Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-04-10
TO FARMERS.
GRANGER.
WOODLANDS, Tenn,
April 3, 1875.

EDITORS CHRONICLE:-I wish to
drop a seasonable hint to some of our
farmers. Perhaps a month ago 1
would have been nearer in season than
now. 1t may be, however, that some
of them have not yet prepared their
ground for planting. To such I would
say, break deep. Soil loosened very
deep dries out less in drouth than if
broken shallow. Let last summers
terrible drouth and almost fatal fail
ure in crops admOnish US to prepare
ground to receive drouth should we
experience that circumstance the
coming season, and then, rain or shine,
it will be all the better in either case.
Deep blowing is the cheapest possible
system of undertaking, and every
farmer knows, or ought to know, that
well-broken ground is cooler than if
broken shallow and growing crops will
stand drouth very much longer and
better. Indeed deep blowing is the
only salvation of crops that have to be
cultivated during long continued dry
weather. Take time, 60 slow, but
break deep. Better plant less ground
well prepared than more with slipshod
cultivation.
Do much of the cultivation before
planting. Some of the less fortunate
among our farmers may think because
they do not own a subsoil pillow and
have not the means of buying one
that they cannot break their land as
deep as is necessary. There are other
and perhaps better means of subsoil-
ing than by simply using a subsoil
plow. Most farmers own at least two
plows. Let such as do, run the two
plows, one behind the other in the
same furrow, and the ground will be
as well pulverized and broken as deep
as with the subsoiler. If, however,
there are among your readers any who
own but one pillow and have to use it
themselves, to them | repeat, take
time, go slow, be patient, and simply
run the pillow up and down in the same
furrow, thus accomplishing the same
result as either the two plows or the
subsoiler. This requires time and
patience, but | earnestly hope that
some at least, of those who have not
broken ground will try it. The result
will be satisfactory.
One word more in regard to deep
blowing. Water stagnates and poisons
plants in ground not broken deep,
when if we'll broken the underdrain
secures nourishmentand health instead
of poison and death. 1t is not, how
ever, necessary to plant deep, especial
ly with corn. The roots which receive
and give nourishment to the plant grow
near the surface and should be in the
soil and not below it. They will, with
out deep planting, strike down as deep
as is necessary.
| fear there is a disposition on the
part of our farmer friends, because of
the present high prices to overplant in
tobacco and neglect other and perhaps
more important crops. | conceive ii
to be the first duty, and doubtless the
better policy, of farmers to provide
an abundant supply of food for man
and beast and then look after the
money crops. | have noticed that
farmers who had well-6lled corneribs
and smokehouses almost always have
something besides, and farmers who
do not have these evidences of good
husbandry generally have nothing. Ii
is to be hoped that we will profit by
the experience we are now gathering.
Last years experience taught us that
there are other crops that will easily
sell and bring money beside tobacco,
aud raised with less expense of labor
and money and more easily handled.
And again, it is to be feared that too
large a crop of tobacco will not bring