Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-29
UNION AND AMERICAN.
FARM AND GARDEN.
DEEP FLOWING AND sUBsOILINI


DEEP FLOWING AND sUBSOILING.
The recent beautiful weather has broken
up winters inactivity on the farms, and
plows by the thousand have been reversing
the soil preparatory to planting crops. As
this initial movement on the farm is one
upon which the excellence ofthe crop re-
motely depends, we propose to remind our
readers of the importance Of as deep break
ing and as thorough Rulverization Of the soil
IS is practicable.
The first and most obvious effort Of deep
blowing is to give sufficient range for the
roots Of plants, and to prepare the land for
the retention Of moisture during the dry
weather in summer. Perhaps one of the
most remarkable instances Of the benefits
derived from deep blowing on record, was
that effected by the Marquis of Tweedale on
the Yester farms in East Lothian, Scotland.
The subsoils on these farms were very re-
tentive clays of almost all colors, ''black,
white, yellow, blue and green" These lands
were first well drained and then plowed to
the depth of IA or Is inches Care
was taken not to bring too large a proper
ton Of the bad materials or clay at once to
the surface, for the cultivated vegetation to
encounter, and accordingly a subson plow
was invented TO follow after the ordinary
turn plow and increase the depth Of tillage
without bringing the clay to the surface. 1t
was observed that the soil and subsoil were
30 intimately mixed that in digging pits
with a spade through the plOwed and
trenched soil, no difference could be dis
covered. In year or two afterwards, how
ever, the mixture seemed all upper soil.
The subsoil, trench plow which was used
raised portion of the subsoil by degrees
and rubbed it against corresponding por-
ton Of the upper soil, laid over in the fur
row slice by the plow that went before.
The mixture Of the two was better perform
ed than could have been done with the
spade.
We have often heard it objected to deep
blowing that the clay turned on the surface
makes it cold, and vegetation is long
in starting. But it should be remem-
bered that the best beginning does not
always make the best ending. When
the trying time for the formation Of grain
comes, in the dry season the roots of the
plants will be revealing in field of fertility
,,1 -, oig4,,ra or,rlv f;o;art 20 s,,r,,,l,z oil
demands made upon them. It was this
principle that enabled the crops of Prof.
Aapes, Of New Jersey, to resist the exces-
sive droughts in 1856, when all the crops
around were burning up. 1t was this that
made the fields Of YeSter increase their
yield by one-fourth, with the same fertilizers
and same culture.
Deep blowing ensures a well drained bed
of warm, air-exposed soil that tempts de-
position of the fertile elements contained in
the atmosphere.
The poisonous mineral salts are destroyed
by coming in contact with the air and dele
terious matter converted into plant food by
chemical changes induced by the atmos-
phere. Clay, when exposed to the air and
light, as all farmers know, becomes fertile;
washings or silt Of gullies, railroad
embankments and clay from wells often be
come very thickly covered with a luxuriant
vegetation. Let our farmers investigate
this subject and not waste their top soils by
shallow blowing. Gullies are never seen
when deep tillage is practiced. The surest
sign Of thrift on a farm is 20 see three OF
four horses to plow. Deep culture means
deep sense, a searching after the good be,
heath the surface, multiplying the acreage
OF the owner by multiplying the depth o.
his soil. Ten acres of land with fifteen
Inches Of soil is more valuable than eighty
with two inches. 1t will yield more, i:
worked at one-eighth of the cost, is more
reliable, and will be fertile when all the
shallow soil is exhausted, OF has drifted
away in washing rains.
In many counties Of our State the farm.
ers pillow with one horse only. In such coun.
ties vast numbers Of old fields, with grinning
classify red gullies stare the traveller il
the face, a damning record of bad steward
ship, for which the owners should be held
accountable by the State, and viii most
surely be held so by the God who loaned
1t. Such blowing means poverty for the
farmer who practices it; poverty for the
land that bears it; poverty for the State that
permits it, and ignorance, poverty, wretch.
Fl edness, and probably crime, for him who in
herits it. Plow deep. The blessings, and
enioyments, and luxuries Of life, depend, il
not Immediately, at least remotely on it
The preservation of the fertility of our soil:
depends upon it, and consequently food and
rsiment. 1t is a religious duty; it is patri'
70 ,,l,u