The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-10-16

compact by the abundant rainfall that
ar does not penetrate them to aid in
preparing plant food. Such fields,
therefore,, may not show any benefits
OF subsoiling until after two or more
years.
1T rarely pays to subsoil land in the
spring, and it is never advisable TO
use the subsoil plow when the sub
soil IS fully saturated with water,
oven though the surface be fairly drv.
Under such conditions Of plowing the
clay subsoil is pressed and packed.
when the object is to pulverize it and
allow the air to act upon it.
Experience Agrees With Theory.
No principle in agriculture has
been more thoroughly demonstrated
than the value Of deep, thoroughly
pulvcrizcd seed bed
The Romans plowcd on an AVERAGE
inches dccp--always three times for
crop. and in stiff lands nine times.
Thcy did not call 3 inches "plow-
ing il was only scarfying."
The Flemish farmers were the first
T." follow The better lines of a~ricul-
tIrc after the Dark Ages. They de-
voted their efforts to three main
points: CD The frequent and deep
pulvrr'zatlon of the soil. (2) the ac-
rumnlation of manure. and (3) thc
| destruction of woods
deeper and more thoroughly nul-
vcrlzcd seed bed was the foundation
upon which England built an improv-
cd agriculture. and this principle has
been generally accepted there for
more than one hundred and sixtv
years, until the average production
has increased nearly fivcfold.
"A late letter from Hon. Wm. Saumd-
crS' director Of the Central Expcri-
mental Farm. Ottawa. Canada. states
that Farmers usually plow shallowlv
Immediately after harvest (Anrustl
to preserve moisture and DESTROY
weeks. Tn October they
commonly pillow s inches deep. ANY
plowln@ done in the spring months is
usually shallow. not more than 6
inches dccp.' Eight inches of break
IN" IN October in Canada, whcrc
fr"StS penetrate 3 or I feet deep. is
better for moisture storage than plow-
IN" I" depth Of Il inches in the
Southern States.
the writer has visited a number Of
Southern agricultural vullc"cS This
year. IN every ease The directors Of
their experiment stations favored 4
deep and thoroughly prepared seed
bed.
The Georgia Experiment Station
bulletins repeatedly urge Il deep. mel
low. and rich seed bed for corn. and
they insist that if the soil is moi,
naturally such ii should be made 50
ny deep tillaec and the addition Of
humuS.
Bulletin No. 63 of the Georgia En-
pertinent Station. on Cotton, -
States that "frurtccn Wears of cx-
rrrlmrntati"n have justified certain
r"nrluSSi"nS that may be accented rs
practically final' The Following" !.
on" "t them: "Thornueh bcarkinc
ana r"mmingln" Of The upper soil.
gradually increasing" the depth to S
or 10 inches. using rlow and harrow.
InS NOR" effective than deeper but less
thorough pulvcrizing.
On the Sngar plantations of LouiSi-
ana the tllla@c for cane averages 70 to
- inches in depth.
On the Eva plantation. in the Uaw-
a1an Islands, the average dcpth Of
rl"Wn" is 80 inches. This plantation
produces the largest crops of sugar
can" /" the acre in the world.
In III" Farmers Cooperative De-
m"nStratl"n Work the importance of
deep and thoroughly prepared seed
h'd like garden has been most wide-
~ demonstrated. Thousands of test
hav" been made each year BY exact
and palnstaklng farmers TO an ex-
tent that leaves no possible room fo,
doubt as to the great value Of a deep
and thoroughly prepared seed bed.
'"ncrctcly stated. deep, thor
"n"hlv pulverizcd seed bed filled with
humnS has the following advantages :
| (p 1t provides more food, because