COMMUNICATIONS. 
Sparta, February 1, 1844. 
Mr. Ediior — Plowing, though practiced by 
many, is little understood in this country. In- 
deed, so little importance is generally attached 
to it, that it is not unfrequently confided, either 
to the foreman, who is satisfied with any thing 
that pleases his master, or to an overseer, who 
is oftener ambitious to acquire a character for a 
“business man,-’ which, in its literal significa- 
tion, means to be ahead of every bo<ly else in 
the various operations of the {arm, without re- 
ference to the quality of the work. Nor are 
these important personages singular in their no- 
tions. It is too often true, that they are encour- 
aged, by the owner or employer, to glide over 
the farm as rapidly as possible, either directly 
by words, or by conduct which is unequivocal 
in its meaning — in bestowing praise when mnch 
work has been done, and in maintaining pro- 
found silence as to its quality. It can hardly be 
supposed in this day of general intelligence, 
that the subject of plowing is one upon which 
total ignorance prevails. But it is believed, 
that there are by far too many practitioners of 
this noble art, who practise it according to the 
method of their ancestors; who “trot up the hill 
and down again” as their daddies did before 
them, W ith all such, I have nothing to do on 
this occasion. They are too skillful to be in- 
structed by “book farming;” too well versed in 
their business to be benefited by the experience 
and opinions of their neighbors, when obtained 
through an agricultural newspaper; loo much 
engaged in watching the phases of the Mi on 
to take “time” to read any thing relative to farm- 
ing. It is sufficient for all such that they sow 
their wheat during the dark nights of October; 
plant their corn on the increase, and their pota- 
toes on the decrease of the moon. Arguments 
with such are unavailing— successful practice 
alone can or will teach them. 
The paramount object of all winter or spring 
plowing, is the complete pulverization of the 
soil — of summer plowing, to lessen the labor Of 
weeding and cleaning the crop, gnd to make the 
earth permeable_to the atmosphere — of fall plow- 
ing, the turning in the grass and weeds which 
have grown upon the land, ft cannot be ne- 
cessary to adduce reasons in support of the doc- 
trine here laid down, that the earth, to do all 
that it is possible tor it to do in growing and ma- 
turing plants, must be effectually pulverized to 
that depth, below which there is no food for 
plants. The examinations of the curious have 
discovered the fact, that the small fibrous roots 
of corn penetrate the soil, in favorable situa- 
tions, several feet in depth, and by comparing 
these with similar roots of other plants, we rea- 
dily conclude, that all fibrous roots grow as deep 
in search of food when it can be found, as the 
preparation admits and the atmosphere allows. 
And yet, in the face of this fact, how often do 
we see the most superficial preparation, it pre- 
peration it can be called? How often, as a ne- 
cessary consequence of imperfect preparation, 
or what is frequently true, of no preparation 
whatever, do we hear farmers complain, tnat 
their land is so hard “they can’t scratch it.” A 
ten day’s drought withers and ruins their crops; 
renders them miserable and unhappy, while 
their ungrateful feelings are excited against a 
kind Providence, who ever works for their good 
if they would but do their duty. 
The quality and texture of soils are so vari- 
ous, as to render it impossible to lay down par- 
ticular rules for our guidance in performing 
this work. Every practical farmer knows that 
different soils require different management. — 
But as a general rule, and one that is applicable 
to all soils, we should plow fully as deep 3 s we 
find soil, and when practicable, use the much 
abused turning plow in preference to all others. 
It cannot be so successfully used, perhaps, on 
fresh land where there are innumerable trees 
and stumps, or where many stones abound, as 
the scooter or colter. But on every other de- 
scription of land with which I am acquainted, 
I prefer it to any other plow in use in this sec- 
tion, whether it invert completely, or at an an- 
gle of forty-five, or any intermediate angle. — 
There are, however, hundreds of these plows in 
lisp, scarcely voUb their weight in iron. An 
imperfect turning plow I regard as worthless, — 
The work of such may be passable to the eye 
iperely, but will not bear the thrusts of the walk- 
ing cane-f-ra certain indication of bad plowing. 
They should be made so as to cut as deep at the 
point of the wing as at the point of the plow — 
the bottom of the furrow then will be like the 
bottom of a trench. The plowman, by holding 
it to its proper place, with such an instrument, 
can break up land as effectually as with the 
spade. The objections so often urged againsj 
this implement, are without foundption. Repu- 
diation is the order of the day in farming as 
well as in politics. We inconsiderately imbibe 
opinions tiiat are fallacious, and do not take the 
trouble to examine them closely, therefore we 
are prone to adhere to them. If we injure our 
lands in using then^, erery country upon the con- 
tinent of Europe, that has doubled and quintu- 
pled Rs productions per acre, ought now to be 
barren — so ought the New England States. If 
they are too hard to the horse, the objection lies 
against the maker and not the implement. — 
Where properly made, they are drawn with 
more ease than any other plow performing the 
same work. After you have procured such 
plows as are described above, you will find the 
coulter, if the subsoil be clay, or clay abound- 
ing in disintegrated rock, of incalculable ser- 
vice, if run in the same track with the turning 
plow, as deep as your strongest horses can pull 
them. You are then certain that your land is 
thoroughly broken; that you have formed in the 
clay a reservoir for superfluous w'ater, which 
will rise through the pores of the earth, in a dry 
time, to supply the wants of vegetation. Land 
so prepared is in a fit state to receive seed. A 
little drouth, under such circumstances, will be 
regarded as a blessing; land will be more mel- 
low during the year; the crop will be more lux- 
uriant in its growth, and more abundant at ma- 
turity, Such, at least, is the result of one year's 
experience. Without good plowing and ma?> 
nure, there can be no good farming on our ex- 
hausted plantations, if, indeed, any where. 
Georgian, 
Raytown, Ga., February 1st, 1844 
Mr. Editor — In perusing the pages of your 
excellent journal, I find a remedy recommend- 
ed for the Hollow Horn. Although my experi- 
ence on this subject is very limited, still, such 
as it is, I have concluded to give it to you. 
For the hollow horn, my rule and practice 
has been, when a cow brute was observed with 
sunken eyes, dry nose, and cold horns, (which 
are sure signs of the disease,) is to bore the horn 
on the under side only, with a common size 
gimblet— for should the hole in the horn be 
made too large, the fly might get into the horn 
and create maggots, which would prove fatal. 
I do nothing more, unless the holes should close 
up with matter, I then insert a sharp pointed 
stick or broom straw, of a proper size, in them 
occasionally, in order to keep them open, un- 
til a cure is effected. 
Under this practice I have never lost a cow 
with the hollow horn, wh'le my neighbors, un? 
der different practices, lost many. 
Respectfully, your o’bt sexv\ 
Aaron W. Grieb. 
Equally silly is he who is killing his land to 
fill his purse, with h.ini' who killed his goose to 
get the golden eggi 
The labor of an editor’s life is not. so much 
whaf he has to write, as what he has to read^ 
