498 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



[AUGtJST 



into the stratum which immediately under- 

 lies this more genial layer, we reach one that 

 is comparatively cold and repulsive. Now, 

 if these three layers, which exist in all or- 

 dinary soils, do really possess the peculiari* 

 ties attributed to them, then w411 they serve 

 as data upon which to institute a correct 

 comparison of the relative merits of the 

 two modes of seeding, and enable us to ar- 

 rive at an incontestable conclusion. 



First. Let us consider to what extent this 

 top stratum is adapted to promote germina- 

 tion. 



If heat and moisture are as absolutely ne- 

 cessary to the germination of the seed, as 

 light and air are indispensable to the growth 

 and development of the plant after germi- 

 nation, the disturbance of the relative pro- 

 portions of these two elements by the un- 

 due predominance of heat, and the conse- 

 quent displacement of moisture from near 

 the surface, plainly demonstrates the neces- 

 sity of descending to a lower depth of soil, 

 to secure such a modification of the degree 

 of heat as will admit the presence of the 

 requisite amount of moisture without, at the 

 same time excluding the necessary action 

 of light and air in tflfie work of development 

 after the germination of the seed and the 

 springing up of the plant. Too near the 

 surface the seed will not only fail to germi- 

 nate, but by exposure under such unfavora- 

 ble circumstances will generally lose their 

 vitality. True, the seasonable and abun- 

 dant fall of rain may so restore the equili- 

 brium of these f.rces as sometimes to pro- 

 mote the early germination of seed even un- 

 der the most unfavorable depth of covering, 

 but in the absence of continued rains, the 

 absorption of heat and the evaporation of 

 moisture proceed ] the conditions favorable 

 to the deepTadication in the soil, and growth 

 of the young plant are removed; its health- 

 ful development is at once arrested ; and it 

 is destined to a sickly existence, or to wilt 

 and die under the withering influence of 

 solar heat. 



Although not the next in order, we will 

 in the second place attempt to show in what 

 manner the third layer influences germina- 

 tion. At this depth of soil it is not often 

 prevented, but is only retarded. Moisture 

 exists, it may be, in abundance, but it is so 

 far removed from the surface that the tem- 

 perature of the soil is too low to supply the 

 most favorable conditions of germination. 

 The seed are not only slow in sprouting, but 



the young shoot having to struggle up 

 through such a mass of overlying soil, its 

 appearance at the surface is long delayed, 

 and it has for a length of time to forego the 

 advantages of light, heat and air, so neces- 

 sary to the development and early maturity 

 of the plant, when once firmly rooted in the 

 soil. We say earli/ maturity of the plant, 

 because w^e wish distinctly to parti (^ularize 

 the want of that as one of the greatest 

 evils of deep seeding. In proof of this we 

 have only to cite a single case — an extreme 

 one we admit — but possessing similar condi- 

 tions, it will serve the purpose of a striking 

 illustration of the truth of the objection to 

 deep covering on account of its influence 

 on the tardy coming up and late ripening 

 of the crop. There are few who have not 

 had occasion to mark the interval of time 

 ensuing between the first and last coming 

 up of sown small grain on cold, sour land. 

 My oat crop, this year, w^as sown on cold, 

 craw-fish land. The interval that elapsed 

 between the first and last coming up of the 

 seed was of such duration that I despaired 

 of obtaining anything like a stand, and 

 scolded the overseer for sowing them too 

 thin. Walking over the field sometime 

 after I was surprised to find the ground lite- 

 rally covered with plants. Those seed that 

 came up last comprised by far the greater 

 portion of those sown, and the consequence 

 was, when I came to harvest the crop, the 

 smaller portion was dead ripe, while the 

 balance was only in the milk state. 



We come now, thirdly, to the layer inter- 

 vening between the two already described. 

 This stratum, by its proximity to the heated 

 surface above, and ti e cool damp layer un- 

 derlying it, fulfills every condition towards 

 the perfect and speedy germination of the 

 seed, the vigorous maintenance of the young 

 plant, and the maximum yield of the crop. 

 The excess of moisture from beneath, and 

 the overdose of heat above are happily coun- 

 ter-balanced — the two extremes harmonized. 

 Thus furnishing to the intermediate layer, 

 exactly in the proper proportions, every at- 

 tribute that characterizes a genial soil. In 

 this layer, then, it is evident it should be 

 the aim of every farmer to deposit his seed. 

 The Drill will enable him to accomplish the 

 object. I trust I have not clothed the sub- 

 ject with undue importance, bat that he who 

 adopts it will have just occasion to unite with 

 me in recommending it for the great bene- 

 fits a.ttending its use. 



