The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-06-20
Deep or Shallow Culture.

those who practice deep culture to pause
and consider whether that practice is
best, and give reason for their manner
of cultivating. Whatever those reasons
may be, and however plausible, there is
not q proposition connected with the
whole science of agriculture more falla-
cioas, or practice more hurtfdl in its
effects, than deep culture. To contend
for deep culture is to ignore the very
irst principles of vegetable life. Roots
are the feeders of the plant, through
which it receives those chemical elements
of the soil necessary to its growth and
development. Nature supplies these
feeders just as she furnishes arteries and
yoins to the animal organization, and
precisely for the same purpose. Not a
root iseyer put forth by aplant that is
not Necessary for the growth and matura-
zion of. that plant, and required during
its existence. Nature does no superhu-
GUS work. The roots; Of the forest oak,
that lives for an age, continues during
all this time to grow and ranif fy-pefme-
ating the soil, wide and deep, in every
direction. The same fact holds in regard
TO minor plsnts-such as our ANIMALS,
shat mature in one season. The little
ihfits that spring out. as the seed yege.
tates, continue to- grow through the sea-
son, enlarging and extending themselves
10 the utmost depth of the pulverized
soil. They ramify and spread themselves
in every possible direction, and complete
ly occupy the soil. Cut these tender
6brits and you destroy what are destined
TO be the, main supporting roots of the
plant during the season Of fruiting. You
stun the plant, inficting an injury from
which it does not recover.
Time is an importaat element with our
!. annual cultivated crops. The season Of
growth. short at best, and crops need to
be stimulated instead of retarded. Tear
ing and cutting the roets &C plant
arrests its growth and shortens its season
of maturation. Nature sets to work
sfresh to repair damage done. This ne
paration process consumes time, and the
Second growth of roots is much less Wig
erous than the original. Consequently,
the plant does not recover from the in
Jury, and its crop of fruit is proportion
ally shortened. The argument that
nature more than compensates this loss
oy the multiplied number of roots put
forth lin lieu of the 1acerated ones, but
proves the extent Of the injury and the
Importance of time IN its reparation.
What, then, do these facts teach us in
reference to the cultivation of field crops2
If corn and cotton require roots, why do
violence to the laws of nature by con-
4 stantly tearing them Off Nature is our
best guide. Assist, but never Illustrate
her designs. In this consists the policy
of him who caltivatss the soil, as well as
the true philosophy OF life. This prin-
ciple holds in the vegetable as in animal
life. As we dare not sever an artery or
sEein with the expectation ofinvigorating
the health of an animal, SO we must not
lacerate the roots Of q plant, expecting
to, promote its growth. In the one case
we debilitate the animal, and in the
ether cripple the plaat. In both we do
mischief instead Of good. The lesson
taught US in this study of natures laws
in their application TO vegetation is an
n,istakably plain. The soil, properly en-
riched and prepared, should be given to
the planted crop. Let it have undis-
tlrbed possession during its season of
growth and maturation, that its roots
may thoroughly perneate and occupy
the soil. They are feeding the plant that
liz to produce the fruit, and ofttimes run
out to considerable distance in search
of food. Let not the plough-share in
wade this domain to disturb this quiet
process of nature; its business is on the
surface, attacking the grass and weeds
that may appear there. Having once
deeply subsoiled and pulverized the land,
it will need no more breaking during the
season. The roots Of the planted crop
will readily penetrate its depth, despite
the impacting effects of the heaviest
rains. To subsoil again and again is
more than folly. No good can possibly
result, and great deal of harm will be
the inevitable consequence, for it is nom
sense to talk of ploughing corn, cotton
or any other crop deep without cutting
the roots. It cannot be done. The only
rational course left the planter, who is
disposed to observe Che dictates of ma.
ture in this regard is to adopt system
of surface cultivation, merely keeping
under the grass and weeds and letting
his crops grow. BE can no more make
his corn grow by cutting off its roots
than the surgeon can make wound
heal by constantly leaving it open. Ma
ture in both cases demands non-inter-
ference. She alone can make bale of
cotton or heal wound, and her dictates
should be the guide of all who expect
success.
There are other facts connected with
this subject that should not be overlooked
in estimating the comparative advantages
of deep or shallow culture. These facts
resolve themselves into the proposition,
that surface culture husbands the mois-
furo of tho soil and ollnvye n IN ho onnro