Year: 1873

uHiluS NSSP wv 1iS' N"NS "
depth Of our soil, and cover up
these seeds so far from the in
huences Of air, heat and light, that
comparatively few germinate, and
those that do, come mp slowly and
in sickly condition, aud are cas-
lily destroyed, thereby lessenlng
the labor of cultivation.


By ploughing deep we not only
turo under and give comparative
rest to the surface soil, (Which
has so long been drawn upon, but
bring up sub-surface, which has,
perhaps, never been disturbed by
the plough-into which the roots
of cultivated plants have pene-
trated but little, and which con-
tains much Of what has been
drained flom the surface soil. In
soils as light and sandy, Gas are
those cultivated by many Of u.s.
the high winds of March and
April carry off quantities Of the
light surface, thereby rapidly ex-
hausting the land of hamus, which
is its life blood. BY deep winter
ploughing, we turn up valueless
surface, which, if blown off, is a
small loss, as there is an inexhaust-
able supply left. And here l
would draw a distinction between
the ploughing of preparation and
that Of cultivation. The one be-
longs to winter, and should be
deep; the other to spring and sum-
mer, should be shallow.


1t is true that the term deep
ploughing is altogether compara-
tive. What would be deep with
US would be considered shallow
by the turners-up of the almost
fathemlcss alluVial deposits of the
West. What might be deemed
shallow here would be considered
almost no plough!ng at all there.
The character Of the soil and sub
soil must, to a great extent, regu-
late it. When the surface is thin
and deficient in vegetable matter
and the subsoil of an inferior
quality, we should commence con-
tinuously, and gradually descend
as we add to the quantity of
humus and the other elements Of
fertility in the land till We have
reached the greatest attainable
depth. And here I would remark
that in deepening and improving
the quality Of our soil we not
only add to its ability to sustain
plant life, by the increased amount
Of pabulum it affords, but add
vastly to its capacity for absorb
ing and retaining moisture, fact,
the practical Importance Of which
cannot be over-estimated.


The objection urged to deep
winter preparation and shallow
cultivation, that the lands run
together and become too hard for
the vigorous growth Of vegeta-
ton, will be found Of limited ap-
plication where the lands have
been properly broken and to the
right depth. A due regard being
paid to drainage, this objection
applies, almost exclusively, to
soils predominating in clay.


If deep ploughing possesses ad-
vantages already hinted at, how
important that it should be ac-
complished as early in the winter
as practicable, that the benefits Of
the winter rains (and frosts in
further pulverizing the land) may
be secured, that the air may have
as long a time as possible to circu-
late through its bulk, that the
stubble, weeds and grass may have
time to ferment and decay, that
the moisture, which arises freely
from the subsoil, in seasons Of
drouth, by capillary attraction,
bringing with it the soluble ele-
meDts Of inorganic fertility from
far below the surface, and de-.
posting them there, as it evapo-
rates, may also contribute its
benefits.


Mr.. President, our true policy
is concentration; and peculiarly is
it so in our present circumstances.
By a proper deepening Of the soil,
combined with high and judicious
fertilization, one acre may be
made to yield what it has been
customary to gather from four or
even six, with far less expendi-
ture of labor and greater certain
ty as to the results; for with a
deep soil, in the right physical
and chemical condition, we re-
quire, comparatively, but little
rain.


The long roll is being sounded for
the assembling of the heirs to the
Chase millions. They are to meet
and trace up their genealogy. 1t is