The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-06-17
0lre1mtetlfqet1terl,.
American Institute Farmers
Club.
NEW YoRK, June 8, 1859

NEW YORK, June 8, 1869.
The attendance was not very large at
the Club to-day, on account of rain
storm. The discussions were spirited,
however, and for the most part they
were instructive.
DEEP FLOWING.
David Petit, Of Salem county, New
Jersey, sent in a paper on deep plow-
ing. which was read by the chairman,
N. @. Ely, in substance as follows:
Much has been said by the Agrfcul-
turaI writer's and the press in general
on the subject OF deep blowing, bnt
still no definite conclusion seems to
have been arrived by the public. Deep
culture is considered by many as being
soil successfully. The writer said that
in his section, (Salem county, the peo-
pie produced as good crops where they
plowed only five inches in depth as
when they went deeper. II the sub
soil is more fertile than the surface,
then deep culture is always beneficial;
but II on the contrary it be poorer, then
it would be unwise to bring up the sub
soil to impoVerish the thin layer OF fer
tile soil on the top. He gave lengthy
account of the manner in which the
Salem county farmers manure their
farms. He had known the very best
crops to be raised on shallow plowed
land; and in his own experience he had
made three blades of grass grow where
only one grew before. he did not wish
the Club to get the impression that he
had no respect for the opinion OF others.
would receive the few facts he had
to present as facts and not as
pet theories. Some soils require q
certain kind of cultivation while others
need an altogether different method of
treatment. The gentleman pitched into
| ~, Ko cd hu ~ HroalnSy a
previous meeting, when he declared
himself in favor of deep tillage under
| all circumstances. 1t Is contrary to
nature, said Mr.. Petit, for plants to
send their roots far below the surface
where they are seldom reached by the
air or sunlight. 1t is a we'll known fact
that most plants send their roots along
the surface OF the ground. OF course
some of them have downward tend
ency, but as general thing they do
not go very deep.
Mr., A. S. Fuller said it was useless
for Mr.. Petit or any other person to go
against the practical experience of
those who have made the subject life
| long study. There is sense in all
things, and he would admit that there
might be instances when shallow plow-
| ing would do as we'll as deep culture.
Everything depends upon the character
of the soil and on its condition at the
time of ploughing.
DR.. Trimble, Of Newark, said that
Mr.. Petit was really an advocate OF
deep tillage, but he intended to have
stated in his communication that the
land In Salem county was different from
that of most sections. He (the doctor)
! would be happy to go with any gentle
man to Southern New Jersey and show
| him the system OF farming carried on
there. He could show plenty of land
producing a hundred bushels of corn
| q n Uipl6
This fact was of more importance to
the farming community than a dozen
Agricultural Colleges. 1t costs great
deal to pillow deep, and If the public can
be made to believe that shallow culture
is as profitable as deep culture, an i'm
portant result will be accomplished.
| Mr., Fuller knew ofplaces where more
corn could be raised per acre on land
ploWed two inches than on two acres
OF Mr.. Pettit's land; still it does not
prove that deep blowing is not benef-
cial He thought that any one of COM
mon sense would not be 30 foolish as
to cover thin surface with deep lay
er OF poor snb-soil. A man can stir his
land two feet deep without inverting 1t.
| Mr.. Whitney remarked that there are
many soils that need deep blowing
| without inVertinR. Others require deep
culture and inverting also. A man
must pillow according to the kind OF land
he has. Deep tillage is not always deep
blowing.
THE TEN HOURS SYSTEM ON THE FARM.
Some one writing from the country
inquired if a farmer could, as general
thing, afford to adopt tho ten hour sys-
tenn on the farm.
emily situated from the mechanic, for
the latter can have regular hours, and
not be obliged to suspend work on ac-
count of Indictment weather, except in
rare instances. No farmer can afford
| to leave q portion of his crop out over
night when an hours work would put
it under shelter. 1t would not be right
for the club to advise tue adoption of
the eight or Ten hours sys'ean ON the
farm.
Mr.. Fuller was in favor OF leaving the
question for the farmers 10 settle after
| their own manner.
| Mr.. Gregory remembered the time
| when the farmer called up his men af-
ter hard days work and said, well
| boys, we have worked ali dnV-noW lei
us 20 and play cut-wood"-[ Laughter.
| The speaker said that many farmers
seemed to think that they owned their
laborers, body and soul. For his part
he had rather be led than be driven.
Mr.. Powell, of the Anti-Slavery
Standard, arose and said: There are
certain forces In operation which are
moving the people on, whether they
wish to go or not. The action recently
taken by President Grant in regard to
the eight hour law is of the deepest sig
nificance and 1t will affect society from
one end of the country to the other.
Farmers as we'll as manufacturers, will
have this problem thrust upon them
though they may take away every
means to avoid IL. There Is not the
poetry in farming which editors and
| philosophers would have young men
! believe, and until the awful dreariness
| of farm life is removed little can be
done towards making 1t pleasant. The
hard heartedness of many farmers and
| the grasping spirit which they exhibit
toward their young men is doing much
to drive them into the city. The sub
| iect is one of great importance and the
club should not pass 1t lightly by.
Make q man respectsb BILE and he will
act accordingly. The Agricultural
| laborer should not be made one of an
| exceptionable class-and 1t Is because
this is so that agriculture is frequently
| dreaded by our young men.-There is
really, no antagonism. between the
farmers and their laborers; only mis-
understanding. The wants of both are
closely allied with each other. The
question should be candidly- discussed,
and not put aside for less important
matters.
Another member said that one great
reason why young men were so much
| opposed to working in the country Is
| because those who live In the towns
| and presch the dignity of farming,
manifest no sympathy with them when
they meet them. When they meet one
| of these WellsdreSsed PHILOSOPHERS they
| are looked on as being ignorant Doors