The sea coast echo., 1903-01-10
Science of Flowing.

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 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. 1t 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 impervious 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 a 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 i'm
proving the soil conditions.
To turn up the cold suDsoil certainly
is not desirable, nor would it 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 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
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 a 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 it
now goes lower saturating the half
inch of pulverized hard pan, assisting
to change 1t chemically and converting
1t 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 foot by
thus encroaching on the hard pan it
will retain more moisture than former
| ly, while the work Of plowing will be
easier, as the land will turn over and
| crumble moro 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 hard pan is
encroached upon 1t 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 into 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 mass
of roots left in the soil, and to great
er depth than before, which is so much
fertility remaining in the soil for the
next season. If the subsoil 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 1t to the top soil,
exposes 1t more directly to the action
of moisture, air and warmth, and the
farmer does not injure his top soil in
| any manner. If air-slaked l6me Is an
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 deebened, as 1t
! produces both chemical effect and a
mechanical action, which hasten the
process Of bringing the soil to the Se.
! sired condition.--philadelphia Record,