Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-10-08
KEEP THE SURFACE OF THE
GRnIIND LOOSE.

We have many years watched the varied
results of the cultivator who keeps fire.
ouently stirring the surface Of his soil, and
the one who hoes and eultiy1tes only when
the weeds compel him to work; and as we
have watched and recorded our notes, the
result has always been in favor of the con-
slant stirring of the surface soil.
We do not advocate deep tillsge
during the growing season, but we would
have lthe ground deeply and thoroughly
stirred early in the season, whether it were
an old or new plantation. Once, however,
that vigorous growth of top and root has
commenced, all deep tiilage should cease,
because, by pursuing it, constant and con-
tinued checks are given, and truly healthy
growth prevented by repeated breaking and
tearing asunder the roots and fbres, the
supplying pipes for elongation, expansion
and evaporation Of the branches and leaves.
By repeated surface stirring III the soil,
however, no roots are brok- the sun, air
and moisture are enah. ed to penetrate and
assist in the cheD,[.,cal trans1nntation Of the
esrth's comrrounds and fitting them for alb
eorption py the .-Horticulturfst for
JvSse.
All land to be.in corn, oats, or other an
nuAI plant next year, viii be improved BY
good plowing this fall. The freezing and
thawing Of winter benefits clay soil and
subsoil turned up by the plow 30 much that
one thorough ploWing in autumn is better
than two in the sping to eliminate plant
food, and produce a heavy crop. Land
plowed In the fall can be planted earlier in
corn, or sown IN oats, than ground left till
spring before it is broken. Tillage few
months in advance of seeding does more
good in the way of msnuIing the crop than
one farmer in hundred believes. The
chemistry of plowing, stirring the soil
with the ho,, culii7ator, or barrow
is not sufficiently studied. Every farmer
should ask himself end Others the question
why any tillage is necessary to raise wheat
or other grain? Experience shows that
pIowing increases fertility; but this groocth
Of fertility is the work of time, precisely
like the growth of all plants on the farm,
including all trees. Tine is the most inn
portant element in agriculture, yet it is the
most of all neglected. Plow at once to raise
food to make corn, cotton, or any other crop
next year. Nature takes her own good
time in developing vegetable and animal
life, and that fruitfulness of minerals, which
we call fruitful earth, without which no
organic being could exist. Much as the
plow has done to increase fertility In past
years, it is likely to do vastly more by deeper
cultivation, and longer time before seeding.
The mechanical operation viii be at once
more perfect in all respects, and more dur
able in its chemical and vital results. What
plowing chances to render vegetable mold,
clay and sand more available for the growth
of crops, is what the farmer should learn.
Oxygen in condensed air, in all the pores Of
finely pulverised soil, is the active chemical
agent. It is often called "the tooth of
time," which, with carbonic acid. makes
even flint soluble in wa or to form some
thing like glass in the stalk of corn, wheat
and oat plants.