Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1869-06-19
Working the Soil.

w Va NAS ss>~ ~>'
You cannot well work the soil too much;
it is almost always worked too little. The
effect where the soil is a fair one. is almost
miraculous. People do not experiment,
and therefore do not know; scarcely ever
is the thing thoroughly tried. Who works
the soil once week. or but once in two
weeks, to say nothing of daily stirring?
Very few indeed can answer in the affirma-
tive.
Now, there is such thing as soil being
40 poor as that stirring. however much it
is done, will not benefit it. or but little.
This is the case with soil composed nearly
all of sand. But where there is a good
proportion of clay, with other constituents
to make, as We have said, a fair or medium
soil, great benefit will be derived by turn.
ing it upside down often. \ rich soil will
also be favorably atfected-but especially
a soil having clay pretty largely, as clay is
a conductor. And the advantage which
results from stirring the soil is based upon
this 1t is throwing the ground to the air,
which imparts its fertility to 1.-THE
ground, particularly the clay, attracting it.
The more it is stirred, the more porous it
will become; and the more new and UNI
aired ground will be brought in contact to
receive the benefit. Hence an almost
constant stirring is an almost constant feed
ing. Besides the texture of the soil is i'm
proved. Water, heavy and long contn-
ucd rains, are of no consequence. They
pass through it at once, leaving also the
ammonia, and the carbon and other gases
of the atmosphere, which the soil abstracts
from the water. A rain therefore is not
hurtful as it generally is when long con-
tinued. The ground does not become
soured and packed, to crack when the sun
strikes it, which is common. and such q
detriment. The cracking is sure sign
that the soil is not in proper condition. A
properly worked soil is springy, lively and
mellow-just the soil to hold moisture
through drouth, which is such an indic-
ton in our hot summers. But it lies there
defying the rain and the frost. Its own
protector. And it will keep; you cannot
readily spoirit. 1t will bear sooner plow-
ing after rain, and sooner putting in.
And when it comes to the working, it will
almost work itself. Compare it with other
hard soil in this respect.
But its fertility is after all its greatest
point That is the greatest improvement
Filling the soil, therefore is an expires
sive word. 1t means work; it means less
land; it means security against mishap
such as as drouth, rain, etc. it but tho
better prepares the soil to receive it ant
appropriate it. 1t means a garden. Were
each mans farm like his garden, there
would be the greatest improvement thu
world ever knew; less so in the riche
soil of the West.
Even our gardens can be greatly i'm
proved in this respect; not so much OF
the surface as in the depths. The sol
wants to be worked up from beneath
That is, the soil in most cases wants to b.
fed by the air and changed. Summe
fallows are an improvement on this prin
ciple, and this alone. Twice blowing i
better than once, and three times is bette
than twice; and if thoroughly cultivate,
between each blowing, all the better.
And it is this working of the soil tina
kills weeds it cleans the ground, and pre-
pares it better than anything else for tn
sowing.
There is no hcaving of such soil b,
the frost. The frost but improves it; i
cannot hurt it.
And the deeper soil is worked, stirred
in this way, gradually, the better. Thi
gives you the under benefit which is other
wise lost.
LESS land, and thoroughly worked, i
The doctrine of the day. And it has beef
the doctrine from time immcmorial. Blu
it is only good when applied to land thu
thoroughly worked, MANFRED, and takel
care of. Then less land becomes a neces
sity.-Rurul World.