The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1901-1903, 1902-11-30
scienc, of pIowIp-.


In all soils there is large 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
plow is allowed to go only to a certain
depth every year the loss of fertility
is in the first six inches of the soil.
Below this shallow depth is a 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
slbsoil or hard pan becomes harder
every year, and consequently it be-
comes more and more impervious to
N0ttA ali anu w al nun. Int lOU bOil
alone is compelled to provide plant
food, although there is an abundance
below. The breaking of the ground
for crop which is considered but
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 inn
proving the soil conditions.
To turn up the cold suosoil certainly
is not desirable, nor would it prove
beneficial at the start. but the work
should be doGs gradually. If the pillow
is sent down~nly half an inch deeper
each year the depth OF tie 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
first year. yet it will gradually change
in characteristics, and give up plant
food as readily as the ,op soil for the
reason that by being reduced to a fine
condition the heat, air, moisture acids,
and alkaiiRes 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 dissolve out the soluble mat
ter and carry it down Where this
soluble fertilizer only reaches the
depth Of the six inches of top soil it
now goes lower. saturating the half
inch Of pulverized hard pan. assisting
to change it chemically and converting
it into the same conditions as the top
sell. 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
surface, and when the soil has been
mellowed to the depth of a foot by
thus encroaching on the hard pan it
will retain more moisture than former
IT, while the work of blowing viii be
easier. as the land will turn over and
crumbse more readily because of an
Improvement IN its mechanical con-
dition
There is also such thing as put
ting the plants at work in improving
the soil Every time the hard pan is
encroached upon it opens more for the
peneI Qtion Of the roots and plants.
TnisI ~ not refer to the tap roots
or tt Is which sometimes endea-
yor ilte~the hard pan to de-
rive VTa1t food. but to the roots that
feed in the surface soil Instead of
being confined to q depth of six inch
es they Will have seven or eight incl
ea or more, according TO the depth of
the hard pan invaded, and when the
crop is removed there will be mass
OF roots left in the soil, and to a great
or depth than before, which is SO muchA
fertility remaining in the soil for the
next season. II the subsoil plOw is
also used, in addition to blowing an
inch deeper, the hard pan viii be brok-
81 up 10 q greater depth without turn
ing il to the surface. but the plowing
up Of half an inch or an inch OF the
and adding it TO the top soil,
exposes IL more directly to the action
OF moisture, air and warmth, and the
farmer does not injure his top soil in
any manner. If air-slakej lime is ap-
piled 10 the soil after it is plowed and
the land is then well narrowed, es-
recialiy in the fail season, it will prove
Of much benefit to the land while the
surface soil is being deepened. as 1t |
produces both a chemical effect and
action. which hasten the
process of bringing the soil to the de- |
siEl condition.-Philadelpaia Record.