The Hillsborough recorder., 1877-04-18
EFFECTS OF DEEP TILLAGE.

More aud more tae tendency among far
mers in this section Il 70 pillow shallow for
corn. The old rule.
). plow deep while sluggards sleep.
And you shall have corn to sell and 10 keep
has been decidedly modified. and has lest
some of its rhythm. Five, Or five aud one
half inches are usually deep enough. Corn
loves warm soil. and the surface isal-
ways warmes,. In May or June the young
corn needs all the heat it can get. Ii cold
subsoil is turned up, the plant will oe
stuLted. and never after recover the lost
time. plowing shallow retains the surface
heat, and il this seed bed the grain gel
inmates quickly. The objectiuns 10 deep
plowing do not apply to sabsoiling. as thar
only loosens instead of upturning the un-
der strata; but in early spring farmers are
usually 10 too much Of a hurry to get their
crops planted to afford time for subsoillng.
Besides. for .orn this deep tillage eau
generally be ,nore proitably applied after
the crop is planted. Deep cultivation.
which will pulserize the subsoll even be-
low ihs furrow bottom. vii. do much 10
retain moisture. admit light and warmth.
prevent tie effects Of drought and insure
vigorous growth. Applying the green
manure 10 the corn crop, and plowing il
under a shallow furrow. is the way most
good farmers dispose of il, but unless the
cultivation is deep enough and thorough
enough TO mix the manure with the soil. il
will depend much ou the season bow much
good il will do the crop. Where SOC has
been plowed un2er. aud especially aud old
sod, this deep culture cannot te commenr-
ed until the June grass and other grasses
have partly decayed. Begin to cultivate
shallow, taking care not to turn up any
sod. Ia very few days this cultivation
will SET the sod to rotting. aud no farther
trouble need be feared. Where the sod is
mostly clover. it decays almost as soon as
turned under. aud begins TO furnish beat
Us well as fosd for the growing crop.
Farmers sometimes object that this deep
culture cuts of the rUo;s Of the corn. In
I'll the crop Is nearly ready 70 form. this is
net serious difficulty. Ii rich. waini.
moist soils she young plan. forms roots very
RAPIDLY, and whenever a root IL severed
oy cultivation dozen rootlels with iu-
numerable feeding mouths start from the
cut. OF cDurse there are limits to tue
root pruning which may prohtably be Rp.
pIied. bnt 1 an satisfied that part. al least.
of The advantages Of frelueni culture Of
corn consists 10 cutting of the roots Of rap,
ids growing corn and thereby increasing
tas number oi feeding mouths. II the soil
we're poor aud .he corn stunie1 IN growth.
,bis advantage would not be found but on
good ceru land there can be lilile doubt OF
It. Especially Is This the fact where the
cu.iiystor Incorporates rotting ml0ure aud
sods with the soil. as thorough tillsge
makes them decay much more rapidly
How shallow and cultivate Is deeply ~
rossiblc afterwards, should be the rue on
heavy or elayey soils. Tie corn crop thus
gets the benefit uf extra warmth early in
The season . and 10 July end august all the
advantages II deep tillage. Cultivation
may be continued up 70 the corn i caring,
taxing care each time 10 draw ID The cult.
ya,or teeth. - a. hot 20 sever oBly the
outer TOw Of r,ots. After euru is cared. Is
Is unsafe TO cultivate much. as tie drain
90 tie plant IL form seed detraeis from IL
ability 20 rasi, out new roots. II = severe
drouth comes just II this time it will be apt
% shorten the crOp--if 100 many Of the
rOots srs cut oH. A single long harrow
tooth running deeply 10 the centre Of the
r,W wiu benefit the cyop eyeu at this times
Uf the benefit q this deep aud thorough
rul,igaiioa on after crops. there ear Be 10
doubt whatever. Il j. shysn quite a.
plainly intse barley crap next sessn as 10
the eorn ii-elf.-w. J Il. 10 COaaty
Gs4fiemaa.