Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-02-03
About Managing Raw Soil.

Although tits known that raw soil,
brought up 10 the surface in large
quantities, is hurtful TO the crop upon
II, yet to what extent, and especially
with the different kinds of soil, is not
50 well understood. More or less
immediate harm is the result. And
yet, TO make use Of this undcrsoiI is
benefit, in that il decpcns the tiIla-
bic land, aTordng a chance for the
better extension of the roots and for
circulation Of air, developing. also.
new available fertility, which is so
much gain, but which, in its original
state, Is Of little use. and. when com
pared with the upper acratcd and
worked soil, is a damage. as it lessons
the crop, the degree of which is de-
pendent upon the amount brought
up. II the plow runs deep, so as 10
bury the upper soil, bringing up the
other To- form in its place the seed
bed, and for slightrooting plants TO
get their nounshmcnt from, there will
bc n failure in clay soil, or where
there is less chance for air 10 circu-
late or water 10 pass through-in
other words, in n bard or dense soil.
which Is also, in general, a cold soil.
Where there is free ventilation and
good drainage, as in sand and among
the shales, there j. little difference
between the upper and the lower
soils. Indeed, We often find it the
case that 10 plow deep is an advan-
tage; not alone FOR the reason that
the uudcrsoil is we'll aeratcd and
warmed. but the fertility in such soil
gradually works down. there being a
lack of clay or absorbent 20 hold IT,.
Hence the lower soil becomes enrich
ed--sOmctimcs richer than the upper
-suggcsting the remedy at once
light and frequent, rather than large
and less frequent, applications Of
manure. which. Of course, j. 20 be-
kept "a much as possible at the sur.
facc, every rain lowering IL in the
soil. and n wet season, or few
drcnching rains. washing it ont. so
that only the dcep-rooliug plants.
like the clovers. and notably lnccrnc.
get the benefit below. The small
creeping blue grass, timothy and
others, show the deprivation of nut
rimcnt by stunted growth and
blcachcd appearance, similar 10 the
effect of drouth which. occurring
after the rains, speedily puts and end
TO the grass. This is well known in
sandy districts. When the rains are
light, Keeping the surface moist with
out washing down, tue best result
follows. This was the case in this
section in the summers Of 1877 and
1878. With sufficient manure (at
the surface) the growth was rapid
and maturity early.
Raw soil, therefore, concerns US
very little in land Of lcachy charac.
ter. The great care 10 bc exercised
in this respect is in all hard or
denscly.packed undcrsoils. Such
land i usually given shallow culture.
which excludes from successful cult
vation most Of the dcep-rooting
plants, such as corn. root crops. bcr-
ries of all kinds, trees and shrubs.
the grape, and, in extremely dry and
vet weather, all the crops that the
farmer raises. IL is only by the
plentiful use Of manure, and care in
cultivation, that the land can be made
To pay, and then not satisfactorily.
The evil--raw soils too near the
surface. To bring up this soil is
worse; TO bury deeply the surface
soil, is TO spoil all for years till the
elements have bad their action upon
IL, aided by the pillow. Then there
will be decided improvement for
the better, and with continued deep
culture, a permanent character will
I've given. The plowing is to be con-
tinued deep, or the sub-soil plow is
to aid, to bc used whenever the land
is titled, when neither too wet or too
hard, so rs 10 break in Jumps, leaving
hollow places.
But it is better, instead of invert.
ing large body Of soil, which will
lie years without benefit, to bring up
little at time, each plowing deep.
ening the tillable soil, till The depth
wanted Is reached. This Is the ac.
knowle'iged' best practice, as il ad.
mits of crops being grown right
along without dimunution, and after
the first year or two increasing in
yield. The blowing should be done
IN the fall, so as TO have the raw soil
In thin layer, exposed TO the frost. |
A coat OF manure should be given,
so as 70 have the layer of wild soil
between The good ground below and
the manure above, with The frost and
the elements operating, and with the
spring cultivation. making acnfl bed 1