The Republican journal., 1870-03-24
From the Lewiston journal, |
PI OWING

Deep blowing has been handed down to us as a
part OF our agricultural literature; it has generally
been advocated by agricultural writers, papers and
speakers. we fear they sometimes do violence to
their idea by not apprecating the stern fact that
circumstances alter cases'-that conditions should
be taken into account in this, well as in all o-
eratlons, Whoever adopts the rule to plow all lands
ten or twelve inches deep, does violence to agrcul-
tural ecouomy
The constant accumulation of ages, or cultivation
has rendered our surface soils congenial TO nlant
our soils cannot be determined bv an arbitrary
rule of inches. They generally var; in this State
from four to twelve inches The manner of pIow-
ing soils makes great difference in their product
iVeness. The grand deSideratum should be to keep
the vegetable mould, or rich soil on the surface
II cold, inert soil be brought to the surface the
plant has nothing to stimulate its termination and
CROWN IL VIII hardly have courage to push its
roots through the cold, dead, inert SOIL to find the
humus and rich soil buried beneath. This course
would be like farmers, who, in his commendable
zeal to improve his farm stock, would cover pail
OF rich milk with hay, and the hay with straw and
then say to his young calves, that cannot be reared
without milk, Eat your way through straw and
hay, there is milk at the bottom!' We should ap-
ply the epthet fool to such a man: vet no more
foolish than he who turns his rich surface soil nm
der ten or twelve inches, and brings hard Dan for
food for young plants.
If thin soil be turned under a foot it will re-
qtilre large amount OF manure to render the sur
tace lit to sustain the plant, and to bring ii back to
its accustomed state of productiveness. Deep plow-
ing alone can never render poor soil good. If
f1A oon uafc vi pTOuucJlVeneSS to a
good depth, the plow will render efficient aid in
developing its resources. In this case deep plow-
Ing is profitable. If this is what is meant by deep
piowlng, we are agreed. But if by deep blowing
1t Is understood to plow all land foot deep, ire
spectve OF strength and depth of the soil we must
be excused from riding on the beam! If shoal
plo"ing means 10 skim the surface not EXTENDING
down to the depth of the good soil we likewise
demur; and would ask the favor to ride the beam
In this case the amount of manure applied might
make the soil richer than profitable, that is the
manure had better be applied to greater depth of
soil.
Three rules may safely be adopted, first plow as
deep as the land was plOwed before. In this ease
soil was turned at the last blowing; second: plow
as deep as you please, if you are prepared to
manure abundantly, and, consequently obtain a
good top soil.
ohe rule may comprise the three. PloW as deep
as you can and sufficiently enrich your surface soil
and no deeper. The deeper the soil the better
vegetation will resist the drought. There is no
more soil to retain water and the deeper roots will
strlke, and be more secure from drought
IL Is good idea for farmers to break an inch deem
er uhtii they reach the depth of ten inches provided
they can apply enough manure to make the surface
sol, sumciently rich to encourage young plants.
Sh0al and deep ploughing have been presented
ana the extremes guarded against. Let farmers
guard against these extremes. The medium is safe
on contested points. Let shoal and deem nIouoh.
ing advocates agree on this point; plow as Ieen as
you can sufficiently manure the surface. and M
deeper. ~ nv
Thought engenders thought. Place one idea on
paper another will follow it, and still another. nm
til you have written page. You cannot fathom