Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1869-06-11
agricultural


one Of tho most important operations to
DO performed on the farm, is the thorough
cultivation of the surface soil on all crops
that require the use of the hoe. In Eng
land. and to some extent in parts of, our
own country, the "hoed crops" include
wheat and other grains, when sowed in
drills. Drainage, however, where nocessa-
ry, must prccede all other operations.
Perhaps the word cultivation would af
ford better idea of what we are wishing to
learn, than the word hoeing, as that word
includes all the various means used to bring
tho surface into a fine and porous form.
PlouQhng is the first step toward this
cultivation, and renders all the subsequent
LABOR comparatively easy. Ten or fifteen
years ago deep ploughing was supposed to
be, not only iudicious, but important; but
according to the discussions to which we
listened, during the recent session of the
Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture,
In Concord, dccr ploughiug is now consid-
cred iniuriousl \ distinguished writer,
and an cmiuently practical man, says the
statement that the deeper and the finer the
soil is rendered, the more productive it will
become, is in every respect true, and which
no single iusianco will contradict"
This deepening, however, must be grad
ual, and when 50 conducted. different lay
.ers being brought from time to time to at
mosphcric influences. what was at first n
soil of four or five inches in depth, becomes
one of ten or twelve, and is black, fine and
porous, and in tho condition to become
riehor and richer, under a fair treatment,
every year.
This is the first step in II judicious cult
walton, but is a rude and coarse one, and il
stopped there on our soils, would scarcely
repay the cost Of the operation. We will
give only single illustration OF the benefit
of deep ploughing,
good farmer had a considerable field
which had been cultivated at ordinary
depths. lie laid it out in equal squares,
and ploughed it at all depths from live to
ten inches, on the different lands and sowed
oats evenly over the whole. The crop on
the five inch soil was very poor; ON the
SIX inch rather better; on the seven inch
better still; and on the ten inch soil it was
as fine as ever grew, it had stiff straw and
broad leaves, while the grain was also
much better than on the remainder of the
field.
The first duty of the farmer, then, in pre-
pairing his soil for seeds and crops, is to look
nj its mechanical condition. This is the
basis and groundwork of all after labor
Just what the bricks and mortar are to tn,
mason, lumber to the carpenter, fire ant
10 9 l.,
to the lawyer, of gospel to the minister, ant
of the nature of the human system, and o
the drugs which'he uses, to the physician.
He must look to this, because the soil i
To hold the roots of his plants in position
and by its sponge-like action hold water 70
their use.
1t must be in a condition to absorb mois
turc from the atmosphere to supply tho dc
mand of plants, and absorb heat from tn
suns rays to make them grow.
1t must supply them with part Of thei
food by admitting the air to circulate anon
their roots The oxygen OF the air wi
make the minerals in the soil available
their use.
Three things, then, are just as necessar
to the farmer in preparing his soil to pre-
duce tho most profitable crop, as timber an
nails are necessary to the enrpenterin builC
ing a house.
l.. To make rain water pass through tt
soil. instead of being evaporated from II
surface
2. To make the soil deep and fine.
g. 70 make ii capable Of absorbing Il
4nospheric fertilizers, by which it will b,
come dark, nno and rich.
Such a soil will prevent drought.
Because when rain falls ii will soak I'M
the ground instead of running or It pc
neates every part Of the SOIL and parts wit
the heat, ammonia and other fertlizir
agents which il contains.
II absorbs the dcws and the moistu
contained in the atmosphere. The air
full Of water in the form of vapor. No
than 1900 gallons have been found to eva
crate from single acre in twelve hour
This air rests with pressure Of 10 poun
to every square inch of the surface of Il
fold, and if the surface is porous il is 60
tinually receiving this yapor and passing
along among the particles of soil, waterii
and manuring them,
Watering them, because when it e
down where the soil is cooler than the '
por, the vapor is condensed into real watt
and manuring them, because the soil a
stracts tho manures which the air contain
such as ammonia, carbonic acid and OK
gen, and keeps them in store for the use
the roots Of plants as their needs require
If water stands upon the land it is !
cause the surface is hard snd compact, n
it gradually disappears by evaporatic
which cools the soil, and is Of very grt
injury TO Its powers Of producing cro
When the evaporation of water is rapid
going on by the assistance of the sun q
wind, large quantity Of heat is abstract
and the soil becomes cold and plants "
not grow. When Water is sprinklcd on
floor 1t cools the room. When patio
with fevor is bathed with water, it is to q
ny off tho foyer Of the body, and standi
water on the land operates upon the sal
principle. This is another reason why
surfase should be kept fine and open.
ought to be remembered that when wa