The Portland daily press., 1881-01-31
AGRICULTURAL.
Deep or Shallow Flowing

We were never more impressed with the
fact that it is possible to plow certain kinds
of soil too deeply, than while riding among
the farms in Maine, especially in those sec.
tions where clay soil predominates. These
lands were once covered by forest-growth,
and the roots of the trees penetrated the soil
in every direction and to a considerable depth.
When the trees were destroyed by cutting
and burning, and the land was put into
grass, enormous crops were for many years
produced The ashes from the burnt vege-
tation afforded, with the natural fertility of
the soil, all the plant food the crops could
appropriate, while the decaying roots for
long while kept the surface and subsoil COM
paratively light and porous, the chambers
left by the rotten roots affording free passage
downward for suplus water falling from the
clouds or gathering from melting snow. But
as the roots became entirely decayed, the
cultivation by plows and harrows, with the
treading of teams and animals at pasture,
gradually filled these underground water
courses, and caused the surplus moisture to
collect and remain on the surface.
We have thousand of acres of clayey pas
ture land along the line of the railroads
which, although there has been no rain for
a day or two previous, were covered by sur
plus water in every little foot track or de-
preston in the surface. Such soils can
never again become what they once were
until they are thoroughly underdrained, so
that surplus water can readily pass off be-
low the agricultural soil, or that which is
worked by the plow, and fed upon by the
roots of plants. The roots of the present
vegetation, chiefly grass and weeds, do not
find their way into the soil except to the
depth of very few inches.
Now to turn this vegetable matter at the
surface, including both tops and roots, down
nine, ten, or twelve inches, covering it with
a cold heavy weight of rootless material,
would, it seems to us, be about the most un-
sensible thing a farmer could do. But this
is just what many have done in years past,
following the advice of those who knew lit
tie or nothing of the peculiarities of lands
of this description. We were credibly in
formed that lands in certain portions of
Maine which had in years past been plowed
deeply, show the ill effects at the present
time and that they have never produced
satisfactory crops since the operation, while
other lands of similar character treated to
shallow plowing had produced satisfactory
returns continuously,
On our own farm, the soil of which is
loamy with gravelly subsoil and quite well
drained, we have never been able to detect
any injury from stirring the soil to any
depth. Drains have been dug, rocks sunk
and stumps removed, the holes being fire.
queutly filed with the soil taken out more
or less reversed, and yet the succeeding
crops have always been quite as good over
such stone holes or drains, as elsewhere.
Three years ago trench over ninety rods
long was dug for laying lead pipe across
the farm, the depth being three and one
half feet. The trench crossed two very dry
gravelly knolls where crops always wilt in
seasons of drought. Both years since the
pipe was laid, the location of that pipe over
the dry knolls has been plainly observable as
far as the crops could be seen, by the extra
dark green color over the pipe. Similar con-
ditions have been observed where stone holes
have been filled. The gravel thrown up ap-
pears to contain no poisonous ingredients to
affect plants injuriously, nor does the in
verted sod seem to lose its value, or get be-
yond the reach of the roots of plants that
may be cultivated on the surface.
With such an experience, unattended by
a wider observation, it would be quite nat
ural for one to advocate very deep plowing
for all; while those having had an experience
with stiff clay soil only, would be equally in
clined to advocate shallow plowing. If
farmers club, instead Of discussing the
question, show deep to plow," would con-
fine their discussion to certain kinds of soil,
there would probably be much less difference
of opinion on the subject.
We found very little land in Maine that
would be benefited by such deep plowing as
was called for at the plow trial of the New
England Agricultural Society at Worcester
the past autumn. Nor do we find much land
anywhere that we would wish to have plough
ed to the depth of ten inches, when prepar-
ing it for crop.
Of course we refer to inverting the sod. A
subsoil plow that will loosen and tighten the
soil at the bottom of the burrows without
bringing it TO the surface, and without bury
ing the vegetable matter and manure which
is contained only in the few upper inches,
would of course be desirable implement to
use. We call atteDtion to the subject at this
time chiefly for the purpose of guarding
farmers in Maine or elsewhere, who work
clay soil, against being misled by those who
know really nothing of their surroundings
New England Farmer.