The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-12-01
Thorough Preparation of the Soil.

Thorough Preparation of the Soil.
Perhaps there is no proverb relating to
farm wtrk that expresses the truth more
forcibly than the one that says that crop
well put in is half made.
The truth involved in it is not as fully ap-
preciated as it ought to be. Everywhere
in our southern farming we see the most
careless methods prevailing, and it is very
natural conclusion that the majority Of our
farmers do not understand that a good
mechanical condition of the soil bears
closer relation to successful results, as a rule,
than mere moderate application Of COM
nercial fertilizers. Since the days Of
,ethro Tull, who first testified to its value,
many intelligent cultiyators have appre-
,iatad and borne testimony to the fact that
thorough pulverizatlon OF the soil to
'epth of five or six inches just prior to
p.uting the crops, and then cultivating
ila crop afterward in such manner as to
cure the continual pulverization of the
sGfaca soil could be made equivalent to
NY liberal application of fertilizers.
ia other words, good preparation, with
Intensive cultivation, without applying
manure would, produce more profitable re-
suits than poorly prepared soil and inferior
,sltivation would produce even with lib
raj application of manure. There is I'M
dolbtediy much truth in that statement Of
the case, and more OF less according to the
nature of the soil operated upon.
Toward even a partial comprehension of
the good effects resulting from a mere
manipulation Of the soil it is necessary to
understand partially If not fully the chemi-
cal changes wrought by this thorough pull
yerzation and its influence upon capillary
attraction-t action of the force having a
grea.eI bearing upon plant growth than is
generally appreciated. perhaps. Aud while
we may not understand the exact nature of
the chemical change effected if we have
been able to observe that certain beneficial
results evidently arising from some chemi-
cal change do follow, that is sufficient for
all practical purposes. We need not stop to
inquire to the probable chemical
changes effective during the growing season
by having the soil we'll stirred aud the crust
Kept broken SO as to amimit the air. The
iact that water which enters the soil from
rains is again brought back to the surface
and dispelled as vapor is due to capillary
attraction. How steadily aud powerfully
drought, when the volume Of water in the
lnderg ound streams is greatly diminished,
The TACT exhili ting itself in the lowering OF
water In the wells, sometimes good wells
oecomlng perfectly dry after protracted
dTy weather. From an average depth of
nifty feet or more almost all of this water is
brought gradually back through the pores
OF the earlh.
With ut doubt an intelligent appreciation
ana utilization Cf this force will aid the
cultivation greatly where much dry we ther
prevails. Finely pulverlzed soil presents a
better medium for the free upward circula-
ton OF tie internal moisture, and shallow
eurrlng OF the surface in dry weather pro-
NOTES the deposits of moisture in the form
u dew, causing, as it does, a more ener-
Ercuc attraction between the moisture of
Iue at osphere-the descending moisture
ahd the moisture of the earth, the ascending
moisture. The common meeting ground Of
Tue Two Is at the surface, where it is utilized
" tne growing plant. Tire ascending
moisture that IN the day time is dispelled
nnperceptlbly as vapor, as it rises to the
..IrIace, at night is condensed as it reaches
We surface and produces mos Of the So
all6d de". 1t is the internal moisture that
Conoe 1sed and not the moisture of the
atmosphere. While the latter may Deposit
"-e u the dew, still mucl the greater part
q - 'ue moisture deposited is that derived
tioiH Inc earth, which folio VS. the escaping
7aV mat begins to radiate as soon as the
14 rays are withdrawn.
| UuSV In proportion to the quantity of
tLohture near the earth's surface, the
ueaVler will be the deposit of dew. The
tLi 4sl unohse vi & cultivator knows that
t .s deposit Is heavier just after the earth
/ 80 oeen saturated with water. After the
81 mas become dry, say two or three weeks
aater rain, little or nor dew is to be OBJ
Eeu out more or less of it can be secured
~ SURFING the soil, this stirring Of the soil
'eu II dry wea her causing a renewed ac-
u9 n Of the capillary force
g. in.s SURFING Of thu soil in dry weather,
anechng the circulation of the two
L.. lures that may have become more or
~ ~ stag ated, owing to certain atm1s-
pqqerlc Conditions. NAV be nkened to tae
80. 80 produced by rubbing a benumbed
M ~ OF the body, which Or 1duces re-
leu circulation of blood to that portion.
| aei le, practical cultivator, who has had
P5..leahca, need not know or to be told the
rt'suVitlc principles, so-called, that are in
ti o,'o % Ia proper pref aration and cultiva
tio., VI the SOIL 1t Is not necessary to prac-
kr1Ilss success If he has had experience he
.i"S certain effects follow certain causes
most invariably. There are many, how
CT from the lack of the necessary expert
~ ~ Ut lack of intelligent interest in their
finn a VINO nave failed to appreciate at its
,oii saiue the need of deep breaking of the
ara Oelore planting, and then to thin out
M. push tie crop, wherever it
bss De necessary before the plant
sTs,I oeel tuned Especially when q
dsr. area is 70 cultivated as in gar
uaii should one take pai 10 have the soil
tbe5 O i.n by blowing and cross blowing,
Nying OF wide, deep furrows at tbe