OCR Text |
Show DEEP TILL1GK AND V.DR-D V.DR-D RAINING. Intell:gent and observing tillers of the soil in almost every section of the country where the drouth has prevailed to any considerable extent during the past season, have been strikingly impressed im-pressed with the surprising advantage to the growing crops arising from thorough drainage of heavy soils in connection con-nection wiih tillage and abundant fertilization fer-tilization uf the teed bed. When the water line of a heavy sod that is disposed dis-posed to be wet, is sunk by means of a system of thorough under-draining say thirty or more inches beneath the surface of the soil it the seed bed be brokeu up deep, the finely comminuted soil will retain a much larger quantity of moisture in dry and hot weather, ihan if there were no undcr-drains. As tbe soil is deepened by under-draining under-draining and deep plowing, the capacity capaci-ty to absorb moisture from the atmosphere atmos-phere is greaily augmented. Heuce, iu a dry season, if tho seed bed be broken up deep, the roots of growing plants spiead further in every direciion through the soil; and as the mellow earth will absorb a much larger quantity quan-tity of moisture tban if the entire stratum was one solid mass, every prowing plant is, in a great measure, fortified against the trying influences ol hot and dry weather. Under draiuing and deep plowing, iu many instances, have been the means of saving large crops from utter ruin by protracied drouth, llen.ie, many farmers have been led to appreciate tbe advantages of under-draining and deep tillage where ihe soil was heavy, as they have often done betbre. It will pay well to underdram wet land and to plow i deep, whether the growing season is to be too wet or too dry. |