82 
THE CULTIVATOR. March, 
crops. When it was brought within the influence of 
the sun and atmosphere, a decomposition took place 
which rendered it equivalent to a dressing of manure. 
We should therefore be in favor of loosening the sub¬ 
soil, in all cases, to as great a depth as it can con¬ 
veniently be done; but, except in cases where the sub¬ 
soil contains the essential elements of fertility, we should 
prefer doing this by the subsoil plow, instead of turning 
down the top soil and supplying its place by that from 
below. It is only in that portion of the earth, (as we 
before remarked,) which is brought within the direct 
influence of the sun and atmosphere, that the food of 
plants is brought into the state in which it is consumed 
by them. On heavy clays, for instance, manure may 
be so deeply buried by the plow, that it will afford but 
little support to crops. 
It is proper to remark that somewhat different effects 
are sought to be produced in plowing sod, or sward, 
and ££ old land,” as it is sometimes called. In the for¬ 
mer case, it is desired to place the grass and vegetable 
matters in such a position that their growth shall be 
stopped, and that while they shall not interfere with 
the crop which is to be put on the land, they shall be 
made to contribute to its support by their decomposi¬ 
tion. The sward must be so far inverted as to destroy 
the grass, and the furrow-slice must be left light to fa¬ 
vor decomposition and allow the plants which it is 
wished to cultivate, to extend their roots. The neces¬ 
sity of carefully inverting the sward, prevents, in some 
degree, the perfect pulverization and intimate mixture 
of the soil, which would otherwise be the leading object. 
Plows of different construction are best adapted to 
these purposes. For sward, the implement should be 
of more length, with a more gradual curve of mold- 
board, in order to lay the furrow over without its being 
broken. For ££ old land,” a mold-board with a shorter 
curve would be preferred, that the soil as it rises may 
be thoroughly broken and crumbled to pieces. 
We have before alluded to subsoil plowing. Its ad¬ 
vantages may be briefly stated to be that it affords a 
greater depth of loose earth for the roots of plants; 
opens the soil more to the exhalation of moisture from 
below, which affords protection against drouth; admits 
the rains to wash out injurious mineral substances which 
in some instances are contained in the soil and sub¬ 
soil ; and in many cases it operates as a means of drainage. 
We have no doubt that some of the advantages here 
enumerated, would follow the use of the subsoil plow on 
nearly all soils, though the greatest benefit is thought 
to be derived from its use on soils underlaid by ££ hard- 
pan,” and on those having a tenacious subsoil. The 
“ hard-pan” is often occasioned by the oxide of iron. 
An impervious stratum is frequently formed just below 
where the soil has been moved by a common plow, on 
lands which have been long cultivated; and experience 
has shown that if this crust is properly broken, the par¬ 
ticles of iron which had formed it may be washed out, 
and the fertility of the soil greatly promoted. 
The use of the subsoil plow on clayey soils, lessens 
their tenacity, and allows the surplus water more freely 
to descend. It has been objected to the practice of 
subsoiling in such cases, that the earth would after ft 
while become as compact as ever. We cannot see the 
force of this objection. We know that all heavy soils 
become in time as close and impervious after having 
been plowed, as they were before they had been sub¬ 
jected to this operation; but no reasonable person would 
deny that they were rendered more suitable for the sup¬ 
port of crops by being plowed; and we should no more 
think of objecting to the use of the subsoil plow because 
its benefits would not continue forever, than of object¬ 
ing to the common mode of plowing for the same rea¬ 
son. We admit with Mr. Colman, that the advanta¬ 
ges of subsoil plowing are the greatest in connexion with 
thorough draining; but at the same time we think it 
evident that an advantage, of greater or less extent, ac¬ 
cording to circumstances, is always derived from loosen¬ 
ing the subsoil. It is true the earth may run together 
again. So does the surface soil; but loosening and 
opening it must only be repeated again, and with the 
more frequency as the condition of the soil renders it 
necessary. 
In plowing for spring crops, we should prefer com¬ 
mencing on the ££ old land,” leaving the sward till vege¬ 
tation has started, and the season has so far advanced 
that the soil has become somewhat warmed. The sward 
rots much quicker under such circumstances, and the 
growing crop appears to derive a greater benefit from it. 
CULTIVATION OF HOPS. 
In answer to various inquiries which we have re¬ 
ceived in regard to the culture of hops, we here give 
an abstract of the remarks of Mr. Colman on this 
subject, in Part viii. of his “ European Agriculture.” 
He observes that he has had the opportunity of see¬ 
ing the hop cultivation of Kent and Surrey, where it is 
carried on in the greatest perfection. The principal 
points to be observed in the preparation of the ground, 
planting, See., are given as follows: 
“ The ground for hops should be a rich and mellow 
soil, and, in general, the farmers are of opinion that in 
order to produce the best quality of hops, the substra¬ 
tum of the soil should be calcareous. That the plant re¬ 
quires a deep culture, is evident from the roots having 
been traced to a distance of twenty feet. The land re¬ 
quires to be trench-plowed or spaded to the depth of 
two spits. The former mode is the least expensive at 
first; the latter mode will prove the most eligible in the 
end. The ground, indeed, should be subjected to the 
best garden cultivation. 
££ The hills are to be marked out in right lines, at a 
distance of six or eight feet apart. The spot which is 
to receive the plants should be rendered as mellow and 
rich as may be, by careful digging. Three or four 
plants may be placed in a hill. These may be procured 
from the clippings of the vines, in March; or from what 
gardeners call layers; or from seed. The latter mode 
is considered preferable. In hops, the male and female 
plant are distinct; but many cultivators reject and ex¬ 
tirpate the former as barren. It is necessary that they 
should grow together—that is, a due proportion of the 
male plants should be cultivated in order to give that 
energy and vitality to the seed without which it would 
not produce its kind. This it is which gives weight to 
the hop, which gives the fine aromatic bitter to the pro¬ 
duction of the vine, and more fully to the seed; the pe¬ 
tal, or leaf of the flower, containing but little of the as- 
tringent quality of the hop. £ Cultivators of the hop 
are urged, therefore, to have many male plants on the 
ground, at least one to fifty female plants, and particu¬ 
larly to encourage them around their plantation, in the 
hedges, where no ground will be lost.’ ” 
Hop plants raised from seed are said to surpass 
those raised from cuttings, are more luxuriant in their 
