The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-01-23
SubSOilinS.

frequently is the result of continued
| plOwing and trampling OF the horses in
the fulrOw. It is only slowly permeable
by water, and is almost impenetrabIe
mechanically by the roots of plants, and
is generally absolutely 50, because it
contains nothing in the way of nutri-
ment attractive to them. Where it oc-
ours near to the surface, the soil is known
as thin or shallow, and is always satu-
rated with moisture or baked by drought.
In such soil plants linger feebly and
make sickly growth. Liberal fertiliz-
ing is of small avail, for the reason that
there is either too great supply of wa
ter or too little; and either excess is
equally disastrous to the crop. The
shallow soil, too, soon becomes exhaust
ed of it's valuable mineral constituents,
and however much manure may be ap-
piled to it, we find the crop does not
thrive for no crop can succeed on purely
vegetable matter, or on soil deficient
in mineral elements ia q soluble cOndi-
ton. The lower down the stratum of
hard pan exists, the longer the exhaust
ion is deferred, but until it is broken up
and destroyed, earlier or later exhaust
ion is sure to arrive. The presence of
this inpenetTable bottom may be per-
ceived in. almost any field by attempting
to thrust staff into the soil. At the
depth of two, three, or occasionally a
few more inches, further progress is re-
sisted. This crust should in all cases be
broken up by process known as sub
sOillng. 1t is not necessary that it be
ploWed up and brought to the light of
day. On the other hand, such course
is at first inadVisable except in very
few cases. No season is more suitable
fnI fI01r +l,n
When the stubbles are being ploved,
then is the time to subsoil. Just now
there is opportunity and leisure. The
plOw to be used for this purpose is one
without share ormOld- board. A strong
coulter-like cutter is affixed beneath the
beam, curving slightly forward, and
made to penetrate fOOtOr sixteen inches
beneath the surface. At the bottom Of
the cutter is affixed a pointed narrow
shoe, about foot long, and three to
four inches broad at the hinder part,
and gradually increasing in thickness
from the point toward the rear until it
is as thick as it is wide. This plow may
either follow in the fIlrrOW behind the
ordinary pillow or may be drawn across
the field, after having been surface
plowed in lines one foot apart. Its ac-
ton is readily understood. The shoe
penetrates beneath the crust which
common plow simply glides over. The
sharp cutter causes but little resistance
to the progress Of the plow through both
soil and subsOil, and the peculiar form
of the sole lifts the subSoil and thrusts
track of broken and crushed clods in it's
wake Such is the process. The effect
is strikingly apparent. The surface soil
is Immediately dried, and waterno longer
remains upon it. The temperature of
the soil is at once Increased by reason
of less abundant evaporation. The soil
is less subject to drought because more
air is contained in it, and because there |
is greater depth, and moisture can be |
drawn up from below. The manure ap- |
piled to the surface sinks to the subsoil !
and fertilizes the hitherto barren STRAIT |
um. The roots penetrate and soon fill |
the subsoil with a large quantity of veg
etable matter. It is as though a new |
store of food was unlocked and made |
available for crops. The results of sub |
soiling are that the soil is in good con-
ditiOn for working earlier in the spring |
than it would otherwise be. The soil |
being drier in the rainy season, there is |
less destruction Of newly planted crops |
and Of seed by rotting in the ground,
and consequently no need for replanting |
corn or resolving other spring crops. |
Grass and clover also take, better.
The soil being warmer, the newly plant
ed crops, especially of corn, suffer no
80 set back" by reason of chilly nights
and cold rains in June. The soil being
deeper, and consequently moister in dry,
hot summers, the growth of crops is not
by reason of drought, and
earlier maturity is secured. The roots,
by their deeper penetration, procure
more abundant supplies of mineral food,
the straw is stitfened, and crops are not
aid; there is less or no rust or smut in |
grain crops, less or no potato rot, and
roots have no fingers and toes" There
ire many other important advantages
gained by subsOiling which might be
but these are those which
most readily occur to us as we recall the
results upon our own fields, which, to
sum up, finally appeared in the satisfac-
Jory shape of nearly double crops the
1rst year and steady gain for each sue
,eeding year. Besides, after subsoiling,
t is almost impossible to prevent the
blow running few inches deeper, until
n few years there is mellow, fertile
soil OF at least foot in depth. For
farm we know of no more ef-
:ectual remedial treatment than a thor
'ugh subsoiling. It is the first process
If renovation, and should always come
before the application of manure. In
many cases it is the most effective meth
ID Of fertiliziDg such lands, and at once
loubles or trebles the yield, for it sim
by makes available large store of fer
ility hitherto locked UP and held in re-
'erve beneath the impenetrable crust,
which has been forming during many
1ears of imperfect cultivation.
NaD1 ADnrrm Trrm1a Tn ON Fpol;ul |