Year: 1873

fore the State Agricultural So
ciety, at its session on Wednesday
last, was upon ''PIoughing and its
effect upon different soils at differ
ent seasons" and the debate was
opened by the following interest
ing and practical essay upon the
subject by DR.. John H. Furman,
Of Sumter:


Mr.. President and Gentlemen Of
the Society-there arc two points
IN which | conceive our practice
Of agriculture has been particular
ly deficient. These are winter
preparation and modes Of plough
ing. With many it has been custo-
mary to allow the spring to be far
advanced, or at least the winter
to be pretty we'll spent, ere the
process Of preparation begins in
deed this is merged in that of culti-
vation, and the corn is growing
ere land is broken up, and the cot
ton is up on part of the plantation
before the earth has been fitted
for it's reception on the balance.


A change of circumstance in
wolves the necessity for q change
of modes. We once had virgin
lands and cheap and reliable labor.
Then, if ever, the extensive and
superficial system had its advan-
tages for (though ultimately de-
structi7e) it often gave large i'm
mediate returns. Now, with to
a large extent, exhausted and de-
nuded fields, and unreliable and ex-
pensive labor to contend with, it
becomes necessary to obtain pre-
sent support, and accomplish the
ultimate improvement Of the land
that we resort to other modes and
appliances-that the extensive
give place to the intensive-that
we plough early and plough deep.
For what do we plough? This
may seem a trite question, but it
opens q wide field for inquiry, OBJ
servation and reflection. What
do we plough for: and how and
when should we do it? We plough
to pulverizo the earth, whereby
the delicate, hair-like roots of
plants may ramify and extend, in
every direction, thereby obtain
ing ample pasturage to feed upon.
And here the advantages of deep
ploughing will at once be appa-
rent. The man who breaks his
land eight inches deep, gives his
plants twice the pasturage that
be does who breaks but four, and
he who penetrates twelve, trebles
the sources of supply.


We plough to let in the air and
sun that we may Secure the ferti-
lizlng properties of the one, and
the vivifyiug and ameliorating
action OF the other, and we should
plough deep in order that these
beneficial influences may be ex-
tended to a greater area Of root
pasturage. The air contains am
monia and carbonic acid, both
highly essential to the growth of
Of Vegetation. They are rapidly
and in quantities absorbed by po-
rous bodies, while compact bodies
appropriate little or none Of
these; therefore by thorough and
deep communion Of the soil we
greatly increase the amount of
these bodies taken up and held by
the land. They act also as SOL
; vents thus preparing them to be
: taken up and assimulated by the
plant. We should plough deep in
order that these benefits may be
extended to large bulk of soil.


We plough deep that our lands
may be saved from washing; and
that the rain water may not run
off, carrying with it it's fertilizing g
properties as we'll as those of the
soil it reaches. Rain water as
we'll as the atmosphere abounds
in carbonic acid and ammonia, and
by enabling it fully 10 penetrate
the earth, we secure these valu.
able ingredients.


We plough to turn under vegta'
tion (dry or green) and to bury
) the seeds of noxious plants. By