Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-10-12
.aG RYCUA YURAn.
Remarks on The great inheritance Of
DEEP TIL TIL and our 4panf ofo
suitable inesauaatt1t TO Qccomf!iSh il
zvithomt buryiag fhe SOIL.
BY ISAAC BRIGGS.
(Conciuded)


The benefit we may reasonably expect
from more extensive range forthe roots
OF the plants we cultivate, is copsidera.
Bile, yet ii is not the only one. A much
greater quantity ofwater will be imbibed
and retained, to mitigate The severe eff
fects Of following dry season, and the
most fertile part of the soil Cha; on the
surtace) will remain in its proper plac c
instead OF being carried away by what is
called 7vashing, which is more exhaust
ing to the soil than any crop whatever
can be, and for which there is no pre-
veniative so eifectual as loosening the
earth to sufficient depth. This will
be quite obvious five consider the mode
OF cult, alton, too common, which leaves
super stratum from three to six inches
deep of loose soil, lying on compact,
impervious bed OF cidy--a quantity OF
rain often falls sufficient 10 render this
soil nearly fluid, the water canno, sud
denly penetrate into the solid pan below,
but carries off the best of the. surface.
1.-THE earth were loosened 10 the depth
OF about fifteen inches, few rains would
be SO copious as nol to be imblbed and
lie quietly as sponge.
In concluding this little sketch on
deep stirring, will state fact which
came under my observation last summer
lit was calculated to speak to an atten-
tive mind an impressive language, more
powerful than volumes of mere theory.
In the spring oilast year, near James
River, canal was made, passing through
piece of ground which had been for
merry in cultivation: bot for some years
past, had remained in the state, in which
it was when the canal was commenced,
turned out, neglected and reproductive.
west, along Hill side, facing the south.
Here follows a diagram showing the
position of the canal, in which { repre-
sents the upper edge of the exca. alton,
A, the termination of the fresh earth,
thrown out below; &C the slope from
the upper edge of the excavation to the
bottom Of the canal /; and AID, the slope
from the top to the foot Of the new made
bank below it.
Although this canal was made in the
spring, it remained clear of water until
autumn. During the spring abundance
ofrain fell, but the summer was remarka-
bly, dry. Now the precious fact, to
which have alluded, is, the little vege-
tation that had appeared on the unbro-
ken surface above, and below A was
nearly destroyed by the extremely dry
season-,he slope &C was entirely des-
titute of vegetation, during the whole
summer-yet the slope AID, having the
same south exposure, and the top of the
bank, we're set with luxuriant growth
oflarge and vigorous plants, such as are
commonly seen in the richest OF soils
Stramonium or Jamestown weed, Poke,
Lambsquarter, sc. these flourished du-
ring the whole of the dry season, and did
not seem even 10 be diminished in vigof.
IF tool were stricken into any part of
the slope &C, it would bring away Ell
Their dust, or a clod nearly as hard as a
sun-dried brick; the earth in the made
bank remained always friable, and some
moisture was always visible at small
distance beneath the surface. The
earth Of which this bank was composed,
was not productive until loosened to a
considerable depth.
No doubt the intelligent readers of the
American Farmer have often observed
similar. facts-the differences think are
obvious. ISAAC BRIGGS.