The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-05-22 00:00:00

PRACTICAL AGRICULTURK

LErns No. XIV.

ON THy ACTION OF THE SI:N. AIR, ItAix, AND
FOG oN THE LAND; WHY THE SOIL REAPS
)(wig Bk.INEFIT FROM THESE WHEN UNDER GAUP
THAN IN SALLOW ; AND WHY • GENERAL
KNowLgDog OF THIS SCIIJECT IS ONE OF
NATIONAL IMPORTANCE.

To the Editor of she Doriee County Express and
Ageicok oral Gmetle.

Dom heater, 214 May, 1860.

Siu,—Nothing has greater power in altering the
nature of land than frost; but yon will agree with
in,f in laying that the month of .Ilay had better be
devoted to the oonsideratiou of the atmosphere when
at a different temperature.
The sun is of great value to all crops, .not only from
its heat, which i tends to ripen grain, roots. &e., but
more especially for its attractive prope,ny, which
causes all bodice, whether animal or wage table, to
incline towards each other, which accouuts for
the growth of plants. Then, the air supplics the
breath, or strengthening matter; rain and fog t up.
ply the same thing, but, being more condensed, are of
greater value to vegetation. What wish to be'
understood is, that the land which is exposed to the
action of the atmosphere is capable of taking from it
a large quantity of nutriment, but that the leaves of
plants being fully as much or more attractive, and
having • much greater surface exposed, every portion
of that surface taking equally from the surrounding
atmosphere, the real benefit to the laud must inaease
in proportion to the bulk of the crop.
I cannot adduce abetter illustration of the truth et
this assertion, than may be gleaned from a planta-
tion of fir or other trees; for it is well known
that no matter what the quality of the soil may be,
the trees will take enough from the air for own
support, and at the rune time improve the land .41
which they grow; and I will venture to say that
these trees will take more from the air in one ytaz
than the soil would in ten, however much it may be
stirred during these ten years. This fact being gene-
rally considered as of no importance in practical agri•
culture is one of the misfortunes which befall nice
who do their work this way or that way, without
knowing why they do so. It in really indispensable
to profitable agriculture, that the manering
of land from the sir be well studied;
and every farmer should be fully acquainted
with the comparative attracting powers of plants,
so that be may know how much the soil may be
expected to benefit from any particular crop. Then,
having made himself master of this subject, he will
not require the Counly Express to waste its steam
for his benefit, in printing from time to time the
advantages of a crop over • fallow, but he will see
how food may be produced in sufficient quantities to
meet the wants of the increasing millions, and he
will find that he has not laboured in vain, but has
turned his attention to a matter which, being
properly dealt with, will add to the well-being of
the nation—than which nothing can be more im-
portant, nothing that can give a more lasting satis-
faction—the supply of a country's waists.
I remain, Sir,
Tours respectfully,
PROFITABLE AGRICULTURE.

their

[My Letter, No. XV., will be on the great good of
Agricultural Show.; why the public must benefit as
much as the farmer; and why high and low, rick
and poor, should take a lively interest in seek
exhibitions.]

31aiiii3a1 rime tables.

FOR THE MONTH OF MAY, IMM.