The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-06-14

face soil to secure seed bed to give the
crop good start. Is not the future
growth of the crop just as important rs
the start !? And can a successful growth
be obtained unless equal attention be
given to the entire body of the cult
waited soil, which is to be occupied by
the roots, including, to some extent,
the subsoil? No matter how well the
seed bed may be prepared, and how
good start be given the plant, if the
rest of the ground is in poor condition
the crop must necessarily suffer. There
are probably few farmers who have not
had more or less experience of the
kind, where the crop started well,
which it can only do with good seed
bed, and vet failed to realize expecta-
tons, without any satisfactory reason
to account for it. Sometimes the fall
ure is laid to drought or excessive wet,
but seldom to the true cause.-the con-
dition of the soil below the surface.
Reason as well as experience shows
that not only the surface soil, but the
ground throughout. needs to be fined.
There are various ways of doing this
among which the fallow is the best, as
it allows of q more complete pulveriza-
ton of the soil; or the land may be
ploughed in the fall, SO as to get the
benefit of the frost in the exposed posi-
ton. l am speaking of soil having
preponderance of clay and sufficient
drainage for good work. Where the
necessary drainage is lacking. under
draining must be resorted to. In spring,
as soon as the ground is dry enough,
cultivate and cross-cultivate thorough
ly, and harrow well, using the roller
and other implements, if needed, until
the upper portion of the soil is well
fined; then turn this body of pulver-
lied soil under, and give the same
treatment to the soil brought up. Many
would think. it pity to turn down such
mellow soil, and consider the work re-
quired upon it as lost They do not
consider that there is but little room
in the shallow seed bed for the roots,
that sustenance and growth must be
derived mainly from the soil below, and
that, if this of a good depth. the roots
will occupy it, and thus secure large
feeding space, reasonably safe against
drought, little affected by wet weather,
and requiring less manure than with
ordinary culture. This advantage in
fertility more than pays for the extra
labor in the crop that follows, the
benefit extending to the next year s
crop, and indefinitely if the same treat
ment is continued. which is not now
difhcult in the improved mechanical
condition of the SOIL
Soil is made bad by bad treatment,
and, once in this condition, it is very
apt to remain so, getting worse if its
fertility is allowed to diminish. Wet
ploughing and Indifferent culture are
the main causes. Such was the case
with land in central New York before
the introduction of the dairy. BY the
use of manure and the growing of sod
the land obtained rest and got the
benefit of disintegrating vegetable mat.
ter. Undertaking, which was prac.
| ticed to some extent, further contrib
uted to improvement. Where thorough
pulverization of the soil was added, the
land reached its highest degree of pro
ductiveness and profit. This prepared
it to withstand the dry weather ant
heavy rains better, and to prevent tn,
lifting effect of the frost, while j
secured the full benefit of the manure
the increased extension of the roots
particularly downward, also resulted
which prevented loss from washing
except, perhaps, in the case of unusuall,
heavv rains long continued.
This is the soil to have; and to sucl
condition almost all our clay soil cal
be brought. Our land is crying 70
more mechanical work, done in tn
proper way-deep pulverization ant
sub-soiling. Fortunately. there is NJ
lack of Implements adapted to thu
work. But unless the necessary care j
exercised as to the time of working th'
land and the condition of the soil whel
worked; the effort at mechanical i'm
provement will be of little avail, an,
may even be hurtful to the land. Mer
mechanical work will not properly re
duce a harsh, lumpy soil without the ai'
of the elements-frost, heat and mois
ture-to disintegrate and soften it, q
without this aid the Jumps will be re
duced only to smaller Jumps whicl
favor the admission of dry air in I
drought, causing the plant to wither
and, If the drought is severe, to perish
whereas if the soil is mellow it hugs tn
roots of the plant closely, thus favorin,
the absorption Of plant food as well a
the extension of the roots beyond tn
reach of the drought Only in this wa
cana full growth be obtained, and tn
hest and dry weather and excessiverain
be withssood. T. 'sxu.