The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-04-19
Deep PulYerlzation Of the Soil.


Deep PuNerizati0n Of the Soil.
In preparing land for q crop we
plough and harrow it, filming the sur
face soil to secure seed bed togiyc the
crop a good start. Is not the future
growth OF the crop just rs important as
the start And can 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 yet failed to realize expecta-
tions, without any satisfactory reason
to account for it. Sometimes the fail
uTe 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 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. / 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,
SulVi~~tn and crnsS-cn cultivate thorouGh-
ly, and harrow well, using the rufjjnr
and other implements, if needed, until
the upper portion of the soil is well
fined; then turn this body of pulver-
lied soil under, aud 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 d 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 years
crop, and indefinitely if the same treat
ment is continued, which is not now
difficult 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 ii 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 disntegratng vegetable mat
ter. Understanding, which was prac-
tlced 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 and
heavy rains better, and to prevent the
lifting effect of the frost, while it
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 unusually
heavy rains long continued.
This is the soil to have; and to such
condition almost all our clay soil can
be brought. Our land is crying for
more mechanical work, done in the
proper way-deep pulveri2ation and
sub soiling Fortunately, there is no
lack OF implements adapted to the
work. But unless the necessary care is
exercised as to the time Of working the
land and tho condition of the soil when
worked, the effort at mechanical inn
proyement will be of little avail, and
may even be hurtful to the land. Mere
mechanical work will not properly re-
duce harsh, lumpy soil without the aid
OF the elements-frOst, heat and mois-
ture-to disintegratc and soften il, as
without this aid the Jumps will be re-
duced only to smaller Jumps which
favor the admission Of dry air in
drought, causing the plant to wither,
and, if the drought is severe, to perish.
whereas if the soil is mellow it hugs the
roots of the plant closely, thus favoring
the absorption of plant food rs well rs
the extension of the roots beyond the
reach OF the drought. Only in this way
can full growth re obtained and the
heat and dry weather and excessive rains
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