Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-05-06
PHILOSOPHY OF DEEP FLOWING
Experience Proves Wisdom of Using 40
Much Soil 40 Possible.

Experience Proves Wisdom of Using 40
Much Soil AZ Possible.
The great body Of farmers plow only
deep enough to supply good mouth
full for the first heavy rain that falls,
which sweeps away, to some lower
place where it is not needed, the very
cream Of the hillsides. A permanent
sterility is thus produced and hide
GUS deformtty fastened upon the land
scape.
What is the philosophy Of deep plow-
Ing? It Is very simple. BY II crops
are enabled to resist droughts, for
place Is prepared by deep plowing for
the retention Of moisture. Deep plow-
Ing gives greater room for the
roots Of the plants to travel in the
search Of nutriment. Deep plowing
supplies drainage and 1t increases the
capacity Of the soil for retaining and
case that farmer will cultivate his
land as though he owned only four
inches Of surface. A farm may be
doubled In its productive capacity by
claiming and making use Of twelve
inches by the owner. The inaugura-
tion Of deep plowing in England has
doubled the yield Of wheat and other
crops. Oftentimes depth Of twenty
inches Is reached by the plow. An in
stance Is given where a piece OF land
near London could, with difficulty on
per acre, but after It had been plowed
to depth Of twelve or fifteen inches
by steam 1t commanded rental Of $18
an acre.
Professor Mapes, who gave much at
ltention to the effects of deep blowing,
demonstrated that droughts could be
made comparatively harmless by pre-
pairing q deep bed in which the plants
should grow. In this way the roots are
increased in number and size and their
capacity for the sustenance OF the
iplant Is multiplied many fold. II one
has soil 30 compact or 80 flied with
water as to exclude the air and It is
broken up and pulyerized deeply, so
as to invite the roots Of the plant
downward below the usual access of
air, the penetrating roots sometimes abb
sorb some Of the mineral compounds of
the earth and the structure Of the
plant Is injured. On such soil deep
plowfng should be done gradually.
The. plow should 80 one or two inches
deeper every year, 80 that the chemical
changes Of the atmosphere may de-
stroy the poisonous mineral salts.
| VVhC3C thSlC 10 hONDNCTp l4
turning up poisonous mineral COM
pounds deep plowing attracts the roots
of the plant downward to q plane
where they will ind, a supply Of mois-
ture during the dry season. Professor
Mapes thinks the true theory Is to pro-
vide Deep thorough drainage for all
soils, not naturally dry, to a considera-
BILE depth Of the surface, and then, by
degrees, break up the subsoil until q
deep bed Of dry, warm air-exposed
soil is secured.
Continuous shallow culture means
poverty for the farmer, sterility for the
land and destitution for the people.
Every place where shallow plowing is
done will show q smaller yield in the
products Of the farm, and the farms
where this Is the practice are becom-
ing scarif1ed with gullies, along which
the very life-blood Of the soil trickles
away. Sterility Of the soil means ig-
norance, poverty, wretchedness and ul-
innate degradation among the tilIers
of the earth. All the social yirtuss and
the blessings OF, an advance ,ciYiliza:
ton are more or less dependent upon
the manner Id which the soil is cult
waited. Deep plowing is deep sense, a
sure guaranty Of success In the pres
ent and: the only means Of assuring
the highest development and well-be-
ing Of our race In the future.-South-
ern Farm Magazine: