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

1t, yet TO what extent, and especially
with the different kinds Of soil, is not
so well understood. More or less
immediate harm is the result. And
yet, to make use of this undersoil is
a benefit, in that it deepens the tilla-
bleS land, affording 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 aerated and
worked soil, is a damage, as it lessons
the crop, the degree Of which is de-
pendent upon the amount brought
up. If the plow runs deep, so as to
bury the upper soil, bringing up the
other to form in its place the seed
bed, and for slight-rooting plants to
get their nourlshment from, there will
he a failure in clay soil, or where
there Is less chance for air to circu-
late or water TO pass through-in
other words, in hard or dense soil,
which is also, in general, cold soil.
Where there is free ventilation and
good drainage, as in sand and among
the shales, there is little difference
between the upper and the lower
soils. Indeed, we often find it the
case that to plow deep is an advan-
tage; not alone for the reason that
the undcrsoil is well aerated and
warmed, but the fertility in such soil
gradually works down, there being a
lack Of clay or absorbent TO hold it.
Hence the lower soil becomes enrich
ed-sometimcs richer than the upper
Suggesting the remedy at once
light and frequent, rather than large
and less frequent, applications of
manure, which, of course, is to he
kept rs much us possible at the sur
face, every rain lowering it in the
soil, and a wet season, or n few
drenching rains, washing it out, so
that only the deep-rooting plants,
like the clovers, and notably lucernc.
get the benefit below. The small
creeping blue grass, timothy and
others, show the deprivation of nut
rlment by n stunted growth and
bleached appearance, similar to 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, the best result
follows. This was the case in this
section in the summers of 1917 and
1873. With sufficient manure (at
the surface) the growth was rapid
and maturity early.
Raw soil, therefore, concerns us
very little in land of leachy charac.
ter. The great care to be exercised
in this respect is in all hard or
densely.packed undersoils. Such
land is usually given shallow culture,
which excludes from successful cult.
vation most of the deep-rooting
plants, such as corn. root crops, Der.
ries of all kinds, trees and shrubs,
the grape, and, in extremely dry and
wet weather, all the crops that the
farmer raises. 1t is only bv 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 had their action upon
it, aided by the plow. Then there
will be a decided improvement for
the better, and with continued deep
culture, a permanent character will
be given. The blowing 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 as to 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 blowing deep
ening the tillable soil, till the depth
wanted is reached. This is the ac-
knowle,lged best practice, as it adj
mits of crops being grown right
along without dimunution, and after
the first year or two increasing in
yield. The plowing should be done
in the fall, so as 10 have the raw soil
in thin layer, exposed TO the frost.
A coat of manure should be given,
so as to 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 seed bed
that seldom fails to DO satisfactory.