The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-11-12


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 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 II he will appropriate 1t to his
use. So steadily have farmers adhered
to the rule of farming that on some
farms the plow runs along the bottom
of the furrow as though passing and
rattling over stone. Ii is the hard
pan which creates this sound, and 1t
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
subsoil or hard pan becomes harder
every year, and consequently 1t be-
comes more and more imperyious to
water, air and warmth. The top soil
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 iarm is really
the most important duty performed,
and the work should be done with
judgment and with the view of i'm
proving the soil conditions.
To turn up the cold suosoil certainly
is not desirable, nor would 1t prove
beneficial at the start. but the work
should be done gradually. If the plow
Is sent down only half an inch deeper
each year the depth or 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
first year, yet 1t will gradually change
in characteristics. and give up plant
food as readily as the Top soil, for the
reason that by being reduced to fine
condition 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 dissolve out the soluble mat
ter and carry 1t down. Where this
soluble fertilizer only reaches the
depth of the six inches of top soil 1t
now goes lower, saturating the half
inch Of pulverized hard pan, assisting
to change il chemically and converting
II 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
surface, and when the soil has been
mellowed to the depth of a foot by
thus encroaching on the hard pan 1t
will retain more moisture than former
", while the work of plowing will be
easier, as the land will turn over and
crumble more readily because of an
Improvement in its mechanical con-
dition.
There is also such a thing as put
ting the plants at work in improving
the soil. Every time the bard 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 endea-
vor to get iato the hard pan to de-
rive plant food, but to the roots that
feed in the surface soil. Instead OF
being confined to depth of six inch
es they will have seven or eight inch
es or more, according to the depth, OF
the hard pan invaded, and when the
crop Is removed there will be a mass
of roots left in the soil, and to a great
! er depth than before. which Is so much
fertility remaining in the soil for the
next season. II the subsol plow Is
also used in addition to plowing an
! inch deeper, the hard pan will be brok-
en- up to a greater depth without turn
ing 1t to the surface, but the plowing
up of half an inch or an inch of the
subsoil, and adding it to the top soil,
exposes 1t more directly to the action
of moisture, air and warmth, and tsa
farmer does not injure his top soil in
any manner. II air-slakei lime is ap'
piled to the soil after 1t Is plowed, and
the land Is then well narrowed, es.
pecially In the fall season, 1t will prove
of much benefit to the land while the
surface soil is being deepened. as II
produces both q chemical effect and q
mechanical action, which hasten the
process of bringing the soil to the de-
sired condition. Philadelphia Record