Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1902-11-07
agricultural.
SCIENCE OF FLOWING.

In all soils there is alarge proportion
Of the elements that enter into the growth |
Of plants, but these substances exist in
forms which render them only partially
available for use. When the pillow is
allowed to 60 only to a certain depth
every year the loss Of fertility is in the
six inches Of the soil. Below this shall
low depth is q mine Of wealth which is
at the disposal Of the farmer if he will
appropriate it to his use. So steadily
have farmers adhered to the rule Of
farming that on some farms the pillow
runs along the bottom of the furrow as
though passing and rafting over stone.
1t is the hard pan which creates this
sound, and it has been made hard by
the farmer himself, who has allowed
his team to trample every square foot of
earth at the bottom Of each furrow year
after year while turning up the top
soil. The entire subsoil or hard pan be-
comes harder every year, and conse-
quently it becomes more and more i'm
pervious to water, air and warmth. The
top soil alone is compelled to provide
plant food, although there is an abund-
ance below. The breaking Of the ground
for crop, which is considered but a
"matter of form" on the farm, is really
the most important duty performed. and
the work should be done with judgment
and with the view of improving the soil
conditions.
To turn up the cold subsoil certainly
is not desirable, nor would it prove
beneficial at the start. but the work
should be done gradually. If the pillow
is sent down only half an inch deeper
each year the depth Of the top soil will
increase to four inches in eight years.
While the soil from below will not add
to the fertility of the top soil the frst
year, yet it will gradually change in
characteristics, and give up plant food
as readily as the top soil, for the reason
that by being reduced to q fine condi-
ton the heat, air, moisture, acids. and
alkalines exert chemical effects, which
change its composition entirely 1t also
becomes capable of absorbing the liquid
fertilizer from the manure which may
be applied on the soil, as the rains dis
solve out the soluble matter and carry
it down. Where this soluble fertilizer
only reaches the depth Of the six inches
of top soil it now goes lower, saturating
tho half-inch Of pulverized hard pan, as
sisting to change it chemically and con-
verting it into the same conditions as the
top soil. 1t is by gradually reaching
down into the hard pan for more soil
and more plant food that the farmer de-
rives the stored wealth beneath the sur
face, and when the soil has been mel
lowed to the depth Of foot by thus en-
croaching on the hard pan it will retain
more moisture than formerly, while the
work of blowing will be easier. as the
land will turn over aud crumble more
readily because of an Improvement in
its mechanical condition.
There is also such thing as putting
the plants at work in improving the soil
Every time the hard pan is encroached
upon it opens more for the penetration
Of the roots and plants This does not
refer to the tap roots or the roots which
sometimes cndeavor to get into the hard
pan to derive plant food, but to the roots
that feed in the surface soil Instead Of
being confined to depth Of six inches
they will have seven or eight inches or
more. according to the depth Of the hard
pan invaded. aud when the crop is re-
moved there will be mass of roots left
in the soil, and to greater depth than
before, which is so much fertility re-
naming in the soil for the next season.
II the subsoil pillow is also used, in addi-
ton to blowing an inch dseper, the hard
pan will be broken up to greater depth
without turning il to the surface, but
the blowing up Of half an inch or an
inch Of subsoil, and adding it to the top
soil, exposes it more directly to the ac-
ton Of moisture. air and warmth, and
the farmer does not iujure his top soil
in any manner. II air-slaked lime is
applied to the soil after it is plowed,
and the land is then we'll narrowed, es-
pecially in the fall season, it will prove
of much benefit to the land while the
surface soil is being deepened. as it pro-
duoes both chemical effect and me.
chanical action, which hasten the pro-
cess Of bringing the soil to the desired
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