Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-07-21
FARM AND HOUSEH
Working the Soil.


IT is the tillage Of the soil that makes
agriculture; but we do not generally con
slider 1t so. We do not plow enough, cul.
tivate enough, harrow enough. We lack.
if possible, still more IN subsoilinR and
ditching. The last lies at the 1otfndation
of all il aids all the rest, and resTsfs.
measurably and constantly, the drouth
and the excess of rain without IL much
OF our land can be but little benefited,
Manure has not the effect that drier soil
would give it. Working the soil is often
injurious in consequence, especially in
clay land the evil Is thus augmented, the
land becomes hard and wet, aud in a
drouth will crack; in winter it Is charged
with water; in spring and fall it ia the
same. All this is remeded TO a greater OF
less extent by ditching; when this is done
the sub-soil may be stirred to advantage
and to any depth--otherwise subsoilnQ
with hard bottom below, would only in.
crease the evil, as the soil, 1oosened, would
still be filed with water, and hold all the
more, making in some cases bed of mud,
This is not to be thought Of. But drained,
and there may be worked any depth,
and instead of being filed with
water, will be charged with air contain.
ing fertility from the atmosphere, which
Is left In the soil by circulation, aud thus
the ground Is improved. The raw soil
will now be acted upon, and if properly
managed a fund of wealth may be OBJ.
tanned. This, of course, in heavy or clay
soils. We thus get deep bed, to he deep
ened still at pleasure. 2 lp z -.-A
Here manure has its full effect all is re-
tainedy whether applied at the surface or
turned IN; the clay will hold IT or any
good soil. y a.. .EN fTF1 - ~
The drouth may now be defied; the
long rains the same. There Is a conduit
in the soil (porous) itself, to carry off the
wafer, but only so much as it does not
want the rest it retains; and il can be
made 10 imbibe, as in the case of drulth
wnen there is a hard drain upon 1t. This
prings us back to the starting point-
working the soil 1t Is this that gathers
moisture and it is this that enrlches, gv-
| ing chance for the moist, fertilized airtO
mix with it, moist and fertilized mtst
when the soil is worked in summer. II
then contains the gases (emapating from
the hot soiD and the moisture (bv exna1.
sion1 and warmth also, anecessity, chen
ically and otherwise.
Soil cannot be stirred too much. This
is seldom entertained. Simply to melloy
| is thought to be sufficient, when IL ia onk
sufficient to prepare Che ground to receive
the seed. We think our labor Is lost whe,
we work over and over our mellow sol.
and it seems like play-work; simply b
STIR when there are no weeds seems nd
to be the thing The dollars do not COM
up Frightening; but they are there nevel.
theless,: virtually just as muca SIS theg
are IN the corn or the soil that holds tie
substance that grows the corn. To have
the boy and horse constantly at work, re.
treshing himself, is all the while gain
the soil from below thrown up fresh %
the air, taking it in and absorbing rs
wealth, and that wealth is lust what is
wanted, the organic matter. Especially
should we see this thing, since the at,
tractiVe power Of the soil has been made
so clear and striking recently. It Is no
only the great "deodorizer" or "disinfect
AMI" but the great attractor in our fields
Only give it a chance with the air. AnC
you mellow it IS well as lessen the weed 8
These things cannot be too much repeated
100 much urged.-"F g." IN Prstri,
Farmer. f@ # LII