No. 105.] 101 



blasted, notwithstanding the frequent, and I might with propriety 

 say constant^ admonitions of the unalterable laws of vegetation. One 

 fact to which I would respectfully call the attention of the farmers, 

 and no doubt the same thing has been observed by them, but I fear 

 without profit, and that is, moist seasons, if not too abundant, with 

 the necessary warmth, is sure to promote a vigorous and luxuriant 

 growth of vegetation. Why is it so % It is not because so much 

 moisture is absolutely necessary for such an exuberant growth, but 

 Nature, ever mindful and ever ready to confer upon the " tillers of 

 the ground?'' its choicest blessings, does mechanically with water what 

 the farmer has neglected to do with his plough. The water softens 

 the subsoil where the plough has never reached, rendering it per- 

 meable for the principal, as well as the small fibrous roots which 

 readily perforate the soil in search of those nutritious principles which 

 form the plant. In moist seasons above alluded to, due credit should 

 be given to the operation of chemical principles, but the farmer may 

 well thank his aqueous friend for its mechanical operation in giving 

 to his soil a deep tilth^ and if charged with the necessary elementary 

 principles, a vigorous and luxuriant growth is sure to be the conse- 

 quence. 



Notwithstanding the silent operations of Nature,, and the sound 

 and practical deductions of philosophy, it is lamentable to witness 

 the effect of early associations. Whatever our forefathers did in 

 cultivating the soil, would seem to be stamped with the impress of 

 infallibility. The greatest of all the errors, and one in which the 

 farmer's pecuniary interest is most concerned, is shallow plowing. 

 The average depth does not exceed four and a half inches. In a 

 majority of our fallows a portion of the furrows are left edgewise, 

 which gives what is called " wire grass^^ a chance to grow, if there 

 is the necessary quantity of moisture, but if dry, and being in a 

 favorable position to be affected by the rays of the sun,, the elemen- 

 tary principles of vegetation are in a great degree dissipated. 



If the fallow was in grass the previous year, and should be plowed 

 shallow ; the tenacity of the soil is such that the subsequent plowings 

 and harrowings brings it to the surface, and consequently a very 

 shallow depth of loose friable soil is left to sustain the future crop. The 

 tender roots of wheat cannot penetrate the hard and compact subsoil. 

 They will deviate from the course nature designed, and are obliged 

 to wander about near the surface in search of the necessary aliment 



