St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-05-24
Deep PulverizatiOn Of the Soil.

In preparing land for a crop we
plough and harrow it, filming the sur.
face soil to secure seed bed To give the
crop good start. Is not the future
growth OF the crop lust As important As
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 subsoil9 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 yet failed to realize cxpecta-
tons, without any satisfactory reason
to account for it. Sometimes the fail
ure is laid TO drought Or excessive wet,
but seldom to the true cause.-The con-
dition of the soil below the surface.
Reason rs 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
1t allows of more complete pulyeriza-
ton Of the soil; or the land NAV be
ploughed in the fall, so as to get the
benefit OF the frost in the exposed posi-
ton. am speaking of soil having
prcponderance 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-cuitivate 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 a pity TO turn down such
mellow soil, and consider the work Ne
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 ar.d growth must be |
derived mainly from the soil below, and |
that, If this of 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 i'm
fertility more than pays for the extra
labor in the crop that follows, the
benefit extending to the next wears
crop, and indefinitely if the same treat
nent is continued. which is not now
tif1cult in the improved mechanical
condition of the soil.
Soil is made bad by bad treatment,
ind. once in this condition, il is very
spt to remain so, getting worse if its
ertility is allowed to diminish. Wet
and Indifferent culture are
he main causes. Such was the case
With land in central New York before
he introduction of the dairy BY the
Use Of manure and the growing Of sod
he land obtained rest and got the
enefit of disintegrating vegetable mat
er understanding, which was prac-
iced TO some extent, further contrib
ted to improvement. Where thorough
of the soil was added. the
and reached its highest degree Of pro-
uctiveneSs and profit. This prepared
to withstand the dry weather and
eayy rains better, and to prevent the
fling effect of the frost, while it
ecured the full benefit of the manure
ne increased extension of the roots,
downward, also resulted,
'hich prevented loss from washing, {
<cept, perhaps, in the case of unusually I
eavv rains long continued.
This is the soil to have; and to such
)nditiOn almost sill our clay soil can
= brought. Our land is crying for q
ore mechanical work, done in the q
roper way-deep pulverization and }
10 soiling. Fortunately, there is no
ok Of implements adapted to the
ork. But unless the necessary care is >
,ercised as to the time of working the il
nd and the condition of the soil when r
orked, the effort ut mechanical inn =.
'ovement will be of little avail. and i
ay even be hurtful to the land. Mere
echanical work will not properly re-
Ice harsh. lumpy soil without the aid :, -
the elements-frost, heat and mois-
re-to disintegrate and soften it, as
thout this aid the Jumps will be. re- v
ced only to smaller Jumps which &c
vor the admission of dry air in a =
ought. causing the plant to wither. a
d, If the drought is severe. to perish. d.
,eress if the soil is mellow it hugs the
DTS of the plant closely. thus favoring =,
: absorption Of plant food as well a. -
, extension of the roots beyond the =
aoh of the drought. Only in this way
0 full growth 20 obtained. and the DC
81 and dry weather and excessive rains p.
witas.ped. ~. J. S44a. =,