Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-04-24
TilIage.

whose many claims to the esteem OF his
fellow citizens not tho least was his
in farming. The advice was
good then with regard to the rich lands
about Rome, and practical experience
during the intervening centuries as well
as scientific research during the last,
both 90 to prove the paramount nature
Of the advantages derivable from the
thorough tillage Of the soil implied by
the ancient philosophers reiterated
counsel.
All soils contain immemorially more
or less manurial ingredients whose
quantity and quality are dependent on
their geological formation-on the
varying proportions Of disintegrated
rocks Of which they are mainly composed
Moreover, in many Of them, there is an
admlXture ofanlmal and vegetable re-
mains still rich in fertil:zing properties.
In both cases. however, these proper
ties are imprisoned in an insoluble form
and the action Of water and air greatly
facilitated and promoted by liberal
tllage. is one of the most eilicaclous
means Of setting these manurial treas
ures at liberty and SO fitting them Tor
rlant-food. The abundant character OF
this natural supply Of nutriment has OF
late been strongly exemplilied by means
Of On accurate experiment made by Mr..
Lawcs nj RothamSted, England. For
,birty-four Successive years lie has
grown crop Of wheat on the same
piece OF land, without the application
Of any artificial manure, and although
the crops have had TO gather all
their inorganic clements, year alter
wear. from the store OF plant-iood which
nature had accumulated in the soil, yet
in the weld there has been no decrease
which could be clearly attributed to any
exhaustion OF the supply. Thorough
ullagc. however, lad eXtirpated AL
weeds-those greedy gluttons OF stolen
food-and thrown the way open to the
ljberating chemical action Of moisture
rs well as of the carbonic aciI, oxygen
and nitrogen ofthe atmosphere upon the
imprisoned fertility Of thesoil.
By good tillage, subsequent rains
more readily pass through the loosened
tilth and penetrate the underlying soil
where they remain in reserve against
the time Of drought. The airpcnelrate"
The ground as far as the stagnant water
has been drawn o.. and the finer the
authorization oflAe soil. the freer the
atmospheric circulation, and the greater
the amount OF surface exposed to its
Beneficial chemical action. Moreover
when the earth is cooler than the air
above it, the latter is chilled Oh enter
ing the ground. and in this state being
unable to hold in suspension so much
moisture, parts with some OF it to the
soil. which also absOrDs its ammonia as
well as some Of its carbonic acid and
other gases. Besides tie libcrating
effect these have on the fertilizers locked
up in the soil, they are, some Of them.
notably ammonia. Immediately available
as plaut-iood, while without the presence
OF air no secd-bed can be IN a healthy
condition. To roots Of all Finds ar is
essential. forif deprived of oxygen for
short time, they die. In heavy soils
winter wheat often looks yellow in
spring. because its root. have persisted
on account of the access Of oxygen
having been prevented by the excess Of
wateri in the soil.
The nature of the tillage to be bestOw-
ed on different kinds Of soil should vary
in accordance with their texture. Recent
experiments made By Professor ;. ".
johnson. at the Connecticut Agricul-
ural Station. show that while on clayey
lands deep tillage is generally best-to
conserve the water Of q lrose-textured
soil. its main t.llage should be shallow,
so that the bulk Of the earth remains
compact enough to hold the rain and to
transmit bottom-water steadily. by
capillary attraction, from the subsoll
UPWARDS to tie roots Of the crops. In
such soils the surface only should be
loOsened whenever it forms a crust.
For the same reason, summer tillage
ialso, according to his deductions. should
not extend to the roots except in clayey
soils to compel them 10 develop lower
down and near the water supply, Tor
in unstirred clay soil they can only
penetrate a little way and suffer or
perish when drought comes. As with
fertilizers, 50 with tillage, the safest
guide is experiment. This alone will
tel with certainty the depth and fire.
Qucncy Of cultivation that will most
benefit each sort Of crop on all kinds Of
soil. Careful observation IS the foun-
da,ion alike Of scientific theory aud
intelligent practice, and that farmer will
secure The largest measure Of success
who most accuratelynoticcs aud records
.,r future reference the relations that
exist between his land and its produce
under various kinds OF treatment.
We nave been experimenting in the
hopes of originating very economical
,.4 ,,ofo.oIl. coloI ou0 tho two fnl-