Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-07-13
Stirring the Soil.

about thelr plants except Will II
is Absolutely necessary for the pur
pose q destroying weeds. Aera-
ton, or exposure OF the soil 10 the
action Of theair, is often OF much
Importance, in order to secure a full
development Of all cultivated plants;
and lAis is as mach a part of cult
vaiip as the subduing of weeds.
TIE hasbandman is not satisfied
even With natural growth in cnlti-
waited plaAts, but seeks an abnor-
NAL growth in the whole or III
those parts Of plants designed for
his use or that Of MS animals lie
does not, strictly speaking, follow
nature. bat eHdeavors TO improve
upon her ways of doing things;
consequently he plOughs' sows'
cultit@as, aud forces plants to
make en- esasru.al growth. We
have knsxR farmers who appeared
to thiak that tie less ploughing
hoeins, and stirring the soil about
nlants the he,ter. provided a fair
retura was secured for their labor
But such Men are usually satisfied
with what others would consider a
half crop; and It is needless 10 say
that theg End farning poor bust
ness.
The best and most thorough
farmers do not stir the soil too
often, esther in preparing it for the
receytioa OF crops or afterward. A
single plougAing for wheat or other
small grains is not enough in order.
to break uP and thoroughly pulver-
He the SOL, and although fair
yield may be obtained under such
system, far better one would be
secured X the ground was turned
over t3so or three times, and after
each yscughing thoroughly harrow
ed. The cid system of summer
fallovng land, when thoroughly
carried cat, can scarcely be i'm
proved spoa in preparing land for
either winter or spring wheat. By
ploughing two or three times during
the smmsr. and narrowing after
each turaing, not only is the soil
mixed and pglverized, but the
weeds are also destroyed which
usually spring up whenever fresh
soil with It's seeds is brought to the
surface. Otcourse, land may be
constantly cropped without rest,
provided II is kept rich by the ad
diti@ Of fertilizers. but there are
few farmers who can supply these
in insufficient abundance to pre-
serve tl,s fertility, and for the land
rested. Whatever SYSTEM Of cul-
t;ratiOA IS practised, the farmer
should manage to keep up the
fertility Of his land, and Whenever
he finds his crop failing he may rest
assured hat change is necessary.
Sometimes deeper Plsnghing will
prOdsSe a narked Improvement in
fertility. but the subsOil. it brought
to tie sarfaGe. needs to be fully
aeratsa and pulvcriaed before it
will Be ia a good condition for the
reception of SEEDS.
In the cultivation of corn, pos
tatoes, aud similar crops, stirring
the sell among the plants can
scarcely b repeated too frequently
during the early part Of the season;
in fact, these operations may be
eontiascd sntil the crop is well on
to msterify. Every time the
plough 60 saltwater is run through
the rows snail weeds are destroyed
humps lIsken up. and air and its
accompanying moisture admitted.
The.greand may be too wet for
ploughing or stirring with cultiva-
tors and hoes. but it is never too
dry, beealpse the more frequently
these Supplements are used the more
moistuse viii the soil absorb from
the aif If any OF our readers
doubt this, let them Try a small
plat of grnsnd during dry weather
stirring the soil every day, and
leave D. adjoining plat Sndisturbed.
The fist will remain moist and
sponge-..se long after the other is
as dry IS dust. The same effect is
produced in The frequently cultiva-
tel con, aeld, and a good crop can
often b. made in dry season by
the constant use of the plough and
cultivator, when if they are not
used the plants would certainly |
perish.