The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-04-05
Wet PIoughing,

Asthis is theseason of the year when mo
mischief is done to the crops, the land, al
the farmers generally, than any other
wet ploughing, word or two of advice w
be appropriate, and, we hope, usefu
There is common remark which hi
found its way throughout the country, an
is, probably, credited everywhere, that tt
waste lands which are now seen through
out Virginia, laying idle in their hideou
dress of broom-sage, briars, &C., wer
3. brought to this unsightly and profitles
condition by being cultivated in tobacco
There never was greater mistake, TO
there is evidence on record from the pen
of the most experienced and reliable gen
tlemen in the land, proving clearly that to
bacco-at least so far as cereals are con
cerned-is an improver of the soil. Th
point will not be discussed here, for thu
experiments and reports Of these gentle
men are certainl,' worth more than any
theory or opinion which might be adj
vanced.
But there is cause for this waste and
sterility Of soil in the country, particularly
Nh6tui%, WuiCIl, VI CVuISC, tutIc WAS
cause for, and it is this cause, which should
be removed. After many years of close
observation and thoughts upon this sub
ject, we have concluded that aoet ploughinq
and cultirating crops, sohen the soil is acet,
is what has done the mischief. Every
farmer knows wet ploughing is injurious
to land and they will all say they never
plough their land wet but the truth is,
they deceive themselves about this. The
temptation to go on with the work, when
hands, horses, implements, and everything
are in readiness to do it, is too great
to be resisted by many, though the wet
condition of the land positively forbids it,
1t is astonishing how much men deceive
themselves on this subject. We once knew
a gentleman who spurned the idea of
working his land wet who had piece
ploughed, when his neighbor, only fence
dividing them, would not plough 10 con-
sequence of the wet condition of the soil.
To make this-which is quite long story
"a short one, the result was, though the
soil and all things were equal, the former,
who ploughed and seeded his wheat when
the ground was ina proper state, harvested
upwards of thirty bushels of wheat per
acre, whilst the other made fraction over
thirteen bushels to the acre.
1t would be easy to fill this journal with
instances of positive loss and ruin in con-
sequence of working wet soil but per-
haps large majority Of our readers may |
say, What is the use of telling us what we |
all know 1t is true, as we have said be-
fore, nearly every farmer knows it is
wrong to cultivate wet soil but it is not
true that they all obey the dictates of their
own experience aud judgment; and fur.
Their, there is fact connected with the
subject which is mysterious, and stands
now unexplained, which it is the duty of
all, both teachers and scholars, to explain
and elucidate We mean the fact, which
some may not be aware of, that land is
injured by wet cultivation, when baking
IS not a.consequence. Learned and pyac.
'scat farmers, who profess to understand
his subject-who dread wet ploughing as
4 direct road to ruin-say, when land does
lot bake, no harm is done.
The common argument with such is,
Why are bricks not made in winter time /?
md how can the plant-food in the soil.
lave its character changed by disturbing
t when wet? We answer, this is the yerv
'oint needing explanation. The only
question here is, does wet cultivation +
amage the land, when baking does not
nsue ? that is, this is the question with
ONE persons, but not by any means with
II, for there are many who know from
osltive experience that land is deteriorated
y wet cultivation when baking is not
squence. Sandy soils are injured by.
ret working, but they do not bake. Be- a
ause their constituents forbid mechanically ,
lch state or form and if they are in
lred, without baking, why may not CLAW 9
'lls be !? The clay will, of course, bake i
hen disturbed wet, if heat succeeds. but \
lis cause of damage, whatever it is. NAV {
comparative. and though the clay may
OF be wet enough to bake--to make a l
fick-it might be sufficiently wet to de- q
'ngee or alter the character of the plant &
'od in 1T to an extent which rendered it n
nfit for use. O
1t Is well known that clay exposed to =
mosphere and freezing is fertilzed by it.
ut this is presumed to be clay brought to u
le surface by the plough, or other ways.
'dlnarlly moist. Clay. which has been \
anipulated for manufacturing brick ex- l
osed to atmosphere and freezing is not
'r1ched by it, but the same clay, removed | N
ON It's bed in dry state and exposed to
e same air and frost, aoiu be enriched.
ID out Of IL grows generally plants such
jamestown weed, Bourdock, &C., which
Q never seen except on rich soils. There az a.
@ many who will doubtless dispute this Sc
opposition, theoretically, but if they will
We it their attention practically, the facts V,
i'll be admitted, and whether they can ex- D,
ain it or not, it will enable them to pro- Dc
Ice more on their land if they are not in
rmers, they will be able to teach others. q,
no are, very valuable and profitable &c
lth. In conclusion, let us say to farmers III
gardeners, it is far better to do NOTHING, We
en- if the labor is to be paid for the lost SO
ne, than to touch the soil with an imple- VIZ
INT of any kind when wet. :
The OLDEST WILL YET.-A truly 4
centric will was that made by MIR. j. ~