Proceedixgs of the Farmers' Club. 479 



Deep Tillage. 



Mr. C. E. SnoM', Hanover, Jackson county, MIcli. — I propose, "U'ltli 

 yonr permission, to review a few of Mr. Greeley's assertions in 

 regard to deep plowing. 1st. The fact of the roots of some plants 

 extending several feet below the surface I admit. I, myself, have 

 traced the roots of the clover to the depth of six feet ; but I deny- 

 that the inference is correct that they extend thus far in search of 

 food. As well might he assert that trees extend upward in search 

 of food, since a portion of their nourishment is derived by absorption 

 from the atmosphere, whereas it is a fact that a low wide-spreading tree 

 receives the most nutriment from the atmosphere ; and this is also the 

 case with roots of plants. Those which send out roots laterally and 

 near the surface, receive the most support from the soil. A plant 

 grows because it is its nature to gi'ow until it reaches maturity, both 

 upward aud downward. I have had the large thistle grow on land 

 that was never plowed, to the heighth of six feet, mullen ten feet, and 

 this because the surface was rich. Therefore I consider that system 

 the best which will produce lateral roots instead of perpendicular. 

 Does Mr. Greeley's sympathy extend to the bottom of the six feet root ? 

 and would he have us trench to that depth in order to have an easy 

 passage-ibr the roots through the soil ? As large wheat as I ever saw" 

 grow grew on land that was not plowed at all. In fact the customary 

 way of putting in wheat in the timbered land is to harrow it in without 

 plowing, but merely burning oft the brush, charring the earth per- 

 haps an inch. I consider the object of plowing threefold. 1st. To 

 obtain a seed-bed for the plant. 2d. To destroy the vegetation upon 

 the surface. 3d. To enrich the soil. In regard to Mj. Greeley's con- 

 cluding assertion, I would say that the success of a farmer does not 

 depend so much upon the amount of work he does as that it should 

 be done in the right direction. If a man attempts to reach a certain 

 place by traveling in a direction opposite from it, the farther he tra- 

 vels and the harder he works the farther will he be from his destina- 

 tion. I commenced as a book farmer, and I have learned, by sad 

 experience, the difference between theoretical and practical farming. 

 "We have had the report from Salem county. Will Mr. Greeley tell 

 us how much he raises by working the soil twelve to fourteen inches 

 deep ? 



Chair.— In the absence .of Mr. Greeley, whose paper is thus referred 

 to, and Mr. Trimble, who is known as the champion of shallow til- 



