manifested By the hoers at such
vigorous growth OF corn on such soil. But the
father expressed the opinion that the corn
would never come to anything. He was,
however, agreeably disappointed. In harvest
| time these hills yielded more and better ears
than the same number in other portions OF
| the field.
Thus we see that great advantage may be
derived, not only from mixing soils, but also
from subsoilDg which is much neglected by
our farmers. Subsois are different in char
acter from the worked soil on tie surface as
every farmer may see by digging bitches
through many portions If his lands. There
can be no doub, that the subsoil often con-
tains certain ingredients which, being mixed
with the topsoii, will prepare the land for
crops OF various kinds. And 1t is for the cul-
tivator to ascertain by experiments what mix
lures are best suited to certain crops. The
Country Gentleman gives an Illustration o
this theory. An open ditch, some two feet
deep and many rods in length, had been dus
to drain small pond. The earth was taker
tronfNle ditch and thrown by the shovel over
the ground some rods on each side. The
fed was afterwards sown with wheat The
season was uniavorabe to this crop, and whilC
the rest dip not average more than five bush
els per acre, the portion which had beer
dressed with the su5soil yielded at the rate o
twenty bushels. The conclusion was oby.
Gus. The subsol contained certain ingIedi
ents which seem exactly what the wheat
wanted.
This mixture OF different soils has proved
beneficial By deep plowing. Many iarmer
hare greatly increased their wheat crop b.
this process. On some kinds of soil muck i
very valuable; and this may often be haulet
in the winter TO better advantage than il
other seasons of the year. In this way ou
farmers may prepare their fields for gTea
crops OF wheat. On many farms there ar
dry ridges and knobs out of which the vege
table matter has been washed away, ant
these portions become euti-ely unproductiv
and valueless. Muck will restore these pla
ces and prevent the unsishtly appearance c
bare and barren spots in the green fields.
On every farm there are materials entirel
separate from each other which IL they wer
properly mixed would add much to the ierti
ity OF the land. And yet our farmers seldor
think OF these things and entirely neglect {
, make these fields productive by mixing tn
soils. Much, very much may be done in thi
way to improve our farms, and farmers woul
do well to follow out the suggestions an
thereby enrich their lands. 1t is no doub
@ true that some subsoils do not possess nucl
fertilzing quality, and the facts can only b
= obtained by repeated experiments which ma
| be t1ied on q small and inexpensive scale.
, often happens that small quantities applied I
q the surface will prove beneficial, while large
masses would be attended with injurious e1
fects. And it sometimes happens that til
enriching earth is too deep down to be throw
up by the plow. in such cases trenches c
bitches may be cut and the subsoil throw
about with the shovel which would test til
,, quality of it and the work not be burdene
with much expense.
The Country Gentleman says farmer j
New York had increased his wheat crop fror
s twenty to thirty-fye bushels per acre by run
. ming the plow two inches deeper. And an
/ other WAS so well satisfied with the superior
, itv of the suhSoil tLat 10 ,.sarled that Tn
2 would be willing to get rid of six inches
the top, If he could have 1t all pared Oh ant
5 carried out the way. No doubt he sta'e'
: the case too strongly, for It would be bette
f to mix the two parts. But bis remark show
: ed his strong conviction of The value of tn