Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-06-16
AGRICULTURAL,

Changing the Conditions of Soils - Its
Drainage. Etc.
The hard, crusty surface on the soil, after
warm day succeeds shower, is due to
improper drainage The ground may sp.
parently drain OF the surplus water easily,
but that which goes down into the soil must
find an outlet below. IL the subsoil is of
stiff clay, OK imperyious, the upper soil will
be slow in absorbing heat, while the crust
that quickly forms over the surface not only
prevents evaporation but also acts as bar
rier to the entrance of the air. which is
necessary TO the health and vigor of the
growing plants.
Baking Of the soil may be remedied by
thorough drainage and tie application of
lime. Many farmers who have drained their
lands by the use of iraiR.tile lind, however,
that the soil, though more easily worked
and cultivated, does not become perfectly
free from the formation of crusty surface.
This is due to the eompaetness Of subsoil,
which does not allow the surplus to pillow
away as rapidly as it should. 1t may be
remedied By FIRST blowing the surface soil
and following with 3 subsoil pillow, which,
with the thorough under drainage, will soon
render the soil frisble and easily cultivated.
Drainage, however, while carrying of the
surface water, also admits the air. BY
deep tillage the sir is sssistedin penetrating
every particle of tee soil, and changes the
elements Of which the soil is composed.
When lime is used on heavy, compact soils,
it changes the character Of the substances
which haYeso tenaeiously resisted all efforts
10 subiue them. II gradually works for
ward, being carried through the soil by the
rSins. Lime alone may not add fertility TO
some soils, in which it exists as an insolu-
Die carbonate. 1t is in changing its own
condition that in connection with the free
oxygen ct the air, il performs service in
Gberating many inert and dormant elements
that cause the soil to be Of an undesirable
character. Some farmers have not found
line beneficial on certain soils and crops
but this results from the fact that lime acts
best when the conditions are most favorable
for that purpose. Hence the soil that is
well drained, thoroughly plowed and the
subsoil rendered porous, viii often be
changed in character and texture by the
use of lime when other methods have tailed.
Frost is another excellent agent in assist
ing to change the condition OF the soil
Land plowed deep, late in the fall, aud let
With the burrows ridged, will expose a
greater surface to the frost and be more
readily puIyerized. This Is . great saving
cflsbor in the spring. but it does not pre-.
vent the soil from baking on the surface
after the growing season begins. The diff
culty must be overcome by drainage and
the chemical action Of the lime or some
alkaline substance that is easily united with
the Vegetable acids that exist in the soils.
Hard soils should always be worked over
after rain. This not only keeps the sur.
face loose but permits the soil to absorb
greater amount Of moisture from the sue
ceeding rain, as well as assisting in the dis
tribution Of moisture from below By capillary
attraction and the absorption Of water vspor
from the stmospere. Deep tillage does not
require the turning up of the cold subsoil.
/ but pulyeriEes it By means Of the subsoil
pillow. The toughest kind Of soil may in
this manner be made serviceabis for al
kinds Of crops